Crochet Workshop :: Book Review

Those nice people at Quadrille very kindly sent me another book to review:: Crochet Workshop by Erika Knight due for release on the 7th June, or thereabouts.

You may remember another book, Simple Knitting by Erika Knight, that I reviewed a year back in which I praised the simplicity, the lines, the aesthetic? Well, the same team have come up with another mouth-watering book which actually made me dizzy just flicking through.

Again, the concept is that of a workshop course in which you start at the beginning, making your way through projects with increasing complexity until you have amassed an armoury of techniques at your disposal. It aims at the complete beginner. Which is just what I am.

The knitting book I actually gave to my sister (I hope she's knows that I don't part with books for love nor money, Apart from love. Obviously) as she wanted to learn to knit. And now she's knitting. Perhaps she might want to write a review of the book and/or her journey to knitting to share. I do know that this crochet workshop is right up my street... I can barely tell one end of the hook from the other, and even though I have managed to hobble together crochet projects, it's more on a wing and a prayer than actual technique. I cannot follow a pattern, and anything beyond a doily or a square is beyond me.

Looking at this book as a novice I am immediately tempted to jump right in. The projects are some of the best I've seen in a crochet book, definitely things I'd like to make. The quality is also very apparent. Again, the message that simplicity can be awesome is driven home thoroughly and it gives one a sense of being able to achieve marvellous things with very little confusion. Definitely my type of book.

Projects include :: slippers, blankets, mittens, rug, shrug, snood, a dog basket (might make one for my DH), it goes on and on. There is a pleasing array of projects to sink your teeth into.

So if you're thinking about learning to crochet, or want to get beyond a simple square, then perhaps this book would suit you?

You can pre-order the book on Amazon today.

RRP £16.99
Amazon price + delivery £11.04

Phonics Kit :: Review

As six-year-olds prepare for the first ever phonics check at school this
summer, Biff, Chip and Kipper - popular and well known in most schools in the UK under the Oxford Reading Tree umbrella, will be giving a reassuring helping hand to
parents and children who want to practise together at home.

‘My Phonics Kit’ includes a CD-ROM with eBooks and phonics support; reward
chart; sticker sheet; tips for parents; and 3 phonics workbooks. It has been
created by educational experts, to be totally in line with how children
learn to read in school. The Kit combines decoding practice with engaging
stories and interactive features.




If you're worried about how well your child is reading, or maybe you'd like to help them build up confidence at home, this little pack is a nice package with easy on the eye text, clear instructions and everything you would need to help your child learn their phonics on their way to reading.






‘My Phonics Kit’ is widely available to purchase now
RRP of £9.99
Amazon £6.10 plus free shipping.




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Book Review :: Patch! by Cath Kidston

I'm not going to lie to you. This book makes me giddy. Opening its pages and flicking through the plethora of images soothes my nerves on fraught days - I mean look at it! You'd have to be a philistine not to zone out with all that shabby chic goodness.

Like the rest of the books in this series Patch! comes with all the things you need to make the tote on the front cover. It covers all the basics and provides inspiration in bucket-loads and there are more projects than you could shake a stick at - all of which I want to make! And that should tell you something. A lot of craft books have one or two things which appeal but the rest are fillers. Not so this gem - every single thing is making itch to get back to my machine. And of all the books in this series this is by far the best in my opinion.

I genuinely love this book and if you are into patchwork and quilting, or maybe even on the brink of dabbling a toe in it's waters, this book will go a long way to inspiring and helping you.

Patch! by Cath Kidston out now.
RRP £16.00
Amazon Price & free delivery £8.29

Worth every penny.



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Book Review :: Erika Knight - Keep Calm and Cast On

"Keep Calm and Cast On is a delightful pocket book full of quotes, quips and wit plus expert troubleshooting tips and techniques to keep the contemporary knitter calm in the face of a dropped stitch."

You know when you are around people who are experts in their fields, mostly grannies who are supreme matriarchs when it comes to passing on tried and tested housekeeping tips? Well these people are worth more than gold. Tips and tricks from people who know add a depth that some books just can't. This book is meant to be your granny in your handbag for just such emergencies.

Full of quiet wisdom, it is a small book with a quotation on each page. It doesn't take long to read through them all. And when you are done it is like you feel a little bit more able than you did before.

Keep Calm Cast On: Good Advice for Knitters
Erika Knight
RRP £4.99 Amazon £3.74

On sale 7 Nov 2011

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Book Review :: Debbie Bliss Knits to Give

Is it Christmas already? Well it's almost September so it won't be long before the christmas lights are up in the department stores.

Gearing us crafters nicely up towards the giving season Debbie Bliss has another book out offering, 'Knits to Give' which is published by Quadrille, and can be pre-ordered at Amazon for the 19th September due date.

It contains 30 projects for gift ideas, broken into 'for her', 'for him', 'for baby' and 'for child', and the idea is that we all make Christmas a handmade affair this year.

















I have to be honest as say that I think Debbie Bliss' other book 'The Knitter's Year' is a far better book, containing a greater range of ideas (and more of them, at 52 projects!), but perhaps for the knitter in your life, this book would make an excellent gift all on it's own.

Whether you give the book, or keep it and knit your gifts this year, this book will have a pattern for someone in your life.


Debbie Bliss Knits to Give: 30 Knitted Gift Ideas
Published 19.Sept.2011
RRP: £18.99
Amazon: £16.14


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Apples for Crumble...

Days are beginning to merge into one as Ramadan rolls on; we live for iftar with as much mindful living as we can.

We fill our weekend with games, reading, playing and, for 'tis the season for it, apple crumble with whipped cream!

Our apples are still reddening up on the tree, and soon, insha'allah, they too will be made into pies and crumbles. And as much as I look forward to the coming season, I do so want to hold onto this one as much as possible!

What was your weekend like?


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Book Review :: Ultimate Baby Knits

A while ago I posted a review about Debbie Bliss' "The Knitter's Year" in which I commented that it had been the first book by Bliss that I had ever seen that wasn't baby knits. Well, she is back on familiar ground with a new collection of patterns just for the little people in our life.





Published by Quadrille this book is a hefty, thumping book jammed with 50 projects of all description for babies all the way up to two years old.

It has everything you ever feel like knitting for a new baby - baby blankets, bootees, cardigans, sweaters, toys, wrap, slippers, and a favourite project of mine - the little "bag" similar to the gro-bag (but with arms and hood) to keep that lickle newborn all snuggly wuggily to the tips of it's ickle toes. Can you tell I've gotten a little broody reading through this book? Er, yeah.









The patterns are solid classics which will never go out of style, smart yet easily contemporary with enduring appeal.











For anyone who feels the urge to knit a gift for a babe-to-be then this book has enough choice and then some for a range of gifts. This book should suffice for any baby knit you would ever wish to make.

This book would be perfect for any clucky mama or granny.

It is important to note, though, that these patterns have been printed before :: this is a compendium of projects from Bliss' three previous books, so if you already have those then this book is superfluous.

It should also be noted that all yarns required are for Bliss' own (harldy a hardship since they are all simply sumptuous) and are knit up on 3.25mm needles - which might be too small for some impatient knitters out there. To counter the 3.25mm hell it should be reminded that items are ridiculously small so would knit up quickly even on small needles, and the small needle does give incredibly neat work. If you are intent on making quality items for a babe then these two minor quibbles really aren't an issue anyway.

The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss is available for Pre-Order on Amazon RRP £16.99, Amazon price £11.89