[.ca] Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits: The Best Of Very Easy ... (ISBN 157389012X)

Very easy, but not always very attractive:
Like all the Vogue Knitting books, _Very Easy Knits_ begins with a really excellent set of instructions, combining the necessary detail (a half-page list of knitting terms and abbreviations) with a conciseness which does wonders to prevent the beginning knitter from feeling overwhelmed. One should note that unlike the Vogue Knitting on the Go series, this one does not offer diagrams and instructions on how to knit (knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, binding off, and so on), instead assuming that the reader is already familiar with these basic techniques. Like the Vogue Knitting magazines in which these patterns first appeared, each of the garments is photographed in vivid color. The photographs, unlike those in many knitting books and magazines (sad to say), represent a very productive compromise between the knitter's desire to see what the knitted fabric actually looks like, and the fashion photographer's desire to make the finished piece look, well, as fashionable as possible. No soft-focus shots here, thankfully. Yet these patterns, some dating back to the early '80s, utilize the original magazine photographs, and the hairstyles, makeup, and accessories often accentuate just how dated the styles have become. While some are fairly timeless in their simplicity, others, like the scoop-back crop top and the drop-shoulder striped pullover (paired with a long pleated white skirt!), are almost embarrassingly outdated. Moreover, while this may be my own strong reaction to some of the designs, some of the more recent pieces, even those from, say, 1997, are already showing signs of heading down the same path. The more experienced knitter will find much here to be adaptable, and may want to use some of the designs as templates of sorts, but the book's intended audience--beginning knitters who seek simple, yet fashionable designs--may find much to be disappointed in here. I've only recently acquired my copy of this book, and haven't yet knit any of the designs, but there are several designs here which make the book worth the money. Then again, I bought it used. On the whole, I found the Vogue American Collection and Vintage Collection books to be much more attractive, albeit much more complex, than the set shown here.

Very Easy, Very nice:
Most of the patterns in this book are great "Standards", so it is a good book to have on the shelf. There are a few truly awful sweaters, in my opinion, and I can't figure out why they were included. But overall, the projects are easy and you can subsitute whatever yarn you like if you are careful and check your guage. One note: I bought mine second hand so there was no sheet of errata. I found that the stitch count on the sleeve of the Adrienne Vittadini sweater (on the cover) was incorrect. I made the medium and because I am an experienced knitter I was able to figure out the mistake in the pattern. If there is a sheet of errors that comes with the book, than this is no problem for a real beginner, but it could be confusing.

Great Reference, especially if you like creating your own.:
I purchased this book recently only to find out there are so many simple and basic, always-looked-for type of patterns. Since most of the style chosen for this book are so simple without too-much decoration, it is easy to alter to make your own design. Another thing is the charts. I am relying on this book for dimentioning. They are shown by inches, instead of number of stitches. There are about 60 patterns, and I think the price is more than reasonable. I gave 4 stars, because it does have a few patterns which are too old style from early 80's, but other people may find it attractive. I do not know. I would rather liking this book even better, if it had collected only from 90's. However, this book is still my most favourite and I am always having tought time deciding which one to knit for the next project. You will regret not buying this book ! I believe this book will provide you with many patterns to knit for the years to come.

Excellent even for the hard core fanatic!:
I love this book. Sometimes after a really difficult knitting project I want something classic and simple OR I want basic patterns to use with more challenging yarns. I've made several of these designs and they are excellent. Many reviews mention the difficulty finding yarns or subsitiutes...it is important to bear in mind that the yarn world is like that...here today, gone tomorrow...and this problem is universal with all patterns and books. Hence, a lot of knitters keep a "stash" of much loved yarns becasue you just don't know when it will disappear. I had no trouble substituting yarn on hand for these patterns. Always check your gauge! Its a great book and a valuable addition to my knitting library.

Cindy Roy:
This is a very fine book with lots of: nice patterns, great pictures, good instructions & materials list. However, I wouldn't call it "very easy knits." Most of the patterns in this book require a lot of shaping (multiple increases/decreases, stitch holders, etc.). If you are new to knitting, this can be difficult. There are just a few easy/beginning patterns, but most I would classify in the intermediate to advanced skill level.