Manly Knits

by Instructables.com

Real men knit. "Manly Knits" is your guide to real manly knitting ideas. Whether the term "cast-on" is foreign to you, or you're ready to knit up a full-on skull balaclava, we've got great ideas to inspire your next project. Knit yourself a Steve Zissou hat, a giant mustache, a beard warmer, and more with this exciting collection of easy-to-follow knitting patterns. All projects come from Instructables.com, are written by manly knitting experts, and contain pictures for each step so you can get knitting today!

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Crochet

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2011

Reviews

[Mathew Carruthers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining look at DIY knitwear in the Information Age, presented by the moderators at Instructables. As is the case with other project books from Instructables, these projects are all user submissions and are left largely untouched by any sort of editorial process. The end result is a very inconsistent writing style that is, at times, so chock full of spelling and grammar problems that it is hard to follow. In spite of that, the book is very informative and very entertaining. Next time you see an expensive hand knit scarf or hat, it will make you consider that with a little time, practice, and material, you too could probably make the same thing yourself.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars? Me? For a book written by and for MEN? Me, the feminist? YEP, yep and yep. And there was need for better editing! Still FIVE whole stars! This book addresses what I fight for. Equality. I have spent my last few month making gifts either crocheting or knitting. Lots of websites and ebooks came and blurred before my eyes. Most of the books assume you are a woman, a house-wifely-type, with no real men in your life to make things for. They are all dedicated to girly girls with squishy babies. Hey, been there done that with four full grown off-spring, three males, one female, to prove it.

This book will not be wiped off my Kindle or Tablet or Kindle PC as I plan to dip into it often. Not only are there patterns for skull hats, arm braces, mice, dragons and blood-shot eyeballs, there are purses, and trinkets for mom or sister, or dare I say it? Girlfriends/wives. And these guys have proven that they can fly pattern free with a little math! Is that cool or what? And they show how to knit needle free! There are lots of pictures and explanations for those of us that need more, and it is offered with a good sense of humor!

I loved this book! And I didn't read all of it, my eyes started blurring after a page or two of K1, P2, K1 etc. But I do know that when I decide to make something from the book the instructions are right there waiting for me! Thanks, guys!

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a short, free Kindle book so I didn't have very high expectations, but it still didn't meet them. First, the format is not good. It started by showing you how to cast on by using a series of small pictures, then repeated it step by step with larger pictures. They used a dark yarn, so it didn't show up clearly on the Kindle in black and white. Then after you got to the end of that section, there was a series of external links to other Instructables (*not* links within the text) which was just plain confusing.

I found one pattern that might be interesting (fingerless gloves with a thumb sleeve) but most were either blah or useless: "manly" knitting apparently means things like earbuds covers, a fake mustache, or an external link to a knitted condom.

Even free it wasn't worth keeping. The photos were too hard to decipher, and the layout itself was awkward.

[pinK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up for free off the kindle marketplace thinking that I might find something that I could use to tempt my husbands into learning how to knit. I was fairly disappointed. I didn't realize that "Manly" meant "childish". Knitting condoms, beards and mustaches was not what I had in mind.

Out of all of the patterns, I only found one that I plan on using. The eyeballs looks like a fun way to make some cute toys for my son for Halloween.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Men Can Knit

This book is stuffed with patterns for every level of knitting. I loved the links accessible in the ebook version.

I can't wait to make the shadow piano scarf, I've never used that technique but will try it now.

The instructions seemed very clear and easy to follow. The projects are interesting and fun from looking at the pictures and videos.

[Slmstanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of cute patterns from Instructables (I especially like the Skullaclava from the cover). The best thing about this e-book? Direct links to video demonstrations of certain techniques. All hail technology!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend this on a black-and-white kindle. It was hard to make out the photos. Otherwise, these are fun ideas!

[Imen Stitches · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just links to projects, should of known, it's by "Instructables" (which I love btw) but was just expecting more.

[Lys · Rating 3 out of 5]

some cool links to instructables, and some neat ideas. Less useful than other pattern books I have looked at if taken by itself, but pretty cool if you follow the blog links.

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some really unique and creative patterns in it. It is a FREE kindle book as well. I particularly loved the shadow knit scarf and the ear bud covers.

[H3dakota · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whelp. Sometimes you understand why free books are free.