Hip to Knit: 18 Contemporary Projects for Today's Knitter [Paperback]

The 18 patterns in the book are fairly simple making this an ideal second book for a brand new knitter. (The first, of course, should be a good general knitting book) There are small boxes of knitting info sprinkled throughout. For example, the section on making a sweater fit well is informative and useful especially to knitters who like a sleek silhouette.

Fortunately, the author respects her audience's intelligence and her constant admonition is to tweak the sweaters to fit the way YOU like it. All the yarn info is supplied so it would be quite easy to make substitutions.

Now this is where taste comes in. With any book of patterns, it is good to keep in mind that everyone has their own taste and it is not possible to please everyone. THIS young knitter thought the patterns were cute and fun. The Boyfriend sweater got the guy stamp of approval (most guys HATE froufrou sweaters, this one's nice and simple but with enough texture interest to keep a knitter happy), the watchcap is another sure winner and the little bag makes an ideal present for a female friend.

Of course, I suggest investigating this book before you buy, if nothing in it is to your taste then keep looking, you're sure to find a book that is perfect for you. However, the book is fairly inexpensive and provides some valuable info.

Good if:
you like texture
you are knitting for a guy
you are new and want some cute, easy patterns
you want to fill your wardrobe with winter accessories like hates, mittens and socks

Not good if:
you are into complex color like mosaic, intarsia or fair isle (this book has no patterns for that)
you hate novelty yarns

It seems to me that the patterns themselves took a distant second place to making the layout and design of the book "hip" looking. All the patterns are lumped together in paragraphs instead of stepped out into easily discerned rows. There seems to be plenty of room for pictures, white space, and whimsical design, but I bought the book for the patterns, and they're hard to read.

In order to make the instructions clear, I have had to take the paragraphs the patterns are lumped into and turn them into steps that make sense and actually have a beginning and an end. For a more advanced knitter, this might not be a problem, but when I'm doing something new to me I like the instructions to be clear and stepped out. (I write documentation for a living, so this may be a personal quibble.)

I also think that the designer makes assumptions that the knitter using the book can read between the lines and fix things or understand things that are not expressly stated in the pattern. In my case, at least, that led to having to rip back several hours worth of work because I did exactly what the pattern said without reading between the lines to something it should have said.

I still want to make the things in the book, and I'm going to keep trying and working with it, so I'll give it three stars. I don't hate it. I would just warn anyone who is a very beginning knitter not to approach this book without the help of an experienced knitter to make the unwritten instructions clear.

This book is much more interesting compared to other beginner books but I must stress that the some of the projects can be quite challenging. It starts with a scarf, then hats, then socks and various types of tops (tank top, hooded pullover, etc sweater with cables). Don't think socks is that easy for beginner as it requires picking up stitches so more instructions there would have been good.

For beginners who has mastered basic knit and purl, the next most difficult part to understand is the shaping which is spoken briefly here. So even with a very detailed book at hand, it is much easier if you can consult someone.

It has some tips not found in the other books like drawings on how to sew in the ends, how to put in new yarn to shape the shoulders. But not that many tips. I wish for beginners books they have more tips on finishing and shaping (mabbe help to tell the difference btw left and right should shaping) to assure the knitters that they are doing it correctly. My friends who just started knitting will always ask the same questions like if it is necessary to tie a knot when joining or changing yarn and worry if the yarns will come loose or the sewing in of yarns and seams looks ugly. But no book so far, assures the beginners on this.

For projects, I like the simple ribbed tank top, read it briefly only but I think it changes between using 2 different size needles to help with shaping of the garment Something new and not commonly see in pattern books. simple but effective.

Something else about knitting books, sometimes I just wish they dont use yarns which are expensive or difficult to find. Or if they chose a particular yarn becoz it is lighter etc, they should explain to the knitter so that they can find a subtitute.