Book Review: Drop-Dead Easy Knits

By the title alone, I think a lot of people are going to be interested in this book. Drop-Dead Easy Knits by Gale Zucker, Mary Lou Egan and Kirsten Kapur is the result of a bunch of knitters being in real life friends and thinking about the kinds of knitting projects they like to do in different situations.

The projects are designed for those different events, like being in a waiting room, travelling, wanting something warm to work on when the weather is cool, knitting with friends that doesn’t require paying attention to your work.

In this case easy doesn’t mean plain. It’s more projects that can be worked often with limited attention through parts of the process but that still produce things that you’ll enjoy knitting, wearing, using or gifting.

The projects are arranged by theme: cold hands, warm heart (knitting while it’s cold or for the cold); the waiting game (projects for picking up and putting down); drinking buddies (perfect for knit night and for gifting to friends); family entanglements (things to knit at holiday get-togethers or when teaching kids to knit); bursting with joy (baby knits); and no sheep at the shore (projects for beach knitting and wearing).

The projects are rated by how much attention they require and the patterns are marked where you need to pay more attention, which is handy.

I’m not finding the book on Ravelry yet but you can get a sneak peek at the publisher’s website.

Some of my favorites include the cozy Camurac Cardigan, sure to become a wear-everywhere favorite; the Keynote Pullover, which features a simple textured yoke but is otherwise straight knitting; the Star-Eyed Julep Throw, designed by the Mason-Dixon knitters to be worked in four pieces (possibly by four different people) and joined together at the end; the Apple Hill Finger Puppets, a perfect first project for a pint-sized knitter; the adorable Bear in a Bunny Suit by Susan B. Anderson; and the sweet Pompano Tank, with eyelets at the hem and a swingy style.

These projects are fun, pretty, great for gifts, relatively easy to knit but don’t look like beginner projects.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback with interior flaps, 30 patterns (I actually counted 29, 7 rated mindless, 20 relaxed and 2 attentive). Published September 2016, Clarkson Potter, suggested retail $16.99.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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