Rating: 
Summary: Cute projects, but a word of warning:
Review: Although there are stylish, simple projects in this book, the sizes tend to run much smaller than normal. The size small of the easy buttoned cardigan measures only 18 inches long, which must be a size 0-2. A beginner would not necessarily realize this; experts could make their own adjustments, but the book is written for those who have a bit less experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: As a knitter for many years, it's my favorite knitting book. Great photos, easy to read instructions.
Rating: 
Summary: A great book for new knitters
Review: As a knitting instructor, I think this is a great book for new knitters. The patterns are good basic patterns and they walk you through a lot of the steps to putting a good sweater together. Several of my students have made sweaters from this book and have been very happy with them. I think it's a great book for those knitters who are starting out or a seasoned knitter who would like a quick project. My only complaint about the book is that the yarns are all chunky and the lasting quality of the book may not last when the big yarns are no longer all the rage.
Rating:
Summary: easy to read instructions, good simple patterns
Review: As part of my manic knitting book purchases, I happened across this one in a tiny fibre store in Nova Scotia. The patterns are simple and straightforward, the instructions are extremely clear and if you're careful to knit up a gauge swatch, you don't have to use the pricey yarns they recommend. This book was the first to offer me a straightfoward sweater pattern that I could follow without abbrieviations or complicated shaping. I knit my very first sweater out of a pattern from this book. My only complaints are with the pricey (yet beautiful) yarns and the lack of a simple glove, mitten or sock pattern. Also, an earlier edition had some errors in the patterns, but my copy must be the newer copy, because they were corrected in mine. You can visit the yarn company's website to check out the book's original errors.
Rating:
Summary: fast and funky knits
Review: Excellent book! I have knitted several pieces in this book! I had a question and the authors e-mailed me back and helped with my questions! A must buy for every knitter!! I recommend it to everyone at our family knitting shop
The patterns are clear and the yarn selections are up to date!!
Rating:
Summary: It's just too easy
Review: For years I have wanted to learn to knit, but I always thought it looked too complicated. A friend recently bought me this book and told me I could knit most of the patterns without any experience. So far so good. This book has complete beginner instructions that are clear and easy to follow. The patterns are great and relatively simple. I made a scarf called "hole-in-one" and it only took me a few days! My friends can't believe it. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wanted to knit beautiful garments but thought it was too hard to do.
Rating:
Summary: What a fun book!
Review: Good news - the errors/omissions mentioned by earlier reviewers have been corrected in current copies of the book. (If you have an original copy of the book, these corrections can be found at www.theyarnco.com)
Here's what you get...
The first part of the book is a general instruction guide. Since I am an experienced knitter, I do not know if an absolute beginner would be able to learn from this book alone. However, the drawings and explanations seem very clear, and all the basics appear to be well covered.
The patterns are arranged into 10 groups of 3 variations on an item: funnel-neck pullovers, crewneck pullovers, cardigans, v-neck pullovers, tank tops, men's sweaters, hats, scarves, ponchos, and throws. Each pattern has clear written instructions and schematics, as well as row-by-row guides to details like armhole and neck shaping. All are very simple, stylish designs in chunky yarns.
The women's sweaters run small and the men's sweaters run large. However, since they are very simple designs, I found them easy to adjust. The recommended yarns tend to be expensive and some are now discontinued, but substitutions can be made.
One of the reasons I really like this book is the fun style in which it's written. Each pattern is accompanied by a little story of how it was created - which just makes you want to knit it all the more. Reading these stories, you feel like you're hanging out in a great yarn shop with good friends.
Rating:
Summary: Just a few observations...
Review: I also had trouble reproducing the gauges. As far as the book is concerned, I would have liked to see a section about yarn substitutions, as the yarns that they use are pretty expensive. I would have also written shorter anecdotes. One major criticism: the "step-by-step" guide that appears at the end of each pattern should probably be integrated within the pattern instead. I imagine they did it the way they did it for more experienced knitters who are familiar with the lingo in knitting patterns. For someone like me who needed a bit more explanation, it would have been nicer not to flip back and forth between the "step-by-step guide" and the rest of the pattern. The good things about this book? They are indeed quick knits which is very gratifying -- it made me love bigger knitting needles. Also, the sweaters are designed in such a way that they appeal to both young and old. It's not a bad book to have, but get it second-hand if you can.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, expensive yarn...
Review: I am a self-taught knitter and this is the book I used to learn how to knit. It is so easy to follow and the patterns are easy to follow and detailed as well. I would recommend this book to every beginner. The only downfall to this book is that all the yarn they use is EXPENSIVE! The patterns are beautiful, however, I would definitely suggest using substitutes for the yarn they suggest.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book, expensive yarn...
Review: I am a self-taught knitter, and this is the book I used to teach me. It has excellent instructions and the patterns are today's styles. The patterns are also accurate and easy to follow. The only downfall to this book is that the yarn used in the patterns are beautiful, but EXPENSIVE!! If you're willing to spend $80 plus on a sweater, I guess that's okay, but otherwise I would highly suggest using substitutes for the patterns.
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