Celtic Knits: Over 25 Designs for Babies, Children and ... (ISBN 1570762252)

Mainly for adults, less creative than her children's books:
Bliss' book contains more sweater patterns for adults than for children. The children's sweaters lack the charm of Bliss' childrens books, which are fantastic, so if you are searching for a child's pattern, look at her other books -- particularly her books that contain Aran designs, which are quite unique and simple to knit, although all her children's books are equally wonderful. As far as designs for adults in Celtic Knits, I was both pleased and disappointed. The designs are nice and some are fairly simple to knit. One of the pullover Arans is actually quite splendid. But on the whole they aren't as Celtic as I'd expected -- there are a few fair isles (for children) that are rather plain in comparison to other Bliss designs. The sweaters on the whole are less Celtic and more English -- more like reading a Rowan knitting magazine, so they are very nice but not what you might expect. Also, if you are expecting these to be more or less adult versions of her children's designs, you'll also be disappointed. Bliss' style for adults is much less intricate and unique. The book itself is of high quality. The patterns are very detailed, although diagrams and measurements are missing, which makes it more difficult to be certain you are knitting to size or to adjust your gauge (I wish publishers would realize this -- they are giving those of us who rely on measurements user-unfriendly books). Photos of the sweaters, like in many of Bliss' books, are over-posed -- you see a stylish photo of the model and the background, but have very little chance of actually seeing what the sweater really looks like, and if you knit like I do, detailed instructions don't always reproduce what you see in the photo, so I at least would like to have had better pictures so I could knit directly from them and not struggle with the instructions. Bliss uses a variety of yarns, from Jaeger or Rowan: wool, cotton, and chenille. Thus there is something here for all seasons. She also includes a few men's sweaters. Despite some drawbacks, this is a nice addition to a knitter's library -- a quality book with a variety of sweater designs to satisfy any taste. If you are new to Bliss' designs, please do look into her children's books. I purchased Classic Knits for Kids first and fell in love with them, and they can be resized for adults with some effort -- but it's worth it. Bliss is one of the best British designers -- attractive, durable, and charming sweaters.

A Little Bland:
As is true for all of Debbie Bliss' books, Celtic Knits contains beautiful photos and an attractive, accessible layout. Celtic Knits has a pretty good variety of patterns - mostly adults, but also a few child and baby patterns. Be warned, however, that the women's patterns seem to run on the small side; you might have to adapt if you want to make other sizes. Unfortunately, many of the patterns seem either (a) like a great many other patterns you've seen lately, or (b) nice, but not particularly Celtic. I think the theory is that the colors used in the designs are supposed to have a Celtic 'mood,' but I just don't see it. Debbie Bliss' usual creative spark seems somewhat absent from this book. The one pattern that really stands out is the Aran long-line tunic. This sweater, to me, at least, strikes a charming balance between traditional Aran knitting and a contemporary feel. The color, a sort of mauve-y rose, and the long shaping combine for a feminine, cuddly appeal. With few other exceptions, the rest of the designs are unremarkable, if elegant and beautifully made. They would be perfectly at home under any title other than Celtic Knits. In sum, if you're looking for unique Aran and Fair Isle designs, there are better resources out there (e.g., Alice Starmore).

Celtic? Nah:
What a lovely book this is, full of happy blond children lavishly photographed amidst charmingly rustic settings. However, the knitwear they're modeling, although clean-lined and attractive, isn't "Celtic" at all. Yes, there is one Aran-ish tunic in the collection, but unless you are a thirteen-year-old, it won't fit you. A terrific disappointment!

Again, a beautiful book from Debbie Bliss.:
I keep reviewing books by Debbie Bliss. And I find myself saying the same things over and over. This book is no exception. The pictures are just lovely. Debbie Bliss's knitting books can serve as coffee table books for knitters. The layout is just delightful to look at. The patterns are for classic items that can be worn for years. However, having yet to knit anything from this particular book, I can't say anything about the difficulty of the patterns themselves. I would expect that they are similar to other books by this author. I generally make sure that I go over a Debbie Bliss pattern more than once before I start knitting. Often, having an experienced knitter look at it can be useful as well. However, whether you are a novice or an experienced knitter, you will enjoy looking at this book, even if you never knit from it. We have watched Debbie Bliss's kids grow up in the pages of her books--they are two of her models for the clothing found in this book again. Which brings me to one of the other joys of a Debbie Bliss book. The knitted items are pictured being worn by real people, not fashion models. I think it really helps you to picture the finished item on a normal person in a normal pose. Not a model posed to make the sweater look as nice as possible, while the person wearing it is contorted into some very funny stance!

not inspirational:
This book is geared more towards the beginner, as the variety and patterns in this book are not really inspirational to more experienced knitters. This is quite a let down of a book, although there are a few pieces I may someday knit.