Product Description

Pamper yourself and your friends with luxurious knitted gifts that can be made in no time. From a sumptuous striped cloche hat to a sophisticated wrap with delicate embroidery to fingerless mittens with lace edging, these quick-and-easy projects are stylish, luxurious, use small amounts of yarn, and can be created by even the novice knitter.Beautiful photography, contemporary designs, and the appeal of small, quick-to-knit projects will make "Knitting Little Luxuries" the new favorite of both beginning and experienced knitters looking for gorgeous gifts to knit.It is quick, easy to knit, and require minimal amounts of yarn. You can make great gifts. You can be stylish and fashionable with Louisa's signature design style. It also includes variations and ideas which are given to show readers how to customise and personalise projects.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93170 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Review
Nobody truly knits for necessity these days. For the twenty-first century knitter it actually is a form of pleasure and relaxation, something to be enjoyed and savoured rather than a chore. This new book from Louisa Harding taps into this concept with a book packed with luxurious and indulgent patterns to keep hands, minds and yearnings for fine fibres satisfied! The patterns are presented in four themed sections. The first is for quirky and eclectic accessories that focus on embellishment and decoration with simple knits enhanced by additions. The second section highlights the use of elegant cables to create stylish items full of texture. After this comes a collection of items that scream girliness with ribbons, fluffiness and lace stitches. The final section contrasts beautifully with bold and bright traditional Fair Isle patterns that brings the traditional fishing knitting bang up to date. The items in the book range from delicate scraves to a bold cable tunic so not everything is necessarily 'little' as the title suggests. There are lots of wraps and mittens, purses and hats with a couple of lovely bags too. All the designs are knitted with one of Louisa Hardings gorgeous yarns so whichever design you choose, you are sure to love the knitting just as much, if not more, than the wearing of it. --Knit Today, Feb 08

Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming 'I enjoy being a girl' as you flip through Harding's latest collection. A pretty lilt, epitomized by the covers embroidered herringbone handbag, animates each of these 21 small scale indulgences - things don't get any larger than a diagonally cabled tabard and romantic flyaway cardigan. A few of her selections have a vintage feel (a bathing-beauty beret anchored jauntily by a picot-tipped bow band); all have a dainty strength (an angora lace cravat holds firm with a mother-of-pearl buttoned rosette) In a handful of instances, Harding shifts colour schemes and fibers, showing off the patterns' (and her yarn line's) virtuosic versatility. --Yarn Market News, Jan 08

Through her love of hand knitting, knitwear designer Louise Harding arrived at this book offering a new collection of knitted gifts, all honouring traditonal knitting and all infused with a luxurious, contemporary spirit. Divided into four chapters ranging from quirky, modern, feminine and traditional there will be a style and pattern here for everyone. Most designs are quick and easy to make, using minimal amounts of yarn and cater for all levels. Choose from funky striped cloche hats, fingerless mittens with lace edging, bags, wraps and other delights perfect for people looking for gorgeous gifts to knit. Instructions include ideas on how to personalise and customise your project. How very Louisa. --Knitting, Feb 08

About the Author
Louisa Harding has been designing knitwear professionally for more than fifteen years. In 2005 she launched a signature line of yarns and design collections in the U.S. and U.K., distributed by Knitting Fever. Her designs have appeared in Rowan Knitting Magazine, Vogue Knitting and Knitting Magazine. She has also worked as an in-house designer for Rowan Yarns and Jaeger Handknits. Her previous books include Natural Knits for Babies and Mums and the "Miss Bea" series of children's handknits.

Customer Reviews

Luxurious - I don't think so
I was rather disappointed when I opened this book, the first thing which dismayed me was the fact that it's American so if you want to buy the author's own brand of yarn then OK, but if you don't, the equivalent English yarn thicknesses are not given. It's possible to work by checking the tension/needle sizes, but it would be so much better if it was given.
Having had a moan about that aspect of the book I am now intent upon discovering what's luxurious about such items as scarves, fingerless mittens, mittens in a rather bulky looking fairisle style, a tabard! a duffle shaped stretchy bag a couple of beanie hats - again one in a fairisle style, another with buttons stitched on, and a couple of rather skimpy wraps, one like a wide lacy scarf with fringes, another like a cable scarf fastened around the arms with buttons (move your arms if you dare!) and one trimmed with buttons which you'd certainly catch your long hair in (supposing you have long hair).
Really a very disappointing selection. Maybe the yarn (author's own brand) turns the cost of such everyday items into luxury ones??
On the plus side the bag on the front is easy and can be made with suitable substitute yarn, there is a pretty and rather unusual beret/cloche style hat, and a lacy angora scarf with knitted flower brooch trim (where other yarn can easily be used) which has saved the book from being a total waste of money for me.

Knitting Little Luxuries - Beautiful Accessories to Knit
I was also a little disappointed with this book - I think it is probably aimed at the younger knitter rather than the middle-aged one! There were hardly any projects that I would bother to try and make.

A truly inspiring book
What a joy this book is -- beautifully photographed as always and using louisa hardings stunning yarns .I have a teenage daughter who is very impressed with the quirky and eclectic section and in total I will be knitting at least 9 of the designs -- any louisa harding fan will love it .