The Knitter’s Bible – Knitted Accessories by Claire Crompton
Today I’m doing an easier book. By easy I mean that I could read and review in one sitting – 128 pages and I could skim through it pretty easily.
The important info: The Knitter’s Bible – Knitted Accessories by Claire Crompton (published in 2006 first in the UK).
Thumbs up or down: I’m having a hard time deciding on this one. I like a couple of projects, but I hated the English (UK) slant in language and instructions. To be fair, it was really designed to be published in the UK and doesn’t seem to have been Americanized.
Knitted Accessories – Back Cover
I’m going to begin on a positive note. I did love the back flap with a ruler and abbreviations. Very clever and helpful for the knitter, although some of the abbreviations are not ones commonly used in the US.
Back Flap with abbreviations and ruler
two-needle mittens
I usually love books of accessories. They always make good gifts or are good charity projects. I admit that I really hate mittens, gloves and wrist warmers that are made on two needles that require seaming when complete. This book seems to have only the two-needle type of accessories. I’m assuming that the author must have thought this would be easier for a novice knitter. Overall a beginner knitter might have problems following this book. There is a lot of info on combining yarns to change the weight, but the explanation is not too clear for a knitter who doesn’t know about various types of yarns. Also, the “how-to” info (while very well done) is way in the back of the book. The author’s explanations of fibre (UK spelling), combining yarns, weight and texture of yarns is a bit stiff and would be a bit confusing for someone just coming into the knitting world.
How-to Illustrations
A couple of the projects I did like that make me want to consider this book a keeper.
Cabled Wristwarmers
Mitered Square Scarf
I did like the author’s addition of a page of flowers that could be used to attach to hats or scarves or as pins.
Knit Flower Illustrations
As a recap, I’d say that as an American knitter, the biggest gripe I have with this book is it’s non-American slant in writing, abbreviations and spelling. Otherwise a handy resource for making accessories.
nancyjthomas 