The current craze in knitting has fostered many books. Fast knitting is surely popular, though I can't say I have seen anyone doing it. Forget the needles and use your arms and thick, chunky yarns to make quick knits for the home and for accessories. Throws, cuffs, scarves, pillows, bags, mug warmers and rugs. The two rugs and the circular mat are lovely. The headbands take as little as ten minutes. At the moment I am taking about ten minutes a row on the fair-isle I am designing and knitting. There are plenty of projects that take less than thirty minutes. You'll find techniques, clear instructions and great photos.
* Karen Platt- yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *
Arm knitting is becoming super popular. It's a fantastic craft for beginners and cheap as well.
All you need is a ball of yarn and you can be on your way to making something. Arm knitting is fantastic for children & adults. Once learned you will be surprised how quickly you can make something with some beautiful chunky yarn. Amanda was a frustrated knitter, like me she found it so time consuming she would often give up. Then she found arm knitting and within a short period of time she was making cheaper and less time consuming projects. Amanda has brought her experience together to create a fantastic book that teaches you to arm knit and then uses these skills to make some amazing projects. The thing I love about the book is Amanda shows you how to do everything with your hands and arms. This even includes sewing in your ends. No other tools are needed except a pair of scissors. This means it's a lot cheaper to start. No needles, no hooks required. The book is broken down into sections. These sections are split into the approximate length of time it will take you to make the project. I love the idea of splitting the book into the length of time it will take you. If you've not got long you can make one of the quick projects and if you want more of a fix then choose a longer project. I don't know about you but I'd only really seen cowls made with arm knitting. Amanda changes this preconception and makes everything from a headband to boot cuffs, mug cosy to a footstool cover. I am amazed by the techniques she has used. There is even a cabled blanket! Using the different stitches and yarns Amanda has really created an amazing array of projects for you to make. I have already put the yarn on my Christmas list so I can make the basic blanket. It's amazing that you can arm knit a blanket in 60 minutes. The instructions are clear and easy to understand. with the use of photo's it makes it easier to understand the directions. I can't wait to get started on my first arm knitting project. This book would make a brilliant present for someone. Why not include a selection of yarn for them and on the day they could have their first project finished. Love this book! Brilliant for yourself or as a present.
For the full review and images please visit: www.crochetaddictuk.com
* Crochet Addict UK *
January 2016
Welcome to the world of arm knitting. As the title suggests, all you need is yarn. And arms. Yes, it's different. But it's also fun. Arm knitting has really taken off in the USA, with designs by Amanda Bassetti featuring in many publications and on her own website. Amanda covers all the basics. How to cast on, cast off increase and decrease. She even explains how you can use your upper limbs to do a moss stitch, a garter stitch, a rib. Her patterns are quick and accessible. And they're arranged by how long they take to make, from ten minutes to an hour. In 10 minutes, you can have a headband or a beanie. In 30 minutes you can have a cowl or a shawl. And in an hour you can have a mat, a pet bed, a blanket, rug or throw.
* Knitting & Crochet *
Arm knitting is a craze that has been popping up everywhere on the internet and Amanda's book provides a great reference for anyone wanting to give it a go. There's a great section at the beginning of the book that explains everything you need to know to start arm knitting.
It includes casting on, casting off and everything in between from knit, and purl to increasing and decreasing. Amanda even covers how to rib or cable while arm knitting.
This book would suit newbies and established knitters. The speed of arm knitting makes it a great medium for completing projects in a jiffy. Established knitters will find the technique of arm knitting useful for using up some of the built up stash we all have.
Of the 30 projects contained in the book, our favourites are the Cowl Scarf, the Chunky Rug and the Decorative Throw. Every design in the book includes a break down of the yarns used and how many balls were worked to achieve the results pictured.
The resources section at the back of the book includes some handy information on substituting yarns for those used in the patterns. It also covers important considerations, including meterage, fibre content, drape and elasticity.
This book would be great for anyone looking to make something in a hurry. The projects included have a general feeling of youth and fun, but they're accessible to all generations. Arm knitting would be a great way of teaching 'knitting' to children eager to learn but who may find the fine motor skills and patience required a barrier to their learning.
* Olann and -http://olannand.ie/book-reviews/ *
