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- Verified Buyer
I bought this book for the small projects. Many seem outdated or just not my taste, but enough seem generally useful...great for all my leftover yarn, giving small handmade housewarming gifts or for stocking stuffers. There are only so many hats and scarves to knit, so the ideas in this book provide some alternatives. I liked the idea of knitting quick projects for the home.Last week I checked out Suss Cousins' "Home Knits". Now here is a book that would I not only not buy but one which I would not have bothered to lug home from the library if I had looked at it first.Wow.Now, I don't like to call people names but I think these patterns must are very pretentious indeed. Anyone who can get away with publishing a book full of patterns such as a vase cozy (yes, for those of you who have vases shivering on the mantlepiece, here is your answer) or alpaca lampshades deserves to be called pretentious. However, I think the snob prize goes to the "knitted wall art" pattern. This one had me almost peeing myself. This pattern is all about knitting some huge squares with ugly circles of differing colors in them and then hanging them from your ceiling via wire, thus creating what can only be described as a kindergarten project masquerading as mass produced art from Target.Now, don't get me wrong here. I am all for elevating knitting to it's proper place but I think the hipsters out there are going a bit overboard. I am sure (if you're a knitter) that you have noticed this trend whereby we all try to pretend that knitting today has absolutely nothing to do with what our mothers, grandmothers or great grandmothers did. This is not only ridiculous but self-defeating. In depriving ourselves of our knitterly heritage, we are really resigning the current popularity of knitting to a fad's death. I love to see crazy fiber art as much as the next gal but I'm drawing the line at a vase cozy, which is neither art nor useful.However, I am a conciliating kind of person. I don't like to leave things as they are and so, in the spirit of knitterly sister and brotherhood, I offer you, kind readers, my newest pattern...Ahna's Postmodern Existential Hip Young Table Leg CozyMaterials: Some rather expensive, preferably organic and completely unwashable yarn and a pair of size 3 US circular needles.Pattern:Cast on twelve stitches and join without twisting the yarn.Knit several rounds until it looks just simple, just Ethan Allen enough, and then throw in a harshly clashing stripe of some kind of hideous color.Change back to Color A and continue knitting until you start to feel a midlife crisis coming on and then knit a hot pink skull into your table leg cozy to show how young and punk (but still girly) you are.Change back to Color A and continue knitting until cozy is fourteen inches from cast on edge.Cast Off.[...]Subtitled: Luxurious Handknits for Every Room of the HouseThis book is the latest offering from Suss Cousins, author of two previous knitting books (Hollywood Knits and Hollywood Knits-Style). Best known for her yarn collection and designs for Hollywood movies (her latest project can be seen on Tim Allen in Santa Clause 3), in Home Knits Cousins designs 30 projects to bring her trademark style to your home.When Cousins moved to a new home, she was inspired to create the designs in Home Knits. The designs combine the clean Swedish designs Cousins grew up with, and mix old with new. Since she wanted to use a subdued color palette, the designs in Home Knits have an emphasis on texture. In some projects, unusual materials are employed: curtain tiebacks are made using cotton twill tape, and coasters are constructed out of jute twine; however, the rest of the patterns are made using Cousins' line of yarn. Any of these designs can be made using other yarn, and a helpful yarn substitution guide is included at the back of the book.Home Knits has patterns for knitters of all skill levels for everything from pillows and napkin rings to bedspreads and wall hangings. Beginners will be tempted by the luxurious colors and textures of the Big Pillow Cover or the softness of the Luxurious Bedcover. More experienced knitters will be itching to knit up one of Cousins' lampshades or her Ottoman Cozy. Experts will want to knit up the Kimono Robe in their favorite color or be inspired to create their own piece of wall art.Suss Cousins' next book, Wedding Knits: Handmade Gifts for Every Member of the Wedding Party, will be published by Potter Crafts on January 2, 2007.Armchair Interviews says: Ready, set, knit.I admit I'm not a fan of knitting odd objects just for the sake of knitting, but even so, I found this book surprisingly uninspiring. The colors range from white to beige, with a little cream and brown thrown in for variety, which some might find soothing but seemed just dull to me. As for the patterns, most knitters who are not total beginners don't need a pattern to do a square stockinette pillow or, for pete's sake, a coaster. The items that do need patterns are not things most people knit and for good reason - who needs to spend hours on lampshade covers, vase cozys, or shoe bags? Chair cushions, sure - except these had big buttons on them - so NOT comfortable. Last but not least, each and every pattern calls for the author's own brand of yarn. I'm not thinking that this book is going to sell much of it for her.The gorgeous ideas, colors, textures and photographs make it a great book for re-energizing my creative juices when I am low. I admit I am a cheat and plan to convert the patterns to things I can make on my knitting machine. My three favorite designs are the lamp shade cover, the ottoman cozy and the knitted art. Even for someone who never plans to knit a stitch, it is a great book to simply look through and savor.The selections are chic and sophicated but easy to follow. Its nice to be able to find something people will enjoy receiving or even to liven up a room in your house. She has wonderful instructions in every book on how to's for those who are beginning or even a brush up on those maybe you've forgotten. You don't have to use her yarn (it is her book) but you can find mountains of subsitutes in any yarn store.Love this collection of knitting designs. I knit all the time, every day but am not super talented or skilled and and find this collection accessible and beautiful. I am glad I purchased this one and am recommending it to my friends. KBS
