Weekend Knitting is a lovely book. It has beautiful photographs, and some really fantastic patterns. Also some completely useless ones. But this isn't so rare for a pattern book. And it should be noted that this is, in fact, a pattern book. Don't go looking in here for detailed descriptions on how to complete certain stitches, this isn't the book for that. So, onto the knitty gritty, which would of course be, the patterns!!
HOME AND HEARTH
Flower Washcloth This is probably one of the more popular patterns. I've made this, although I subbed the yarn. I found this to be a really quick and easy pattern to knit up. No surprises, or difficulties. Photo on my blog.
Turtleneck Egg Cozies What the hell? Who in their right mind would knit egg cozies? I mean, seriously? EGG COZIES? They're teeny, tiny little sweaters to put on a hard boiled egg. They are cute, however if viewed as a christmas tree ornament, and maybe I'll make some for that. But they're basically just teeny tiny little sweaters. Included is how to boil an egg. Um, thanks for that. So, ok for Christmas tree ornaments, but not much else. Unless you're the kind of crazy @ss person who feels the need to keep hard boiled eggs warm. And if you are, please, step slowly away from the computer and call your local asylum.
Fluffy Afghan or Lap Blanket
A pattern for a lap blanket. Not the most exciting looking blanket, especially because the one in the photo looks, in my opinion to be a color best inspired by vomit. Vomit of someone who ate too much cotton candy. Um. Yeah. But a few friends have seen this and commented how they'd really like one in another color. So maybe it's just me.
Lace Edge Pillow Cases Ok, I love this. It's so simple, really. Just a knitted lace panels. You would then take these panels, remove the edge of your pillow case, and sew these in between the body of the case and the edge. The resulting look is really, really pretty.They would make a great wedding shower or anniversary gift, or housewarming, or get well... you get the point. If only I wouldn't have to take apart and re-sew the pillows. And they are made in cotton, so you can still wash them. Will make this one someday.
Argyle SlippersLove these. LOVE these. But, when you look at the pattern, you wonder how much you value your sani ty. I mean, for the top portion, the argyle intarsia, you're actually suppose to reduce the number of plies in your yarn before knitting. Yeah... that's gonna happen. Maybe someday I'll make these. I do LOVE the way they look, but I fear they may turn me into the sort of person who would want to keep a hard boiled egg warm.
Chair Cushions Some brightly patterned chair cushions to cover a wooden chair. They're pretty, but even in the photo you can see they're not perfect. Not perfectly aligned with the bottom of the cushion, which is fabric. And if the professionals made them a bit wonky, mine would be horrifying. So that one is on hold, too. If you're decor is very country cushy, you might looooove these. They're not really my style, though.
Willow Lace Chair Seat Ok, this is a lack chair seat, basically replacing the wooden seat, knit and then stretched taut across the bottom. It's ok, but again, I don't think I'd bother.
Floral Oat Pillow Pair Two throw pillows. I actually really like both and will make them at some point. One has a funky intarsia design, and the other has some button detail.
Farmer's Market Bag
A really large felted intarsia bag. Really pretty. Really large. Really, really large. like 16"x18" not inc. handles. But very pretty. Like all charts in this book, be prepared to get the photocopier to make you a blown up version of the chart.
Backgamon and checkers travel sets This is a really cool looking ribbed bag with a top flap that closes with a button. The checkers/backgammon bit comes into play (no pun intended), with a tie on accent to the bag, which is basically a knitted backgammon board. There is also a striped bag for holding checkers or chess pieces, to go inside the bag, and the pattern for a checkers/chess board. The basic bag would be a really cute school bag, but if you're games crazy, then go for it.
BODY AND SOUL
Lopi Lace Scarf This scarf is ok. A bulky laceish scarf made with Lopi. Yeah. Nuff said. Really, there are loads of more interesting patterns on knitty.com, so I wouldn't bother with this one.
Brioche Scarf, Hat and Neck Warmer A simple looking hat, scarf and neckwarmer which is actually made with a sort of crazy brioche stitch in the round. Hmmm... This is one of the patterns in the book where I suspect you need to be a far better knitter than I to manage it. Beware of this in the book- read through all the patterns from start to finish before starting one. This book doesn't have any system of warning you how advanced certain patterns are.
Cashmere Pullover I love this pullover. Love it. BUT, and this is a rather big BUT, the yarn for this project will run you over $400. Yeah, you read that right. And the model is wearing a t shirt under it. Why spend $400 to make a sweater in cashmere, and then wear a t-shirt under it? In fact, I'd be arrested for exposure because if I spent $400 on yarn for a sweater I may feel compelled to go out in public wearing only that sweater. Yeah. You can sub the yarn, but it still won't be cheap.
