Fabulous Felted Hand-Knits: Wonderful Wearables and Home Accents »

Felting has taken the knitting world by storm, and with these 30 fabulous projects, knitters will effortlessly add this stylish new technique to their repertoire. All the basics are covered and fully photographed, including which yarns to use, how to create swatch samples, and how to knit evenly. Easy-to-follow instructions, illustrations, and photos accompany each item, and encourage beginners to test out new skills and experiment on their own. Start simple, with charming hot pads and coasters for the table. Warm and durable mittens feature elegant knitted cuffs. An eye-catching throw pillow comes in shades of cheery pink. Or make an ocean-blue scarf, zippered shoulder bag, or vibrant ethnic-inspired rug. From garments to home decorating items, these knitted beauties are all conversation pieces. A Main Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.

Library Journal

Felted knitting involves knitting an object larger than you wish the finished piece to be and getting it to shrink and fuzz up by applying heat and agitation-as many of us have already done accidentally by throwing a pure wool sweater into a washer on the cotton towels setting. Many good project books are currently available on felted knitting (e.g., Beverly Galeskas's Felted Knits and Kathleen Taylor's Knit One, Felt Too). One enjoyable aspect of this particular instruction/pattern book is Davis's (Knitting with Beads) discussion of basting as a way to control the flared edges and other distortions that sometimes occur in the process of felting. Her projects-30 in all-include not only felted knitting but also combinations of felting with standard knitting. If your public library patrons are clamoring for more felted knitting projects, you can put this volume in their hands with confidence. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.