Book Review – Knit To Amaze

November 21, 2023 by Shellie Wilson Leave a Comment

I recently had the opportunity to flip through the pages of “Knit to Amaze: A Visual Guide to Knitting Amazing Fingerless Mittens, Knee Warmers, Kitchen Cloths & Coasters” and was impressed with what I saw. The author presents a comprehensive guide on how to knit beautiful fingerless mittens, knee warmers, kitchen cloths, and coasters. The guide is aimed at advanced knitters who have a basic understanding of knitting techniques like knit, purl, cast on, and cast off.

One of the things that stood out to me was the clear and sharp images that accompany each step of the process. The author has knitted each piece and taken detailed photographs, making it easy to follow along and replicate the patterns. The guide also includes a list of supplies you will need and a glossary of knitting terms used in the book.

I appreciate that the author takes the reader to an advanced level of knitting, teaching them steps like how to cast on stitches in the middle of a row, making it a valuable resource for experienced knitters looking to improve their skills. Additionally, the author mentions that the finished products could be great as gifts or even sold on online platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon, which is a great idea for knitters who want to turn their hobby into a source of income.

Overall, I believe that “Knit to Amaze” would be a valuable addition to any knitter’s library. The guide is well-written, the patterns are easy to follow, and the final results are beautiful, stylish and comfortable, a perfect combination for knits. The bonus of having a digital version of the book when purchasing the paperback version is also an added advantage.

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Learning to Knit? Try a Garter Stitch Washcloth

I used to always teach people how to knit by giving them bulky yarn, teach the knit cast on and have them knit a scarf (like this garter stitch scarf). That’s still a great first project, but I acknowledge people might get bored knitting all that garter stitch before they can say they’ve finished their first knitting project. Plus they might not want to wear something that comes out a little wonky, as first knitting projects often do.

These days I’m more likely to recommend a garter stitch washcloth to a new knitter.

Washcloths are usually made with medium weight cotton yarn, which is one of the easiest yarns to find at big box stores and craft stores, and it’s usually inexpensive and comes in lots of fun colors. You only need one ball of yarn and one pair of needles to make one, so there’s not a lot of outlay in terms of supplies.

Everyone can use washcloths, and even if you drop stitches, add stitches, have weird tension issues or all of the above, it will still work as a washcloth. And you can keep that first thing you made to see how much progress you make in just a couple of projects.

And if you still want more garter stitch when it’s done, you can move on to a scarf (or even a sampler scarf if you want to try some new stitches).

That post linked above is a great one for a brand new knitter or someone who just needs a refresher, because it walks you through everything you need to know how to do to make it. There’s also a full video tutorial for people who would rather see moving images rather than still pictures.

What was the first thing you made when you learned to knit? Or if you’ve taught someone to knit, what first project did you give them? I’d love to hear about it!

Easy Washcloth Knitting Patterns

Knit a Sweet Ducky Washcloth

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