Book Review: Knitting Little Luxuries

By Sandy Amazeen Nov 14, 2007, 2:08 GMT

Elegantly simple or simply elegant, either way these little projects would make lovely gifts for yourself or those lucky recipients special to you. Most of the designs are unabashedly feminine as they incorporate a wealth of detailing to typically straightforward, easy to knit patterns. The designs are divided into four chapters starting with “Eclectic and Quirky” that includes a quick-knit, button-embellished beanie, a cute purse featuring a field of embroidered flowers and a richly textured wrap from a palette of sumptuous yarns. An assortment of cables takes center stage on wraps, hats and the “Alicia” tabard in the “Textured and Modern” while lacey fingerless mittens and purses along with the stunning, understated “Diane” cardigan rounds out the “Pretty and Feminine” chapter. Fair Isle style colorwork fills the “Traditional and Folk” section before going into helpful yarn information including substitutions, standard yarn sizes, gauges and abbreviations list. The techniques segment not only includes the all the usual cast-ons, bind-offs, increases and decreases, it also illustrates several embellishments, seams, weaving tails in and picking up stitches. Several of the projects are photographed close-up in different yarns and colorways providing a quick visual on how to adapt the pattern to what is lurking in your fiber stash making this a welcome addition to any knitter’s library.