Getting Started Knitting/Scarf Style

Horray! The Hurt Book Sale Books came in today. To Scraf and Wrap style books don't seem really "hurt" to me, but I'm not complaining. They were pretty cheap! The cover of Getting Started Knitting, on the other hand is showing what looks like signs of sun damage. I don't care as the book is GREAT. Sure a lot of the stuff in the beginning was review to me but it's a great reference book. It has information on things that I have been wondering about for a while, like blocking, knitting in the round, and knitting off of charts, as well as interesting little bits of information like how to make button holes. I read it in bits and pieces throughout the day (it's less than 150 pieces) as a way to de-stress me from my current worries. I haven't knit any of the patterns yet as I want to get the Fanciful Rose blanket finished first (it's coming slowly, I'd like to spend a couple hours on it this afternoon while doing laundry). Here's some of the patterns that caught my eye:

Sunset Strips Scarf- A scarf knit lengthwise. The colors chosen are great but I would like to try one in shades of blue and gray.

The Pillow Case- A decorative knit pillow case. Seeing as we have no need for decorative pillows at the moment (our current living situation is a little rustic), this will have to wait for when Tanner and I eventually move to our own apartment.

Rock and Roll Brim Hat- A wicked cute looking hat knit in the round. It's a quasi-bucket hat that I ALREADY have yarn for, left over from a cabal scarf I knit (for whatever reason) right around the time it got too warm for scarves. All I need to do it buy the needles. This will probably be my first project from the book.

Cable Cap- Although I find the bright-redness of the yarn chosen to be a bit garish, the pattern looks like it will be super-cute in a more subdued pattern. Maybe better in a cream color...

The To-Go Pullover- Probably my first sweater project. Really excited about this one.

Bell of the Ball Cardigan- Looks so soft and comfortable. Probably my second sweater project.

The other patterns are either too simplistic (like the garter stitch scarf) or really not my style. When it comes for knitting for myself (or buying clothes/accessories) I tend to lean away from certain things. The first biggie is BRIGHT ASS COLORS. There's nothing more cheap looking to me than bright headache inducing pink or green. I have nothing against BOLD colors but I'm sorry, I thought we left the day glo colors behind back in the 80s. Another thing that gets me is outfits that look overly trendy. I see nothing wrong with trying to keep in style, but there are just some looks that you can tell are going to get old fast. You know those looks, the ones you look back on and think, dear God what was I thinking?

Well some of these patterns seem to violate either one or two of these rules. The Muppet Scarf is a big example of one that violates both. Nothing against, people who like them, but it just looks very cheap to me. I sometimes worry that in the efforts to make knitting more modern and accessible, people are sometimes buying too much into these fading fast trends. The two pairs of Leg Warmers found in this book are also examples of this. I mean, I know the 80s throwback thing is popular now but I just don't get it.

Call me overly conservative. Call me dull. I'm probably both these things and a bit of a snob on top of that! I'm just not too big on buying into certain trends.

I'll probably stay away from the Fast Favorite Wrap or Poncho, Super Hero Hand Huggers (probably really great for smokers though), Feed Bag, and Half-Square Triangular Shawl as well. They just aren't my style. The Lace Skirt is pretty enough but I don't like the little belt added onto it and I'm not that into showing off my underwear. :)

I don't mean to be too harsh on the patterns. I can only picture myself knitting a few. The ones that I can picture myself knitting make me really excited though. Anyways, this isn't really a book you buy for patterns. This is knitting content book first and foremost and I'm really satisfied with it.


The other books I got were Scarf Style and Wrap Style. I can already tell that Scarf Style is going to be more to my liking but there are a few things I like in Wrap Style as well. Still, for the moment, I'll just focus on Scarf Style. This book is very much the opposite of Getting Started Knitting. It is NOT a beginners book, and it's all about the patterns. Still, I'm sure I can handle it as long as I start out with the simple ones. There's a really wide variety of styles to be found in here. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Bright Stripes- Very similar to "Sunset Stripes Scarf." I'd leave the little bobbles off the end though. I'm not really a fan of bobbles/pompoms on adults for the most part.

Here and There Cabals- I LOVED the cabled scarf I did last spring. This scarf is more complicated but really interesting looking. I hope I get to try this one out first.

Forbes Forest- Nice unique pattern.

Campus Scarf- I really like the style of this scarf but would probably prefer it in a more solid color (or a plaid one with less green).

Zig-zag scarf- Again, minus the bobbles

Interlocking Balloons- Great unisex pattern. I wonder if Tanner would like it...

Misty Garden- Usually I'm not big on shorter scarves but there's something about the color and look of this yarn that makes it very attractive for me.

Vintage Velvet- The photograph for this is very poor but from w hat I can tell it looks like a beautiful cabled scarf.

Backyard Leaves- My FAVORITE of the book. I can't wait until I get better on my chart reading abilities so I can make this.

Midwest Moonlight- Super sweet blue scarf that is just perfect for me.

The others just aren't really my style, are too busy, or I can't really tell if I want to knit them or not. This actually has less to do with my indecisive nature and more to do with the fact that the photography isn't the best in this book. Often we don't get a good luck of the full scarf and sometimes the photos are blurry! There's also a Design Notebook in the back that I'll read when I start knitting the scarves.

Looks like I have plenty of possibilities to distract me from my baby blankets! Eek! Looks like I'll have to make sure I finish Fanciful Rose before I do anything else.