The Weekend Crafter: Knitting: 20 Simple & Stylish Wearables for Beginners

As a knitter of only 6 months, I found The Weekend Crafter to be very easy to follow and encouraging of personal creativity. Once you know how to do the basics: knit, purl, increase, decrease and weave in ends, you can easily complete any of the projects in this book and add your own flair if you so choose. My only complaint is that Ms. Ham only put 20 patterns in the book. Most of them are very nice and I wish there were more.

This is a great book for people who are tired of technical beginning knit books like me. I don't need to review how to knit, purl, increase and decrease in every book on knitting that I have. If I need to review the basics I get out my Vogue the Ultimate Knitting Guide and refer to it. I want a book with projects that I can do in short amounts of time at an easy level but are motivating. This book meets my needs well.

I think the previous reviewer must have misread the instructions, as beginners in any field sometimes do. The NOTE in the highlighted box clearly says to knit the first stitch, as well as to knit the last stitch of each row to make a very nice selvedge on your scarf. Put another way, sometimes you begin a row by knitting the first stitch and purling the next three; sometimes you end a row by purling three stitches and knitting one. This keeps the pattern correct. Another possibility is to ignore the NOTE and simply knit and purl the stitches exactly as they present themselves. Then you will have slightly wavy edges to your scarf. It really doesn't matter, but in either case the number of stitches you cast on is still going to be 28.

Cathy Ham's second book is not to be missed! It's filled with creative projects that can be made and enjoyed by all knitters, whether they've been knitting for years or they've just learned to knit and purl. When I looked at the projects, I couldn't decide what to make first. I quickly finished "Where Did You Get That Hat" (p. 43) and began the "Evening Wrap" (p. 73), but I also gathered the yarn to make "GoogliBug" (p. 36) for a friend's new grandchild, and ordered the yarn to make the "Tailored Vest" (p. 60). There wasn't a project I didn't like, and I truly believe that they can all be completed within a short period of time without the frustration that many new knitters experience. The superb photographs and clear directions are among the very best I've seen. As I read through the book, I felt as if the author was speaking to me personally as she carefully guided me through the various steps for each project. Another thing to consider about this book is the affordable price. Where else can one find a knitting book for [the price]that contains directions for 20 stylish wearables for men, women and children that can be made quickly by beginning and experienced knitters? Even talented knitters should find this book an appealing addition to their knitting library. I urge you to keep a copy in your knitting bag and read it for inspiration. This book has garments that you and your friends will be thrilled to wear, and it has pizzazz.