| NEW! 60 More Quick Knits in Cascade 220 Sport |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |
Title: 60 More Quick Knits in Cascade 220 Sport
Author: Wendy Williams, editor Date Published: Fall 2011 Review Date: December 6, 2011
Who is this book for? Just like its predecessors, 60 More Quick Knits in Cascade 220 Sport is treasure trove of quick gifts and accessories. This eclectic collection focuses on accessories knit in Cascade’s new sport weight yarn. You’ll find 20 masterful designs each of hats, scarves and mittens. Patterns feature retro cum chic designs like the textured earflap or newsboy hats, traditional color patterned Baltic and Scandinavian mittens, lacy or cabled scarves, and fun funky projects like the puppy dog hat and birdcage beanie. With over 60 patterns, there are projects for all skill levels. While mile long scarves may take several skeins of yarn, most of the projects in this new book can be knit with one or two skeins of Cascade 220 Sport. From here it’s a toss-up: you will be back to knit more of the great designs, or you will be back because you can’t get enough of this wonderful new yarn. Either way, 60 More Quick Knits in Cascade 220 Sport will be your companion through many knitting adventures.
What Yarn Does it Feature? Cascade 220 Sport is used for all 60 projects. Recently introduced by Cascade Yarns, 220 Sport is a light weight 100% Peruvian Highland wool yarn, crisply spun for great stitch definition. It works up at 5.5 to 6 stitches per inch, creating a canvas that allows for finely detailed elements in lace and color patterning. Cascade 220 Sport is available in a range of 68 colors that light up the imagination. The palette includes a nice selection of natural tones, too, for those who prefer to work in more subtle shading.
What's Inside Randomly arranged inside, the 60 patterns include 20 hats, 20 scarves and cowls, and 20 mittens, gloves, gauntlets and fingerless mittens. The designs utilize a range of skills from color patterning to cables to lace. Many are simple enough for beginners and others like the tulip mittens, hourglass embossed mitts, and double knit checkerboard scarf will give even advanced knitters pride to say, “I made that.” The feminine designs are for women of all ages, and most are written in one size to fit the average adult. Each skill-rated pattern is presented in full color with crisply written instructions that include a brief description, stitch glossary, charts, and finishing tips. The attractive layout and lush photography present each accessory in its best light, and paging through the book takes on a frenzied pace as each successive object receives a mental vote of approval. Chances are that, by the time you reach the end of the book, you still won’t know where to start your wish list as nearly every project was voted “I want to make that one.”
Using It Dive in anywhere to knit one of the charming patterns in this book. You could approach it by picking out all the hats, scarves or mittens. Alternatively, you could use it as a tutorial and explore all the color pattern knitting, all the cables, or all the lace stitches. Feverish knitters may just jump in and move from one favorite to the next. Whatever your method, it is nearly certain you will not stop with just one project.
Best Pattern One of the delightful things about a book that uses the same yarn throughout is that you can pretty much dispense with those troubling gauge swatches. While gauge isn’t overly critical in scarves, mittens and hats should fit to perfection. You’ll get a sense of your gauge with the first project you make, and can sail along thereafter with successive projects. Likewise, using the same yarn for several similar projects can be a good device for improving your knitting skills. You won’t have to account for differences in the yarn and can concentrate on learning the stitches and improving the consistency of your knitting. And, finally, you can be certain that the yarn will perform well in these designs as they were specially selected to feature Cascade 220 Sport.
Recommendation 60 More Quick Knits will keep you busy knitting pattern after pattern. These small projects are ideal to fit in between or as a relief from larger, more complicated undertakings like sweaters and shawls. If you keep one of these projects in your knitting bag along with this portable book you can while away the commute or shuttle flight. You could knit your entire gift list in short order with just this book and a few hanks of yarn. Overall Recommendation I highly recommend 60 More Quick Knits and rate it #10.
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