The Baby Knits Book

by Debbie Bliss

Debbie Bliss is now the star name in knitwear design and is set to become an even bigger name - she now has her own yarn range, available throughout the UK, North America, Europe, Japan and beyond. Debbie's many previous bestselling books have established her as the most stylish but accessible designer of children's knits working today. In this book, she returns to her core territory, with a fabulous new collection of new ideas for 0-3 year olds, the key time when knitters pick up their needles and get to work. There are designs for baby blankets, first sweaters and cardigans, bootees and more unusual items, as well as lots of ideas for ultra-wearable, ultra-stylish kit for toddlers. To help even inexperienced knitters create these designs, each pattern includes extra info on the key stitches and techniques required, watchpoints and an estimated degree of difficulty and time required to knit it. All in all, an absolutely must-have collection from the star designer in knitwear today.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Mckinley]

Lovely projects.

[Minnesinger]

This book contains many 'keeper' patterns, particularly the first two of the following:
- the 'Raglan Sweater' (easy, Stockinette stitch rollneck pullover) for 0-12 months, knit in Cashmerino Aran,
- the 'Cable and Rib Sweater with Hood' for 1-4yr, knit in Cotton DK
- the 'Circular Yoked Sweater' for 2-5 years knit with 6 colors of Debbie Bliss Merino Aran
- the 'Kimono and Trousers' (3-18 mo.) knit in Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton, and
- the 'Beaded Fair Isle Shoes' (3-9 mo.) knit in Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton.

The 'Two-Color Shoes' are to coordinate with the 'Kimono and Trousers', knit in the same yarn (and same colors), Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton (sport/baby weight yarn). These and the 'Beaded Fair Isle Shoes' both have ankle straps (Mary Janes) and therefore require 2 buttons per pair. The latter also calls for 34(40) beads.

[Jam]

The problem with Debbie Bliss books is that the end product is fine, but the instructions are lousy.

There are no schematics for a start. the instructions are sometimes woefully non-specific. It might tell you to cast off five stitches every other row, but won't be clear on which side (wrong or right) it should be. More than that, they sometimes go a long way around it. She'll tell you to cast off, and then later to pick up stitches from the cast-off edge when it'd be much easier just to but those stitches on a stitch holder.

The end product of the patterns is often quite nice, but I don't recommend this (or any Debbie Bliss pattern books) if you're a beginner. One for people comfortable messing about with patterns and filling in the blanks.

[Maria]

This is the cutest and most practical collection of things to knit for babies that I found after searching our central library's wonderful collection of knitting books for at least an hour. There are just so many good projects in here! After I try making a few and see how good the instructions are, I'll have a real review. The instructions seem fine on first glance, but a lot of reviewers have said that they are confusing, so we'll see.
Sidenote: Please, MLK librarians, never weed your knitting books!

[Rebecca]

This book features cute pictures of really adorable kids doing cute things. Unfortunately, it doesn't show the knit work so clearly. The wraparound cardigan is photographed only from behind? What? Really. Cute patterns, and I may try one some day, but it's moved to the bottom of my ever-growing stack.

[Celeste Miller]

There are some adorable knits in this book, but as usual, Debbie Bliss's patterns are incomplete or difficult to follow. I'm a fairly experienced knitter and found myself frustrated following the patterns for what appear to be simple knits.

[Phobean]

Debbie Bliss's work is gorgeous. What can I say? I'm not reading this book so much as thumbing through.

[Stephanie]

Good variety of skill levels, cute patterns. Some pattern call for wools or wool blends that I think would be not very baby friendly.

[Carmen]

I want to knit a dress from here, but use a different yarn. I hear Debbie Bliss patterns can be difficult to follow, so i might just pass this over and find a pattern on Knitty.

[Jennyfurann]

See my review at borders.com

[Terri]

I've made several gifts from this book and I'm so happy with how they turned out. Highly recommended.

[Jan]

Contemporary and mostly basic baby knits. A really good collection of pattern for babies and toddlers. There a couple of lovely sweaters.

[Ivy]

The hooded blanket on the front is a great pattern. I have sucessfully made one pair of the garter stitch shoes and they were pretty cute for Bailee.

[Jennifer]

Hat with topknot and socks pattern. From devon library.