One-Stitch Baby Knits

by Val Pierce

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nontop Reader.

One-Stitch Baby Knits is a beginner tutorial and pattern guide for knitting baby projects with garter stitch by Val Pierce. Due out 10th June 2019 from Fox Chapel, it's 144 pages and available in paperback format.

Knitting is a valuable skill and hobby. It's portable, versatile, relatively inexpensive to start with, quiet and fun. A lot of people take up knitting when they're expecting or have a friend/family member who's expecting. Baby items are quick to knit and require little in the way of materials. There is, however, a dearth of appealing beginner accessible baby items.

This book has 22 patterns in garter stitch. (The earlier cover states 25 patterns, but the e-ARC I was sent contains 22 and the new cover reflects the correct number). There is an array of patterns including baby 'staples' such as hats, booties, bibs, and blankets. They are arranged into beginner, intermediate, and experienced levels, but none of the patterns would be frustrating for a keen beginner, especially if they have access to a local knitting shop or experienced knitting friend or relative. The author also includes a number of projects which use 3 dimensional surface techniques to make dolls and pictures which are part of the project, like a snuggle blanket with a 3D duck head on it and a really cute cow hat/mitten set. A fair number of the projects incorporate embroidered details as well.

This is a beginner accessible book and roughly 20% of the page content is used in the introduction and how-to-knit section. The yarns used are widely accessible and easily sourced. There will be an included index and the table of contents includes a useful pictorial gallery in color with page numbers.

Three stars, higher for folks who really love garter stitch and don't mind embroidered details on knits.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes