Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living: Quick-Knit Projects from Beautiful, Chunky Yarns

by Barbara Albright

From Hollywood's trendiest starlets to the legions of pariticipants in knitting classes and knitting groups around the country, people of all ages and lifestyles are taking up their needles and learning to knit. And once they learn the basics of the craft, beginners are eager to tackle projects they can create on their own. Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living offers more than 44 simple yet beautiful projects created specifically with the beginning knittter in mind. Featuring gorgeous, chunky yarns and simple designs with a clean, natural appeal, projects use U.S. size 8 (5mm) needles and above—so the work is as fast as it is enjoyable. These appealing yarns were carefully selected to do some of the work for the knitter—and they guarantee spectacular results. Author Barbara Albright, an expert who works with many of the top designers in the county, also provides helpful tips on choosing yarns, working with large needles, and mastering various finishing techniques. Whether you're looking to accentuate a home with throws, pillows, or seat cusions or to create lovely handmade gifts such as totes, backpacks, sweaters, scarves, and hats, this handsome book will inspire novice knitters to turn a sometime hobby into a lifelong passion.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm reading this book over 20 years after it was published but I thought it was much older than that, so many pieces seemed very dated. The illustrations and photos for the Knitting Basics pages were too small to be very useful. Several pieces are basically rectangles and most all of them are useful as opposed to merely decorative, thought I would definitely pass on the Aran Floor Runner. (Too pretty to have people step on, besides it being a fairly thin "rug." This would be fine for a beginner but there are better choices out there.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love simple patterns. There are two patterns I used again and again when I first started knitting: the placemat and the children's sweater. Easy but still impressive.

[rabbitprincess]

Flipped through this book and it looks good. I like things that knit up quickly. I think I'd like to try the Lace-Edged Placemat and a couple of the pillows and throws.