The Urban Knitter

Rating:
Summary: When you try to sell yourself as "Hip", you aren't
Review: A deceptive little book. First you think the designs are by these "hip" young knitters. Maybe not. The more I read, the more it appeared they inspired them - the actual design work was Chin's. I find the ambiguity bothersome because I beleive the intention was for the reader to credit our "HYUKs"(geez, I hate cutsie acronyms!) as the designers.
Now that I think about it, my opinion probably is worthless since I'm now just north of 40 - evidently never to be relevant or "hip" again.

Rating:
Summary: No pot holders here! Great little portfolio of projects.
Review: A knit-book junkie, I recently picked up a copy of this little number for my collection. I enjoyed the really interesting mix of projects for beginning and intermediate knitters. I consider myself to be a seasoned knitter who can handle projects with varying difficulties, but I appreciated that the easier patterns weren't just pot-holders and long scarves. I confess that all of the projects didn't jump right out at me, but let's face it, what knitting book can claim that? Besides, there is something more to appreciate about Lily's book than first meets the eye: the incredible attention to detail that goes into every pattern.

I selected the men's raglan sweater to knit up -- chose a cool silk yarn. The pattern itself was easy enough, but what was completely impressive were the way the pieces fit together perfectly, right down to the matching seams. Of note, Lily added this fabulous decrease "tuck" at the shoulder that really made it look professional and downright cool. If you're from the Elizabeth Zimmerman school of knitting, this sort of pattern detail is lost on you (don't get me wrong, Lizzie's my idol). On the other hand, if your idea of a perfect evening is s flawless seam or a perfectly graduated arm, don't overlook this book.

Rating:
Summary: Urban? Where???
Review: I am fairly experienced at knitting and live in Chicago. I found the approach of featuring different women and their patterns engaging but the patterns didn't seem urban and chic to me. I don't forsee making any of them, so the book hasn't been of much use.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I bought this book hoping to find some interesting designs for the under 30 (and just barely 30) set and what I found were bland, blah and unbelieveable (I won't be knitting myself a bra anytime soon). Not very useful.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I got this book sight unseen thinking it was a book of Lily's designs. WRONG! Very boring and blah! I turned around and donated mine to the local library. There are tons of better books out there and don't waste your money on this one. It's a stinker.

Rating:
Summary: She Stoops To Conquer?
Review: I wish Lily had simply pulled together all her marvelously challenging technical knitting columns with a few new designs and called it a book! Any one of her magazine columns or any one already published flattering and clever design is worth more than this entire book. I thought perhaps it was because I am half again as old as Lily that none of the designs spoke to me in the slightest. I am a painstaking knitter of socks and also doll clothes, and I lived in San Francisco until recently. I realize the world is full of (other) happy successful people who happen to knit. Many of them are young and rail thin with plenty of spending money and love to knit a colorful lumpy pullover in a weekend. I love 'em and I love Lily, but ten minutes with this book convinced me to save my money. I am going to spring for the Sweaters from Camp book and the Twisted Sisters sock book.

Rating:
Summary: Dropped Stitches
Review: I'm a big fan of Lily's trendy, cool, witty designs that have been showcased in Knitter's and other publications, and assumed this would be a collection of her designs. Whoops... shoulda read the reader reviews! I didn't realize this was a compendium of drab, amateurish, lumpy-looking items designed by non-professionals, and aimed at those just getting into knitting. Some of the ideas, like the bra top and the shoes, were almost a tiny bit cute-ish (is this called damning with faint praise?)- but I wouldn't be bothered taking the time to make any of them.

While I like the idea of showcasing atypical, young and ultra-trendy knitters, this wasn't my dream book. However, I would welcome a book of Lily's own creations.

Rating:
Summary: It grew on me...
Review: Like so many other younger knitters, I am a big fan of Lily Chin's designs and her highly technical column in Knitter's. I was quite excited when I heard about this knitting book and it was a bit of a letdown when I actually saw it.

As pointed out before, the color pictures are stuck in the center of the book so that the reader has to stick her thumb in the pages to save her place so she can see what the project will actually look like. Also, the finished designs are not modelled, they are photographed less attractively on a shelf, like a department store ad or something. It's a shame since I think it would have been cool to see the young designers modeling their creations.

Ok, that's the bad stuff. Here's the good stuff. The book is well-written with a short knitter's bio of each of the Urban Knitters Ms. Chin selected for the book. Many of the designs have little twists and touches that makes them more professional and unique than your average knitting patterns. The design of the knitted bra is a definate highlight and though I know I am in the minority, I thought the knitted shoes were kinda neat. They just would have looked better if there had beem a model. Shoes (especially sandals) don't look too exciting by themselves.

Advice? This is a tough one. Look at the sample pages, maybe even borrow a copy from a friend or from the library and see if this book contains the sort of things you enjoy knitting. But then again, this is a fairly inexpensive knitting book so if you feel adventurous, take the leap as I did. Maybe the book will grow on you too!

Rating:
Summary: A workshop with Lily Chin at a bargain price.
Review: This book is like taking a workshop class with Lily Chin, except the price is a bargain and you get to keep a set of detailed notes that Lily herself wrote for you!

As a busy mom, I don't have time to write reviews, but I had to write this one because I don't feel that the reviews written do this book justice.

Reading this book, you learn a lot about how to match a yarn to a project, what to consider during the design process, some special Lily Chin techniques that have worked for her, how to ustom shape a knitted item to your own shape, and many other useful tips and concepts for knitting.

Everytime I read this book over, I learn something new. I have read it several times, and even purchased a second copy just in case my first copy gets damaged or lost.

I would say that this book is similar to reading one of Elizabeth Zimmerman's books, where there is lots of talk about knitting and few fancy looking pictures or garments.

The book was not well marketed in that it seems to be a book aimed at hip knitters looking for hip designs -- in which case, they should have put more money into photography, models, graphics and layout to create a hip look. Instead, they tried to make the production of the book as affordable as possible, so the price would be affordable. But the end result is that the book and the garments don't look snazzy at all.

The patterns included in the book are all well designed basics that we could all use. I think that they would probably much more attractove looking if they were on models or mannekins. I have to say that I haven't had time to knit any of the patterns yet, but I want to do several.



Rating:
Summary: Lots of Nice Designs @ A Great Price
Review: This is a wonderful book aimed at young,fashion conscious knitters. There are 20 projects in the book. I am 40 & have been knitting since 1968 but found plenty of designs I'd like to make--the unisex garter-striped diagonal vest, the cardijacket and the evening cardijacket preeminent among them. I can't imagine wanting to knit shoes or a sports bra, but it's nice to have patterns available should I change my mind. She has designs for garments, socks, household items, stoles, and purses. The designs vary widely in skill required and there is something for everyone, including men. There is a short article about the knitters for whom Chin created the items,with accompanying photograph. And I hope the low price of the book sets a trend!