Berkshire Pullover I love this sweater, as well. Though it's basically just a raglan sweater, simple and not fussy, it's very New England, and I am a fan, and will be making this some day. Great sweater for a man. But beware the boyfriend curse.
Cache Coeur Bergamo Is that french for prettier than most bolero jackets? Really, it's like a ballet wrap, but still a bolero. It is prettier than most. But Bolero jackets are the work of the devil, so I'll pass on this one, and unless you have the non-fat body of a ballerina, you probably should, too.
Perfect Pie Shawl A mohair shawl that is apparently pie shaped when open. Pie shaped meaning round, or triangular? They don't say. Not interested in this pattern. It's ok, but again- better stuff, free on knitty, so why bother?
Union Square Poncho Not bad as far as ponchos go. Do people still wear ponchos?
Fluffy Lace Camisole and Pull off cowl This is on the needles right now. A mohair lace camisole (meant to be worn with another cami under it) and a large lace cowl which is not attached. Am making it for my best friend. It's very pretty and the reason I bought the book.
Fingerless mitts Wrist warmers. When will these go the way of the poncho? This particular pattern is for a pair knit sideways in garter stitch, with short row shaping to make them narrower at the wrist, and a hole for the thumb. Not that impressive, but if you're really into the fingerless mitt trend, you may dig these.
Garter Cuff Gloves and Mittens A really pretty, great looking pair of gloves or mittens. I plan to knit these.
Super Mittens Mittens knit with Bulky Merino. Pretty, but not very functional, they look pretty and super warm, so as long as you don't have to actually do anything with your hands in them, these'd be a winner. Like, for walking in the snow, or frolicking around in very cold weather.
Cosy Armchair and Petticoat Socks
I'm just knitting my first pair of socks now, so I can't really comment on the difficulty or ease of making these, but the first pair is a simple pair of striped socks, using three colors of yarn. The second pair are really pretty slightly lacy looking socks.
Look Back Leggings
Leg Warmers. If I WAS going to knit legwarmers it wouldn't be these. I'd make the ones in the Last Minute Knitted Gifts (review coming soon) book. These aren't so appealing, and they're legwarmers. But if you knit an egg cosy they may keep your legs warm in the hospial with the dr's in the nice white jackets...
Felted Stash Accessory Bag This bag is ok. Meant to be a stash buster using up any feltable wool you have hanging about. Problem with stash busters, at least with me, is that the feltable odds and ends I have would look craptastic all together. Like, nearly as bad as the vomit blanket. So I'll pass on this one. But if you have more of a stash than I, you might find this to be right up your alley.
Uptown Scarf A garter stitch scarf knit with super bulky yarn on enormous needles. Very quick to knit and very cool looking.The needles are enormous size 35's though.Very... Nildo... Ha ha...
THE CHARM OF CHILDREN
Almost Famous Luggy Bonnet
Rockin little intarsia earflap hat for kids in a heart or star pattern. Will definitely make this one, too.
Curly Toed Elf Slippers These are freakin adorable. They are just as described and I'll definitely be making some. In sizes for kids, or christmas stocking size. Love 'em.
Baby Blanket and Dolly A really pretty but small blanket, for use in car seat or stroller, and a doll. Might make the blanket, probably wouldn't bother with the doll. The doll is a little creepy looking, in my opinion, but it's a matter of taste.
Pure and simple pull over and cardigan A lovely pattern for a baby sweater or cardi- very simple and pretty and cute and everything a baby sweater should be. I'll be making this one!
Demin Tunic A really cute tunic pattern in seed stitch with cables for a slightly older child.
Finger Puppets Ten different finger puppet patterns to be knit on size 0 double pointed needles. No thanks. No way. I mean, really. Socks on needles smaller than some toothpicks is one thing. Finger puppets? Huge No thanks to that one. Unless I make them for my friends in the asylum. Now there's a thought...
On the whole this is a really good pattern book. I'll say again that this isn't the book for learning technique, it's just patterns. It could tell the level of difficulty, and it could have some slightly more useful things in it, but on the whole, I'm giving this one 4 stars. I wouldn't say that everything in this can be made in a weekend, unless all you do is knit. And all I do most weekends these days is knit, but the lace cowl cami will probably take me a week, but I'm also not the fastest knitter...
The photos are lovely, and there are some little articles with recipes, how to make tea, how to have a really nice bath, how to decorate with yarn, etc. On the whole, it's worth adding to your library, but check it out in person first to see if it's really your cup of tea.
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