Encyclopedia of Knitting and Crochet for Blocks, Blankets and Throws

Sept 08

There are a great many general books on knitting and crochet, and quite a few about making wearables of various types. But one type of project that every yarncrafter makes at some time or another are these type of home accessories, as well as all sorts of other items made up in blocks. This is a large subject deserving of its own book - and now there is one.

The first thing I noticed even when I was only leafing through the book to get a first impression of it was its thoroughness. Search Press books are invariably thorough, but this book is a particularly fine example and addresses just about every question you can think of pertaining to the subject, and then some. If you want to carry your project about there is a pattern for a unique bag, if you wonder how to marry your yarn with a project not meant for it then you can find out how. From choosing colors to designing your own projects, learning new stitches to measurements of standard beds it is all here it seems. It is certainly not a book aimed at the beginner, but for the experienced yarncrafter who is looking for a challenge and is keen to chart their own work and adapt all kinds of existing items for use. I was impressed; it is a book to use a bit at a time and learn from, one for your keeper shelf. One of this publisher's best yarncraft books in my opinion.

Oct 08

Clear step-by-step photographs and instructions guide us through all the skills we need to make beautiful blankets and throws from basic knitting and crochet stitches to Fair Isle and intarsia techniques. We learn how to read patterns, adapt cross-stitch graphs and chart our own designs. The book includes an inspirational gallery of designs and motifs with complete stitching instructions, cross-referenced to the techniques within the book.

Sept 08

A soft cover book of 144 pages that bears the Search Press hallmark of copious, high quality, colour illustrations and diagrams. The worked samples are some of the neatest I have ever seen in print. The absence of the word 'Afghan' from the title indicates that it is not aimed at the US market and this is borne out by the fact that the crochet instructions use British terminology.

The techniques and ideas are wide-ranging (from the merits of alpace yarn to a zig-zag wave stitch pattern) and can be used for far more than blocks, blankets or throws. There is plenty here to stimulate any knitter or crocheter looking for stitch patterns, textures, joining ideas and general know-how.

Personally, I would have liked to have seen more illustrations of completed pieces and I would quibble at the term 'encyclopedia' when there is no index entry for I-cord or tubular knitting, but at GBP12.99 this is very good value for anyone interested in designing their own items based on blocks or rectangles.

Lesley Fidler

Dec 08

Luise Roberts set herself a task to see how many different shapes she could create for blankets and throws, and to find solutions to the inevitable problem of the wrong side facing out. This book is the result! After starting off with technical advice, from yarn subsitution to charting ideas, the book goes on to stitch pattern block repeats. Luise then shows how to use these to design blankets and throws. This is followed by a stitch directory that codes each sample by skill level, and then a project section including a charming cushion, Fair Isle throw, shrug and more.