Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Projects

by Shannon Okey, Shannon Fagan (Photographer), Kathleen Jacques (Illustrator)

•Great price
•15 funky patterns teach knitting skills incrementally
•Knitting encourages girls to share and learn from other girls—making it an excellent empowerment tool
•Partner Web site provides forum for teen knitters

KnitGrrl is an upbeat introduction to knitting, from basic materials, tools, and stitches, to fifteen easy projects designed specifically for teens and tweens. An iPod cozy, a ponytail wool beanie, cat toys, text-messaging mittens, starry leg warmers, and ten more great patterns. The organization of the book builds skills incrementally, so friends can learn and share together. Tips on organizing knitting-related items such as stitch markers and hand salve, make this the ultimate BKFF (Best Knitting Friends Forever) guidebook.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction

96 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Shannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, comic book artist Tamas Jakab and their furry "children," a dachshund and 2 cats who have made several appearances in her books.

Shannon runs her own publishing company called Cooperative Press, which publishes both books and Knit Edge magazine. She writes...a lot.

Reviews

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it would be a little silly to give a craft book 5 stars, but as far as instructional books go this one is a winner. Reading it I get the feeling that Shannon Okey and I are very similar, except for the fact that she can knit and I cannot. Quirky patterns, simple instructions, and alternative techniques make this book a stand out. I was with this book the very first time I increased, the first time I successfully used double pointed needles, and the first time I felted. It is quirky enough to appeal to the young and inexperienced, and technical enough to satisfy more advanced crafters. I like to use this book as an incentive for my friends, to finally pick up those passed down needles. This book makes it easy, I love the feminist spirit, and the use of different colored yarn and needles in instructional photos is brilliant! This is the sort of craft book your can actually sit down and read, and I have many times.

[Nellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thus book is geared more towards teaching tweens and teens to knit. It has a quiz to. determine what type of yarn girl you are. Patterns include wristlets, scarf, hat, soda cozy, and felting.

[Jackie Gamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific "Knitting for Dummies" sort of primer. I'm finding that knitting sites and books, even for 'beginners', assume too much pre-knowledge. This book doesn't! It's written for those who've never held a needle. It's a little goofy "hip" because it's written toward teens, but I appreciate the casual tone and step-by-step explanation for me as someone who keeps reading about a garter stitch but hadn't yet known what it meant.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book intended to help teens learn how to knit, the instructions in this were totally unclear. Would not recommend as a guide for either beginners or experts. Most patterns were also dumb looking, except for the super cute pattern for text-messaging mittens with fliptop thumbs.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is totally for teens, but it helped me learn to knit!