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101 Designer One-Skein Wonders

Edited by Judith Durant

Rating: 5 Sheep (excellent)

Usually I do “wonder” at one-skein knitting books but this one surprised me enough to buy the book! There are quite a few cute, clever projects. The designs are grouped by type of yarn: lace-weight, fingering-weight, sport-weight, DK/light worsted-weight, mohair, worsted-weight, heavy worsted-weight, bulky-weight and novelty yarn. Skill level isn't stated but I think mostly beginner to intermediate, just jump in. Abbreviations and a glossary of techniques are at the back along with short bios about the eighty designers (including Lily Chin, Lorna Miser, Barry Klein, Myrna Stahman, Laura Militzer Bryant).

Patterns are mostly knit but there are a few crocheted projects and several felted items. Besides hats, scarves, shawls you'd usually think of to use up one skein how about a dresser scarf, nano nanny, three-season lace vest, guilty pleasures socks, scallop-edge beaded necklace, “garterlac” bath rug, cabled baglet, an eyelet “shruglet” (for a slim teenager!) or scrunchy hand warmers?

Cute baby items include a “blanket buddy” (diagonal washcloth with shaped bunny head and knotted paws), Kat's Hat, feather and fan baby sweater, blue-wave (ripple lace) sweater, wave jumper, Ostrich plume baby bonnet, and a baby squash hat (with i-cord stem).

For felting aficionados: a darling little monster bear, ruffled bag, bowls, flowers, etc. Also a few beaded projects to try your hand at – scallop-edge beaded necklace, tiers-of-waves beaded scarf and ring-bearer pillow.

I truly liked most of the designs – I could do without the obligatory garter-stitch tie or granny square tie (ick! Retro isn't always a good idea), the belt patterns (can't imagine any man wearing a plaited cable belt with plastic belt buckle!) likewise the knitted toy centipede. I'm not sure who needs egg-cozy hats to keep their eggs warm though they do suggest using them as decorations or as doll hats (maybe big enough for preemies?).

This is a wonderful book of ideas for community service knitting or gifts for family members (or you!). A great purchase for a knitter (beginner or otherwise) who'd like to try new skills without investing in a lot of yarn (you can always work up to that big yarn stash). Knit up Elizabeth's perfect hat - a provisional cast-on, knit side-ways with Noro Silk Garden yarn (beautiful!), join with three-needle bind-off then pick up stitches on the top edge to knit the crown then top it off with knotted i-cord! Go from beginner to expert at the drop of a hat!

Grab some oddball skeins or a new yarn you'd like to try and thumb through this book, I'm sure you'll find several designs to love! Check the book website for some free patterns not in the book! www.oneskeinwonders.com

Respectfully submitted,

Candy Grastorf

Buy this book from Amazon.com

Corrections to Designer One-Skein Wonders

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