|
|
|
|
|
Show me a knitter who claims to have never made an impulse yarn buy, and I will show you a big fat liar. Because it�s impossible. Every once in a while, you run across a skein of yarn that you just must have. Maybe it�s just the perfect color. Maybe it�s so gorgeous that you just can�t help yourself. Maybe it�s so cheap that you can�t pass it by. I, for one, have a gigantic hank of lime green boucle hanging over a chair in my knitting corner. I have no clue what I�ll do with it, but it was cheap, and it was lime green, and I had to have it. I have orphan skeins in all shapes and sizes and colors�so thank goodness for Judith Durant�s One-Skein Wonders.
One-Skein Wonders includes more than a hundred patterns that require just one skein of yarn. The book is organized by the weight of yarn required�from bulky all the way down to fingering, with a little bit of novelty thrown in for good measure. You�ll find patterns for socks and baby sweaters and scarves and napkin rings and cell phone cases and hats (and even a tea cozy), most of which were designed by people who work in yarn stores�the people who (and I know this from experience) often have customers show them one skein of yarn and ask, �What can I make with just one of these?� And while some of the patterns take a little bit of explanation, most of them are simple and straightforward�stuff you can knit (or crochet) while watching TV or having coffee with your friends.
First, the bad news (because I like to get it over with): not every pattern in this book is perfect. There are some that will make you laugh. Or shudder. But when�s the last time you picked up a book in which every single pattern was perfect? And with 101 patterns to choose from in this book, your odds are still pretty good.
And, yes, there are a lot of patterns for scarves and hats in this book. But scarves and hats are pretty standard one-skein projects�and some of the hats and scarves aren�t all that bad. For instance, I can see myself making Hannah Fettig�s ribbed cap in every color of the rainbow�and I�m going to need at least a couple of Cirilia Rose�s Stirling Cloches. But you�ll also find a pattern for an ice scraper mitt. And some barrettes. And some really cute bags. And that basic adult worsted-weight mitten pattern that I haven�t been able to find anywhere.
Now let�s talk a little more about the good news: there are tons of one-skein patterns in this book. Most of them are also fabulously quick to knit. So by knitting one of them, you�ll not only be using up one of those orphan skeins you�ve got lying around, but you�ll also get the instant gratification of a quick one-skein project. And talk about the perfect last-minute gifts!
So while One-Skein Wonders isn�t without its flaws, the flaws are pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. And though there are probably a few patterns that you�ll never make, do the math with me: more than 100 patterns at a cover price of $18.95. If you don�t like a pattern, you�re out less than 19 cents (or 13 cents if you order from Amazon). And some of the other patterns will more than make up for it�because you�re sure to find at least a few that you�ll knit more than once.
Whether you need a quick gift for a friend, or you want a little instant gratification, or you need something to do with that one gorgeous skein that you couldn�t resist, you�ll find yourself reaching for One-Skein Wonders over and over again.
|
|
|
|
