Hello! Hope you all had a great week. Today I would like to review a newly published book by Erika Knight called Simple Knitting
Simple Knitting by Erika Knight
Erika is my life-time knitting idol. What is so incredible about all her books are that the knitters for all levels want to knit her designs – and that is amazing. She currently holds Novice Knit workshops around the UK (more info can be found from here). There is one in London at iKnit in September. It’s a great chance to meet Erika in person!
Going back to the book, I have divided my review into 1) the look, 2) the contents and 3) the design.
1. THE LOOK
Erika’s book always look amazing but this one is particularly stylish. Photos and illustrations are all well done and easy to understand. This book gives you a wonderful sense of a simple knitting life-style in downtown Tokyo.
This is a simple yet very effective knitting technique involving short-row knitting. I just love it.
2. THE CONTENTS
The contents are cleverly laid out. Every chapter is solid with great info and tips. What I love about this book is that it is written with simple terms with clear explanation so that I don’t have to get my magnifying glass to read it.
In the first half of the book, there is a wonderful section on choosing the yarns and colours, making tension swatch and understanding patterns which are all essential for knitters. This is followed by a chapter on stitch dictionary where you can find some very stylish uneven coloured stripe patterns. The second half is packed with great knitting patterns (more in the next section).
The book will not only allow you to knit some simple and elegant items but also equips you with vital (and more) knowledge about knitting.
For knitters, this is a must read section - Making a tension swatch. Erika says in the book that "taking 15 min to work a tension square before you start can save a lot of heartache later on..."
3. THE DESIGN
As a knitting pattern creator, I can more or less figure out which patterns are clever, too difficult, too easy, fun, boring, tedious, etc. by looking at them. When I see a great design I get a sort of striking feeling, a bit like the first spoonful of the nicest vanilla ice cream. This is what I got when I read through her Simple Knitting.
Don't you just love this tote? Imagine knitting this with a lovely solid tweed yarn. It would be so nice!
The knitting projects start from enticing simple patterns. Erika then gradually introduces additional techniques for more advanced designs.
To me, this is so Japanese. I love the "surprising" combination of colours. In the book there are two sock patterns for 2 and 4 needles. Perfect.
Even if a new technique is used for a project, she keeps everything else simple. This means that for those who just mastered the basic technique can tackle more difficult patterns without any problems.
I love this one. Perfect project for using up your scrap yarns, yet still look so pretty (combination of intarsia and duplicate stitches made later).
Definitely a book to add to your knitting bookshelf. I think I am going cast on for the round cushion… 
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Will talk about this next week. Sorry if I haven’t replied to you yet. It’s been super chaotic in the world of C & C, but I will definitely get back to you before the weekend ends.
But today, I would like to feel fresh and let you know about this wonderful Japanese-inspired book called Haiku Knits by Tanya Alpert. She is an owner of 
I am reviewing 
