Knitting at Bloglander talks about everything related to knitting including yarn, patterns, and DIY knitting projects.

In the DIY crafting community, there is a little phenomenon called amigurumi. Basically, it’s a Japanese word for cuter than cute crocheted stuffed toys in the shape of animals or objects. I really want to learn how to crochet so I can make some adorable amugurumi creatures, but I still need to get better at this knitting thing. Hmm, one thing at a time, right?

I was about to give up the idea of making stuffed toys when I came across World of Knitted Toys by Kath Dalmeny and happily purchased it after flipping through a few pages. What a wonderful book this is, full of adorable knitted toys! Each creature has a corresponding pattern that is very easy to understand and follow. There are also difficulty levels listed so you know what you’re getting into. So far I’ve made a few dolphins and little kids just adore them. I plan to make a few spotted pigs when I can find the perfect shade of piglet pink!

So if you’re more of a knitter than a crocheter like me and want to dive into the world of amigurumi, give this book a try before picking up a crochet hook!

Okay, I admit, the cover of this book had me take a second glance. Ooh-la-la, what an adorable little pink knitted number! Sexy Little Knits: Chic Designs to Knit and Crochet by Ashley Paige is in a class of knitting books that are definitely not for your granny. Paige is a celebrity swimsuit designer who has had her flirty, fresh, and fun swimsuits grace the pages of Elle, Seventeen, InStyle, and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Sexy Little Knits is a collection of twenty-four patterns for fun summer pieces, from swimwear and tanks to dresses and shorts. The popular knit and crochet patterns combine sophisticated color and fun stitches with elegantly form-fitting shapes.

Each pattern is accompanied by clear instructions and helpful suggestions for customizing these designs with fun trims, clever color choices, options for more (or less) coverage, and creative stitch possibilities. Lushly photographed by fashion favorite Yu Tsai, Sexy Little Knits makes it easy to create a whole summer wardrobe at home or on the beach.

“The percentage of women under forty-five who knit or crochet has doubled since 1996,” says Debbie Stoller, author of Stitch `n Bitch. This little book single-handedly took the activity of knitting from “old and frumpy” to “sassy and hip.” Suddenly, everyone from my little cousin Emily to big-name Hollywood stars are into knitting. They know where their LYS is and are proud to show off and talk about their WIP whenever the subject is brought up (”Local Yarn Store” and “Work In Progress,” respectively).

Continue reading “Stitch ‘n Bitch” …