Reviews

I purchased this as a gift for my sister in law. A couple of weeks ago i recieved a sample for my new baby and it is adorable. She likes the book, she said many of the projects are hard but she has not had any troubles so far. Other reviews mentioned mistakes in the patterns but she has made 3 different projects ( hippo, giraffe and elephant i think) with no problems

I love this book. I have made the santa and bag. I plan on making the mouse next. My 9 yr old grand daughter loves the santa and he will sit on a shelf of honor in the family room all year. I am not so good at multi-needle patterns. The instructions were simply straight-forward and I had no problems with making Santa. I do enough knitting on a budget that I don't opt for the expensive yarns. I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn purchased at the local Wal-Mart and size 4 needles purchased at a flea market with excellent results. I used round beads for the eyes and pulled the threads taut for a little (needle sculpting) different look. My biggest complaint about any knitting instruction pattern is the loyalty to a certain type or brand of yarn. I always try to adapt the patterns to use the yarn I prefer or have access to. This book adapts well. I am pleased to see so many reviews on this book. Some of the patterns seem very simple, maybe too simple. But I also enjoy this approach because I can take any pattern and add my own touch to create something by my own hand and vision. I have already found a little golden book containing the story of The Princess and the Pea and will make this simple little doll. Many children enjoy a simple toy and again, I can fancy it up a little. The simplicity allows me a spring board of sorts for my own creativity. The baby doll is the cutest I have ever seen in knit. I will have to make that for the fair project of the year. I plan on attacking the bird/egg/nest set for Easter baskets. Those are a bit more challenging and more than cute. I love all the sock yarns but don't make socks (as of yet anyway). So I welcome the idea of making a monkey or bear out of the stuff. Lastly I would like to applaud the size and design of the book overall. The book is easy to hold in my lap and opens flat due to the spiral binding. It is easy to stuff in my rather small to go knitting bag. I actually covered the book in a school book cover to protect the pretty cover and hide my current obsession.

I love, love, love this book! Super easy to follow with so many cute, fun patterns and the bonus for me is many are unisex.

I have to admit to being a lazy knitter. On numerous occasions I've started a project without finishing it, either because I get bored or become frustrated by confusing instructions. But even so, I love this book. I just finished two koala bears, and I can't wait to start on a bunny. The bears were so cute as they came together that I couldn't put my needles down. (And, I'd never used double-pointed needles before, but the instructions are very clear.) The other thing I like is that so many of the projects are appealing. I rarely buy knitting books b/c usually I only like one or two of the patterns, but I can imagine trying about 75% of the toys in this book.

I just love all Susan B. Andersons knitting instruction books. The directions are clearly written, the illustrations or pictures make following the directions so easy. And, the toys are adorable - just the right size for little hands, all of which lend them to the development of imaginative play.

Reviews

thanks for the trade, parcel arrived quickly and in good condition for international purchase. Pleased with trade

I have found this book has wonderfully designed finger puppets for me to knit for friends and family, young and old. A very professional approach in design to much loved "friends" of nursery rhymes and nursery tales. Thank you for sharing your skills with me.

I love the book. It is in great shape. I don't mind the name on the inside.

Over thirty easy-to-make finger puppet toy projects are offered in a fine guide of easy patterns modeled on popular kids' characters and everyday figures, and will be perfect for beginning knitters with small friends to knit for. Three theme 'collections' are included in this outstanding resource.

I am beginning to knit again after many years away from it. I thought I would try my hand at finger puppets for my grandchildren. Boy was I wrong. These puppets are too tiny for my beginning status. I was thinking they would be something simple but they have several color changes and are worked in the "round" with double pointed needles. This would be a good book for a very advanced knitter. If you have made socks or done any other work in the "round" with double pointed needles, then you will have a grasp of what is needed to create these cute puppets. The directions are not overly complicated to read IF you know the abbreviations and how to work each type of stitch. Do you know what ssk means? It is a left slant: slip, slip, knit. Even reading the directions, I didn't get how to do this stitch. There is a section on "how-to" but most of it goes over my head. The patterns are also skill rated but even the ones marked as easy are still worked in the round, rather than worked flat and sewn together. There are over 30 different puppets to knit and they would make great gifts for children. These are especially nice when a child needs to be entertained quietly and without electrical power! Just make sure your skills match the difficulty level.

Reviews

I have been buying quite a few of Nicky Epsteins books and have found this book to be up to her excellent high standard of quality design, instructions and gorgeous photos which both myself and my grandaughters love looking at to choose which outfit to make next.

This book goes far beyond Barbie. It has become my favorite knitting pattern book! The doll patterns are adorable, but usually call for tiny amounts of fine-gauge, hard-to-find yarns. I personally am not planning to knit a doll sweater. If you are a Barbie Doll lover though, you will certainly find some wonderful things to make. But the book also has patterns for girls, boys, women and men (one "Dad" sweater). Nicky Epstein has some wonderful techniques in her patterns which make for beautifully finished sweaters. I am at the advanced-beginner level, and her book makes it easy to turn out professional looking sweaters by using methods like a three-needle bind-off at the shoulders, and making sleeves by picking up stitches at the shoulder and knitting down toward the cuff. The writer suggest specific yarns to use, but she also gives you plenty of information about gauge and yardage so that it is easy to substitute a different yarn. My daughter and I love to look through the book and pick out our "next" patterns. There are lots of matching mother and daughter patterns (plus doll, of course) which look equally nice on women and girls. I have already made the father-and-son rugby sweaters, and my next project will be a soft little cardigan for my daughter, with a fluffy collar and cuffs and matching fluffy headband. For myself I would like to make the raglan sleeved turtleneck. Nicky Epstein has some awesome knitting books out on embellishments and edges, and home decor. I wish she would write some more sweater patterns too, because she makes it very easy to make a great looking garment.