Greetings from Knit Café

by Suzan Mischer, Suzan Mischer

When former CBS vice president Suzan Mischer decided to open a knitting store on Melrose Avenue, she wanted to create a place where people could gather, slow down, and talk (as well as buy supplies). The result was Knit Cafe, a sleek yet homey crafts store where an increasing number of Hollywood denizens regularly unwind with their needles and yarn. With the publication of Greetings from Knit Café, knitters nationwide can join the famed store's ever-widening circle of devotees.

This colorful, cozy, and chic book offers 30 of Knit Cafe's most dazzling patterns for "California style" projects ranging from hiking socks to a bikini to a "red carpet" gown. It also features stories about how the celebrated store came to be, the neighborhood it's in, the daily goings-on, and the improbable mélange of actors, surfers, doctors, and directors that gather there. Even a few favorite recipes from regular customers are included.

Greetings from Knit Café is, quite simply, the best way to share the history, spirit, and patterns of this unique yarn store without having to fight the traffic.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why oh why don't we have half stars? This is a 3.5 star book for me. There aren't enough patterns for my taste, but many of them are gorgeous and there are some unique ideas like a keyboard cover, a yarmulke and a horse blanket (although why someone would spend time knitting something that huge to put on a horse that lives in a barn is beyond me. I love animals but that sounds masochistic). One problem the book has, though, is trying to be too much: there are recipes, music lists, poems and anecdotes that aren't necessarily even related. Still, a beautiful skirt, an evening dress, and a cute random skirt pattern for a kid make the book worth a look.

[Meredith Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has my favorite baby-sweater pattern. I changed it to add the hoods. I think I like the top version the best. I made the sweaters, not the babes:

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[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Enthusiastic designer and yarn store owner, but nothing really that spoke to me, plus several negatives in the patterns too. Not one I'd want in my own collection, but not one I'd discourage others (or myself) from checking out from the library.

It's very much a Hollywood/Southern CA book. The colors, the types of patterns, the yarns all reflect this. Not good or bad, just it might not be your aesthetic (or your warmth needs!) There's a variety of patterns, which is good, but some of the more basic ones are kinda mind-numbing for not much oomph. Like the LOVE blanket? That's a LOT of really boring stockinette for rather blah result. And the big triangle shawl, the same thing. Even if I was looking for a mindless, TV-watching knit, there are more interesting ones I'd choose.

And then the sizing. This is another spot where the SoCal-ness comes through. The sizing is all sorts of weird. The boxers go up to fit a 54 1/2" waist, but anything on top? Peaks at fitting a 42" chest. But not all of them give the ease either. The Lush Hoodie - a style that tends to be baggy - has an XL size of 51" to fit a 40" chest - lots of positive ease. But the Polo Shirt has an XL of 42 1/2" with no comment on ease. Same with the Red Carpet Gown - the L is a finished chest measurement of 36", but to fit what size person? And the Slouchy Cardigan. The biggest size is 35" to fit a 34-36" bust as the M/L. All of this is summarized that if I'm maxing out some of these patterns (and not even fitting in others) and I'm not even absurdly busty, but a pretty average size in the US? If you're on the curvier side, be prepared to either not be able to fit any of the patterns here, or be doing a lot of reverse engineering to upsize to fit your body.

Another weirdness - the photography. Some of the projects have a lot of good shots and different angles (you know - whole garment plus stitch pattern or shaping details). And then others just... don't. Like the Architect scarf - what does it look like unfolded? If you look closely, you can see the stripe pattern in the picture on the wall on the background, but the scarf itself is all folded up.

And while I like the variety of patterns - lacy skirt, keyboard cover, etc - because it's nice seeing something unusual in with some classic patterns. But you also have a felted horse blanket using Noro. I repeat - NORO!! That's really nice yarn to work with and to felt - but then keep in a barn?? I don't know who's got the budget for that (well, maybe horse people) but certainly not me. Just the basic yarn puts it at like 3x the cost of a basic saddle blanket, according to a quick Google search, and that's not counting the time and effort! Just sayin'

I like the little extras - trivia and recipes and such - because it seems like those really reflect the atmosphere of the shop itself. But the actual patterns? I don't there's one that really spoke to me. Like I said, not one I'd pick up for myself. But to each their own, and maybe you'll be more inspired than I was.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book, with a very "L.A." feel. It's pink and fluffy. There are some nice patterns (The polo shirt looks comfy), but nothing that jumped off the page and said, "You must knit me NOW." The patterns are mostly comfy West coast styles.

I guess my envy was spiked a little by her story of opening the Knit Cafe: "I was creating a place for me. I wanted a space where I could do many of my favorite things--listen to music, drink tea, play with wonderful yarns, think up fun ideas to knit and crochet, and meet new people." That sounds pretty fab.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very inviting. I love all the funky, bright colors that seem to explode from the pages of this book. They have an excellent assortment of colors on every page. The patterns in this book were pretty cool, but I didn't see anything that caught my eye. I would recommend this book, even if you just want to look through it and get inspired.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Vesper Stamper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is 50% really really boring patterns. Good thing I got it for $4.99 on a really good Amazon sale. A good book for a beginner, but some of the things (the Love Blanket?!) are just fugly...and for the TIME it would take...and ALL that stockinette...heavens...

Still, I've made the guitar messenger back (VERY cool), but the lacy skirt was a disaster--the sizing was ALL wrong. It'll have to be pleated. Anyway, I like having knitting books around. It's a "cute" book.

[Stefani]

Different... Has a few extras here and there, like stories and recipes. Good patterns.

Architect scarf (pg 22-23)
Guitar messenger bag (pg 52-56)
Terry bathrobe [children] (pg 118-121)

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some innovative patterns that are fun and colorful to knit. Patterns run small so I just make adjustments.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos. reasonable patterns, most of which are not over the top _Exceot of course the full length gown). I love looking through this book

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Along with knitting instruction, it's also the story of a little knitting shop and some of the customers.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a couple of very sweet children's patterns in the book.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a gift this fall, and already I've knit a few things from it. I especially like the basic hat pattern, which makes it easy to use yarn of any weight and texture.

[Aquit · Rating 2 out of 5]

A warm and cozy up knitting book to read when it's raining--or snowing. The patterns are pretty and some look really simple to do.

[whimsicalmeerkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book with some patterns I really like. The tone was a bit obnoxious at times, but in an ignorable way

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this one was not to my liking, I think there would be a lot of knitters who will really enjoy this book.

[La · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK. Definitely more advanced than a basics or beginners handbook, but I guess most of the projects just weren't my style.

[Ali]

honeycomb stitch

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kat Coyle Kat's Pretty Pink Dress