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I remember back when I first learned to knit—when, for about a year, I made scarves for everyone I knew. Lots and lots of scarves. But scarves were easy—and everything else seemed so much more difficult. As it turns out, knitting things other than scarves isn’t nearly as difficult as it looks—as Kathleen and Nick Greco show in their book Beyond the Scarf: 15 Simple and Fun Fashions You Can Knit.
Beyond the Scarf is broken up into three chapters. In the first, the authors go through a little refresher course in case you need a little help brushing up on the basics. In the second chapter, they discuss novelty yarns (which they use often for the projects in the book). They give recommendations for pairing novelty yarns with various standard yarns for different looks and textures—and they give plenty of swatch close-ups to illustrate.
But let’s get to the good stuff. Chapter three is where the patterns come in. There are sixteen of them—starting with projects that are great for beginners and working up to a few advanced-beginner projects. The patterns are simple, detailed, and straightforward—with an abundance of pictures (from all different angles), close-ups, and drawings to help the most timid beginner through the projects. And, like the patterns in their kids’ book, Girl’s Guide to Fun & Funky Knitting, most patterns suggest yarn substitutions, too. So if you’re not all that confident about substituting yarn, you’ll have a few different options—often both a yarn shop option and a less expensive craft store option for knitters on a tight budget.
The patterns in Beyond the Scarf aren’t just the same old patterns either. They use fun textures and deceptively easy techniques—like knitting with beads and simple lace patterns—to create up-to-date designs. Here, you’ll find a stylish purse for a night out on the town, simple shrugs and sweaters, a fancy fringed wrap, and a cute capelet with a matching skirt. The stylish designs paired with fun and out of the ordinary textures make this a good book for building up your knitting confidence. You’ll learn a few new techniques—and you’ll actually wear the finished projects.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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