Hip Knitting : Stylish Projects for the Absolute Beginner

Knitting is modern and cool when you use Astor Tsang's guide to knitting and crafting cool wool wears and gifts. Here accomplished knitwear designer, teacher, and author Astor Tsang, spins the needle on the knit revolution. With years of experience tutoring beginners in the art of knitting, she takes readers on a do it yourself journey from no-knit novice to casting connoisseur. The traditional craft of knitting is deconstructed and presented in a no-fuss and easy to understand manner that is fun and engaging. The opening section "Getting started" introduces the tools and terminologies of the trade, providing how-to knowledge on topics such as reading yarn labels, choosing yarn and yarn substitutes, and measurements. The second section "How to knit" is a simple stitch-by-stitch guide to slipknots, casting on, knit and purl stitches, tension, turning, and casting off. Next "Finishing" presents the techniques of blocking, sewing, and darning ends. The next section "Beyond the Basics" offers readers an opportunity to take their skills up a stitch, learning techniques such as transferring stitches and creating buttonholes. This section also has instructions for knitting on a gauge, ending and joining yarn, and casting on mid-row. If this all sounds a tad technical, the final section, "Projects" is where newly minted knitters chose from six patterns to begin creating their funky fleecy designs. There are easy-to -ollow patterns for a scarf, slouch hat, pillow monster, tube top, shrug, and sweater. The book is infused with Astor Tsang's teaching philosophy of 'making knitting possible' and 'demystifying knitting and crocheting', and her belief that there is no one right way to do knitting. All the how-to knowledge is presented in a light-hearted manner with the author spinning a witty yarn or two along the way. Join the revival of this old-fashioned art into the trend of today and get creative with Hip Knitting: Stylish Projects for the Absolute Beginner.

Astor Tsang believe in demystifying knitting and crocheting. Knitting is not rocket science...it's just yarn and a couple of sticks! She adapt her teaching to her students' style of learning because when it comes to knitting...there is no one "right" way. Doing what works for you is just fine. She observes her students struggling to discover what part of knitting they do not understand. Her job is to help them see the problem and the solution in a way that makes sense to them. One little girl couldn't remember all the steps for making a stitch. So Astor had her make up a story. Her story went like this: "The hamster peeks out of the cage. You lasso him. He goes back into his cage. And he runs away."She trys to instill confidence to get her students to try new things (other than another scarf). She encourages people to think "outside of the box". All things are subject to interpretation that's what makes a project uniquely yours.And most important of all...she shares her passion for knitting and all things yarn.