Knit Tricks!: Easy Shaping Techniques: 25 Stylish Projects from Simple Rectangles

by Rebecca Wat

Book Overview

These Knit Tricks are revolutionary Author Rebecca Wat has created inventive methods to transform the simplest knitted shape into elegant ponchos, shrugs, vests, tops, scarves, gloves, and bags. Then simple beading, ribbons, and easy embellishments add the finishing touch. Fun to make and fun to wear, many of these projects are worked in surprising ways: top down, sideways, sleeve first, even border first. And best of all--there' s no increasing or...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571205357
• ISBN13: 9781571205353
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: C&T Publishing
• Length: 95 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Beginner friendly

This book is great for beginners or people like me with little patience. I don't like reading charts. Patterns sometimes get me mixed up in the wording. This book is based on the basic rectangle. It has some unique patterns that use this concept. Since I needle knit and loom knit it lends itself to be able to translate to a loom without any trouble. I can use the knitting rake or round looms. I can use straight needles or circular ones. The patterns don't look like what you would expect, not boxy and unyielding.It teaches you to look outside the 'box'.

Every thing I expected.

Purchased as a gift for my daughter, has very nice patterns and great ideas. Pictures were well done. Since daughter has only knitted blankets and afghans, thought square or rectangular projects would be a good starting point for other items.

knit tricks, not too tricky

i requested this book as a gift, before it came out and not having seen what was inside of it. it's nothing ground breaking but the ideas and patterns really aren't too bad! i know that lots of people hate non-shaped clothing. as a large busted (and i mean 44 inches), i typically go for things that DO have shaping, such as Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits. however, this book has patterns that don't necessarily require fitting to look good (i think!) i say i think because i am currently knitting my first pattern from this book. it's the big cross top. it's basically two scarves that are intertwined to create a sweater. the design is simple enough that i can actually knit it while watching subtitled movies. the "fit" from this sweater in particular comes from the ribbing that's done on the chest, creating a "fitted" style. since there isn't any shaping, not surprisingly, the book has quite a few ponchos and shrugs. the only section of the book that i have no intention of making anything from is the Tops section (with the exclusion being the sweater that i'm currently working on) for the fact that these sweater are in fact, very boxy. only one has "shaping" and it's just decreases in the top and the bottom. however, if you are a very thin, not very large boobed person, these sweaters might look great on you. as you already know, i'm NOT that person! there are also sections on vests (only two, one is actually a bolero in my opinion and the other is a very *odd* convertible vest/tote bag), scarves (basic, basic patterns. not very exciting), gloves/gauntlets, and bags (there are only three, a cabled one, a checker board one, and a drawstring one). i give this book 4 stars because it's a good book very SUPER beginners. i've been knitting for 10 years but don't enjoy cables or fair isle (does that make me really strange?) so i like the simplicity. i personally would probably only make 10 of these 25 patterns, which i guess isn't too bad of a percentage. i guess it does make a difference that i didn't pay the retail price of $27. i might have held off on paying full price in a big box book store if the book hadn't been a gift. be warned though, that in addition to minimal shaping, some of these patterns are REALLY REALLY FRILLY. ***now that i've gotten a little into the pattern, i'm REALLY frustrated that there's no diagrams. the sweater i'm knitting has no finished size to it, and after 4 swatches, i'm SORTA on the right track. close enough at least for someone with a bust of my size. it's going to be bigger than what i'm figuring for what the pre-stated gauge is. i'm not using the suggested yarn but for a pattern that calls for size 9 needles, i'm using size 11 and i typically knit pretty average when it comes to tension. so either the gauge is off or my tension has completely changed between this project and the other one that i'm working on at the same time (which i got gauge for!!!) i'm going to keep working on the sweater because i don't