Andrea Tung's Hats, Mittens & Scarves: 25 Cool and Cozy Knitted Projects is not a book but a deck of knitting pattern cards from which you can pull out the one you want to work on and leave the rest on the shelf.
This concept is perfect for people who knit away from home a lot because they won't have a heavy pattern book weighing down their project bag. It's less good for people who are likely to pull one pattern out, set it aside and promptly misplace it, maybe never to be seen again.
Easy Peasy
The idea behind this card deck is that the project be relatively easy, stylish and portable. They are appropriate for knitting for yourself or knitting as gifts because none of them require absolutely perfect sizing.
The deck assumes knitters have basic knowledge of terms and techniques, but the introductory card does list abbreviations that are used, needle size conversions and an explanation of the skill levels indicated on the patterns (a range of one to four, with one being the easiest).
Patterns
As mentioned in the subtitle, this deck includes 25 patterns: 11 for hats, eight for scarves, three for mittens and three for fingerless gloves/armwarmers.
Most of the patterns rank one or two on the skill level, and only three rank four (a cute drop-stitch ball cap, a triangle scarf knit in basket stitch and a pair of gloves with a thermal stitch pattern).
That's good for new knitters who are looking for a little something to stretch their skills, or for established knitters who want some quick and easy holiday knitting or mindless knitting projects.
Just because these patterns are on the easy side doesn't mean they aren't beautiful. A lacy scarf knit with sequined yarn is perfect for a night out on the town, while a giant ribbed scarf would make a great gift for a guy in your life.
One scarf is knit in a giant loop, while another is a giant cable. One set of armwarmers looks just like sweater sleeves, and the basic mitten patterns are ones you'll go back to again and again.
The greatest variety in the pack is found in the hats, where there is a beret, a cloche, a lacy cap, a super-bulky hat and three adorable hats for babies.
If you're a knitter who loves making hats, mittens and scarves (especially hats), you'll enjoy this pattern collection and the ability to carry only the pattern you need with you.
Other knitters may want to turn to this box for quick to knit patterns that are perfect for gifts or little luxuries for yourself.
Publication date: November 2007
