Crochet Library: The Yarn Girl’s Guide to Simple Knits

Well, ok. If you are going to knit, you should have fun doing it! The Yarn Girls’ Guide to Simple Knits by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs is a crocheter’s knitting book. Why? Well, mainly because we crocheters are used to patterns that work up fast, and the high-fashion patterns in the book are all made with nice bulky yarn that works up quickly. It’s geared towards beginners but without the boring or shapeless patterns often offered to new knitters. Knitting basics are included with nice clear illustrations (there’s even a small section on using crochet for edging).

The patterns are all introduced with cutsie anecdotes about new knitters creating a sweater before they even knew it–if it only could be that easy! But the color photographs are clear and enticing. Speaking of the yarns–the yarns in the book are definitely on the expensive side. They’re beautiful, and of course, easily available because the authors own a yarn store, but they are not cheap. With careful gauge swatching, I’m sure less expensive substitutes could be used.

There are some great bulky sweaters, a cute cropped v-neck and some nice tank tops (the “sexy summer tank) looks great, and at 2 3/4 stitches to the inch, it should work up fast. The also include detailed schematics, so an adventurous “hooker” could easily adapt many of the patterns to crochet. The focus is on cute sweaters, but of course there are the requisite scarves and hats. My favorite scarf is the “hole in one.” It’s a great striped fuzzy scarf that is knit with a hole to sinch it on your neck. The intro text states “You don’t have to be Tiger Woods to knit this scarf.” but at $40.00/ball for the 100% angora yarn the pattern requires, perhaps you do.

Have you made anything from this book? Let me know–if you want to send me a picture, I’ll post it on the blog.

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