Knitting With Balls: A Hands-On Guide to Knitting for the Modern Man

by Michael Del Vecchio

Packed with modern styles, tips on how to create your own designs, and a history of the surprisingly close tie men and yarn have shared through the years-this original craft book is perfect for the growing band of male knitters and women who crave more cool patterns for men.

Author Biography: Michael Del Vecchio works for the non-profit organization Americans for the Arts in Washington D.C. and teaches knitting at Knit and Stitch in Bethesda, MD on weekends. He is the co-creator of the website MenKnit.net, a community-building resource for male knitters built on the motto: "Man Enough to Knit, Strong Enough to Purl."

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, How To

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2006

Reviews

[Meredith Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Har har, puns! Although the phallic image on this cover has to be the male equivalent of vagina dentata. Brrrr.

I feel two ways about this book. First, it's a good idea, and there are some cool patterns in here that are more masculine than you see in your typical knitting book. Most pattern books clearly live in active fear that you will fall into that tired sit-com stereotype and knit something awkward for your boyfriend. Look at these patterns, they say, they are 1920s themed or have kittens! Do not show them to a man, for their eyeballs will melt.

Anyway, this has some decent ideas. I really like the beer cozy idea, though I haven't made it yet:



I also like the Not-So-Rugged Scarf, but you will have to look at this book to see pictures of those because I can't find an open copy on the internets. Most of these patterns assume that any man who would use this book is more than 50% gay. And, fair. I made this manly scarf for my office-mate who is approximately 83% gay:



My only real issue with this book, other than the vests, is that the directions are not immensely clear, especially if you are a new knitter. They use a lot of abbreviations that did not seem to be well indexed in the back, and some stitches that were not explained in the front of the book. That seems like a bummer if this is supposed to be, as it is billed, "a hands-on guide." At least youtube can basically translate really clearly and easily any stitch you are confused about, but I did have to reference youtube a couple of times while making that scarf. Sometimes, I sadly wonder if knitting books are a little obsolete and blogs or knitpicks.com aren't really the way to go for patterns. Merry Christmas, my 83% gay office mate!

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate the idea and premise of this book, I think that it could have been far better then it turned out. I would not recommend this book to new knitters of either gender. The tutorials are confusing, and are accompanied by confusing drawings of the stitches. Some of them seem to be taught oddly.. They would turn out the same in the end, if you are able to follow the directions, but they seem to be done in the authors unique knitting style.

There is nothing wrong with the patterns, and I eventually plan to make a few of them. However, I do not think they are worth the price of the book.

As a novelty gift, this could be amusing, but do not buy this as a serious knitting companion.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

let me face the music and just say right now, i read this book for the title... and also, there really aren't many knitting books out there with patterns for men. patterns for men that aren't made by crazy knitting cat ladies. so i liked this book, even though it did have some weird patterns that i would never make, it also contained a few gems. that seems to sum up most knitting books if you think about it...

[William Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

not a very good tutorial, lacking in any sort of detailed information for beginners. the step by step instructions seem to be missing parts and pieces that i had to try and discover for myself and make my own inferences. definitely not everything you need to begin knitting. the lack of instructions and instructional pictures and diagrams was disheartening.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars, but some disclaimers for any beginner knitters reading this review:

1) if you are a total beginner at knitting, do not read this book to learn how to knit. The author does a fuck up job of explaining the actual ~how~ of knitting. I recommend a more general "how to knit for beginners" book, of which there are dozens in print. Plus YouTube tutorials. Those are LIFESAVERS.

2) there is one blanket pattern in this book (Dogtooth Blanket) and the author has you knit it with a wool alpaca blend?????????? You will be broke bitch if you make a blanket with anything other than acrylic or acrylic blends. Trust me. If you have to spend more than $40-50 on yarn for a blanket pattern, it's NOT. WORTH. IT. Don't spend more on yarn than you'd throw down for an entire finished project. This is the key to knit and crochet. Don't trust knitting books and their yarn suggestions. They will expect you to blow way more on yarn for a project than is acceptable. (I once read a book that required eight skeins of this one yarn for a wrap and the skeins were fifteen bucks a piece. That's $120 for a wrap. Run away screaming.)

2a) Another argument against this guy's yarn suggestion is that when you're knitting items like blankets that'll have to get washed a lot, stick with man-made materials or a blend of those and plant fibers (acrylic/cotton blends are common). You can't just throw an animal fiber blanket into the washing machine because the whole thing will felt up, and you can't just casually hand wash an entire blanket. Unless you're a masochist or whatever. If you're planning on getting a knitted piece dirty (or you know a knitted piece will get dirty), stay away from animal fibers. That nice hand knit wool Aran sweater is worth taking the time to hand wash, but never a blanket or hot pads. Just use cotton or acrylic blends so you can toss it in the washer easy.


