| Knitting Daily TV Series 400 (Episodes 1-13) |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
 Title: Knitting Daily TV Series 400 (Episodes 1-13)
Author: Interweave Press Date Published: 2010 Review Date: January 15, 2011
Who is this book for? Fire up the DVD, put on the kettle, and settle in for a cheery conversation with Eunny Jang, Shay Pendray, Krisitn Omdahl and a host of other knitting celebrities. Knitting Daily TV is a popular how-to program on public television that brings yarn and fiber center stage, and it is now available in a 4-DVD set for home viewing. The thirteen weekly episodes in Series 400 are devoted to fearless knitting and crochet. Viewers can develop key skills and learn more about yarn and its properties. The series covers topics in knitting, crochet, needlework, felting and spinning. Guests share their expertise with how-to tips and free pattern ideas that are also available on the companion website, knittingdailytv.com.
What Yarn Does it Feature? Yarns from sponsor companies are featured in demonstrations, but the program is far from an infomercial about these products. Episodes 405 through 408 focus on special properties of wool and cotton yarn, how to choose yarns, and what to expect when you knit with different types of yarn. Learn to card, wind a ball on a Nostepinne, and wind a skein. Nothing is out of bounds as host Eunny Jang knits with pencil roving and Mags Kandis recycles a silk skirt and tee-shirt in to yarn. Every pattern demonstrated in the series is available for free download.
What's Inside The 4-DVD set has thirteen four-part episodes with a total run time of nearly 6 hours. Each episode has four parts: getting started, designer spotlight or on-location interviews, crochet corner, and celebrity interviews. Each episode is crammed with tidbits of information delivered at a relaxed, conversational pace. You’ll want to keep the remote control handy so that you can hit the replay button often. Eunny Jang shows knitters how to knit with their right or left hands and Kristin Omdahl shows everything about crochet from slip knot to reading pattern instructions. Free form felting, embroidery, and machine knitting, finishing, design, and fashion are also presented.
Using It Knitting and crochet skills are the backbone of the series. Each on-camera demonstration uses high contrast yarns and focused close-up photography to illustrate the technique. The studio shots are far superior to some of the interviews shot on location at trade shows, where the sets are not as well organized. Fearless knitting starts with a basic skill — ripping out. Host Eunny Jang reminds viewers that “it’s just yarn” as she demonstrates three methods for ripping out mistakes and reprocessing the yarn. Along the way she sprinkles in fun facts like explaining that tinking (knit spelled backwards) is another word for un-knitting your work. Knitting Daily TV is certainly a good vehicle to learn basic skills, but there is a lot of entertainment value in it too. Meet knitting experts, designers, celebrities, yarn producers and more. These luminaries share their expertise and insights and, often, free patterns and ideas. Halcyon Blake of Halcyon Yarns introduces a free pattern for an elegantly simple cotton vest. Linda Pratt of Nashua Hand Knits explains how to add a stunning square collar to a top-down raglan shrug. Clara Parks is an enthusiastic ambassador for all sheep in the world.
Best Pattern (or Best Advice) The oft-repeated mantra on every episode is “make time for yarn every day.” If knitters and crocheters need more encouragement than that, there are plenty of helpful suggestions from the show’s hosts and guest experts. Adina Klein suggests you can become a fearless knitter by making baby garments to practice new skills. It takes much less time and materials to complete baby projects and you don’t have to be overly concerned about gauge because babies grow. Besides, she says encouragingly, babies won’t notice a blip or occasional missed stitch. Episode 404, All in the Finishing, takes the fear out of seams. It includes excellent video on mattress stitch, crocheted seams, three needle bind off and other types of seams. Kristin Omdahl’s succinct, precise and helpful crochet instruction is so good that you could learn to crochet just by watching — with or without practicing along with the video. Through every episode Shay Pendray radiates warmth and enthusiasm.
Recommendation If your local PBS station carries Knitting Daily TV, you’re probably already aware of the valuable information and tips aired on the show. Surely these viewers will enjoy having full access to the entire series of programs. Those not lucky enough to see the series regularly will be astonished at how much information is provided and how easy it is to access in the DVD format. Beginning knitters and crocheters will benefit the most from this series and it is an excellent supplement to the classes and books they may already own. Overall Recommendation Knitting Daily TV Series 400 is an excellent learning tool for anyone who wants to explore the many ways that yarn can be used for creative expression. It rates #8.
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