Creative Makers: Simple Knitting: 30 Quick-toKnit Projects for Stylish Accessories

Knitting is cool again. Knitting groups are springing up everywhere and those of us who perhaps learned to knit as children and then forgot about it are now rediscovering the joys of sitting down with friends, some beautiful yarn and a pair of nice chunky needles.

Contemporary knitting queen Ros Badger has created more than 20 really simple projects for gorgeous on-trend accessories - gloves, socks, scarves, bags, and even knitted jewelry. For those new to knitting, Ros provides all the information you need to get started, with an overview of yarns, terminology and step-by-step instructions on how to knit.

All the projects in the book are made with just two stitches (either knit or purl) and most use simple squares, oblongs or tubes for super-easy knitting. Gorgeous photography by top lifestyle photographer Yuki Sugiura captures the sheer pleasure of knitting what you wear.

A trio of British imports, including Sara Sinaguglia’s Simple Crochet and Alexandra Smith’s Simple Sewing with Lola Nova (both 2013), proves that creativity knows no geographic boundaries. In a series called Creative Makers, each author tackles the how-to’s of one discipline, whether crocheting, knitting, or sewing. Using roughly the same formats, the books cover the basics—materials, equipment, and fundamental stitches—then present anywhere from 25 to 35 patterns ready to be copied. Sounds pretty standardized? Not really. Each showcases the designer’s personality and style. In this entry, Londoner Badger exudes cosmopolitanness and urbanity in her selections of knit garments: an unusually shaped ear hat, Mary Jane slippers, and a darned attractive (and easy-to-fashion) dog coat. --Barbara Jacobs