This all being said, the patterns are gorgeous. Maybe it's just the masc end of my genderfluidity, but I would wear just about everything in this book. (To be safe, I vetted a few patterns w my BFF and he loved what he saw. My dad even gave a grunt of approval to the Aran cable sweater.) I haven't come across a knit or crochet book where I've loved at least three quarters of the content in a whiiiiiile. Bravo.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciate the premise of this book, but short of the sock patterns, everything was so ugly/impractical/outdated. I just don't see any man using/wearing/knitting the patterns in the book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't say I read every pattern, because I didn't. And while I'm glad I read this pattern book, I'm also glad I didn't buy it. There's maybe two projects I would make from this book, one that I like and one my boyfriend might like.

I liked the chapter on how to modify and design patterns. And I also enjoyed the history of men's knitting in the front of the book.

I love the title of this book and I think that it's a good resource for men who want to start knitting and maybe feel a little silly for wanting to do so.

The sweater on the cover is not a project from this book.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

a book of mostly masculine projects which is far and few between although I was not so into the projects themselves

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

at a fundamental level, i do not understand this book. with so many knitting books by women on the market, why is there a need for an instructional knitting book written by a man? is knitting really a gender-affected skill? or, is it supposedly necessary because the author/publisher assumes that men couldn't (or wouldn't want to) learn from women?
aside from the general redundancy of this book--i question the projects in the book and the way they are presented in photographs. would a guy on a motorcycle really wear a skull and crossbones sweater that he knit himself? or, would he polish the bike with towels that he knit for himself? who are these guys that want to wear mullet hats?
there's a nice pattern for a mohair neck warmer that i might use...even though i don't have balls.

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a great (perhaps the only?) beginners knitting manual for men. The explications have very clear drawings. This is a clear easy start to knitting for the two men in America that want to try to do this on their own.
I think most of us learn at someone's knee (thank you, Mami Blanche!) so the first part didn't seem very important to the YouTube generation. There are easy to medium patterns for men, like a wallet, belt, sock, sweater, etc... Although I don't see the men in my life wearing any of these, there are guys who might.
So I can't give it more then two stars because it was clearly explained, but the patterns were too boring.
160 pages and borrowed by the library
2 stars

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was browsing the knitting books in the library when the cute title of this book attracted my attention. So I spent some time perusing the patterns and found some great gift ideas for the men in my life. So many knitting books and magazines focus on patterns with a feminine appeal, that I find I really have to search when I want to make something for my husband, my Dad, etc...this was therefore refreshing. I really want to try that wallet/billfold first...some other great Father's Day ideas too :)

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, let's face it, male or female, you don't learn to knit from a book. You learn by having someone show you how to do it, then doing it over and over again forever until you actually get good at it. What would be more useful really is a book of suggestions for left-handed knitters. If you're really into patterns for "utility rags" (why use an old T-Shirt to clean oil off your fingers when you can use a lovingly made handcrafted item?), this is your guide.

[Judah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know that I would have picked this book up on my own, as I don't tend to need gender specific patterns...however, my mom got me a copy, and I have to say the patterns are pretty non-specific in who they're created for. I liken it to Just For Men hair dye...it's no different in what it does, only marketed differently.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for my hubby, who is also taking up knitting. It's humorous, and has a good little library of different knit stitches to reference through. Son of Stitch and Bitch definitely has better patterns. There are some fun little tips in here like, go to the hardware store for knitting supplies - rubber washers make great (and cheap!) stitch markers.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for men who are curious about knitting. It shows how to handle needles in the way a man can both understand and perform the tasks needed. The patterns are also more challenging for the ambitious male knitter.

[DDog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't done any patterns from this book yet, but reading through it at least is very informative. Teaches you a few more complicated stitch patterns, and plenty of interesting projects with a masculine flair.

[Incredulous Harrumpherous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely plan on every sweater I wear in the upcoming winter to be made from patterns straight from this book.

Masculinity, Schmasculinity - knit something brilliant today.

[LeGrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book has patterns that are pretty easy to follow for knitters that do not have a ton of knitting experience.. also a lot of the projects are a lot of small quick projects..

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

for men who like to knit

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making the Tribal Sweater on page 102.

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my husband but discovered I liked the gender neutral patterns for myself.

[Kenny Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a knitting pattern book.

[Castelle eldredge · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love knits