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Rating: 
Summary: Get ready to start taking orders!
Review: I am working on 2 Swartz patterns: the basket-weave cardigan in this book and the Inner Child mittens from "Hip to Knit." As mentioned in other reviews, this book has patterns in every skill range and allows you to perfect a technique in a short time. The gauges are varied to allow for every gauge preference to find a suitable pattern. You cannot imagine how cute your dog will look in the finished sweater - my mom's miniature schnauzer gets nothing but praise for her high cuteness factor in her sweater (the one that is pictured on a schnauzer and I knit it out of Dover in silver/blue). Her patterns are clear and uncluttered and these projects (and book size) travel very well. I have a request for the garter stitch sweater for a friend and am excited to start it. You will not regret investing in this book!
Rating:
Summary: A frisbee leap above existing dog designs
Review: I just picked this book up on the new book shelves of my public library, and brought it home to peruse with my lunch. Wow! I predict that this book will be bought by knitters as well as non-knitters, who will then beg a knitter to make one of the sweaters for their pooch. I have designed and knit a few dog sweaters, but nothing to compare to what I found in this book. The photography is wonderful, the layout and schematics are Interweave Press at its best, and the book even includes some recipes for dog biscuits as well as various shampoos, etc. to make fleas flee your well-dressed dog. There is one photo of a greyhound wearing a breath-taking Navajo blanket-inspired sweater that fits the animal so sleekly it appears to be almost part of the elegant greyhound himself. If you open this book, I wager you'll spend more than a few minutes admiring the photos of this beautiful creature. There is even a pale green lace party dress, which sounds absurd, but if you see the photo you may long for a little dog to knit it for. I would alter the hemline, though, to keep the underside of this lovely garment free of dribbles. There are several cardigans, with handsome buttons, which make the sweaters really look like dog-shaped sweaters. A beagle named Baylie models an Icelandic sweater in tones of tan and brown and looks cozy and playful. In addition to the wide variety of original sweaters, there are several accessories, like a "Field of Dreams" blanket with clouds puffing into bone shapes. Once again, like the party dress, this could end up being tacky, but it isn't. In fact, although I doubt most dogs like being draped in blankets, I am tempted to knit the blanket just because it is so beautifully designed with four trees swirling out from the center into the blue sky. It would make a great baby blanket as well, with the bone-clouds perhaps taking on other shapes. Although the sizes run from 10 to 75 pound dogs, the author includes very clear suggestions for altering patterns to fit longer, shorter, smaller, or larger dogs-- or cats, even. On page 19 there is a cat amongst the dogs, wearing a yellow sweater, and looking quite peaceful. I think my daughter's cat, who, in under two minutes, recently devoured a Meg Swansen catnip mouse I knit for him, is going to get a sweater next, without any catnip to drive him wild. These appealing designs are unlike most existing dog sweater patterns, which to me seem rather awkward. The sweaters in DOGS IN KNITS happen to fit dogs, but are beautiful enough to be altered to fit their owners. In fact, I suggest that a sequel be a collection of similarly elegant designs for both dogs and owners.
Rating:
Summary: Dogs In Knits by Judith L. Swartz
Review: I must say, out of all the books I am currently reviewing that this is MY personal favorite. I love Dog In Knits! And for all you Cat People out there, this is a great book for you too. The sweaters are sized for pets from small to large. In fact, I know a few freshly shorn sheep that might like one of these stylish sweaters, too.
Almost as much as I enjoyed reading each of the patterns, I also found myself looking forward to each of the model's introductions and the pages of additional information which included favorite dog names, facts, recipes for treats, interesting information about a few organizations for pets, and natural pest treatments.
Swartz includes sweater measurements for dogs weighing up to 75 pounds, but I found the patterns easy to adjust. They are easily knit or crocheted using your own pet's measurments, then just adjusting the patterns up or down as needed. These patterns start at Small, which is listed as being for a dog under 10 pounds. I easily adjusted that measurement to fit a smaller dog just by reducing the calculations one step further and following the pattern she had already set for the larger size. Charts and line diagrams are easy to read, colorful, and concise.
Although the yarn brand used in each sweater is noted, yarns are listed by type and size along with needle and gauge measurements. Yardage requirements are listed for each of the sizes along with its finished measurements, as well.
Another great feature of these patterns and this book is that they are all easy to knit or crochet for needleworkers of all skill levels. The range of styles includes colorwork, an Aran pattern, and even a pretty lacy party dress which is my personal favorite. Each style uses a different technique and it is explained carefully in easy to understand directions. Swartz also includes patterns for pillows, blankets and Christmas stockings.
The easy to read glossary includes abbreviations, directions for intarsia and stranding, knit, crochet & embroidery stitch dictionaries, and also finishing ideas which even include how to sew a zipper in knits.
Note: These sweaters also would be attractive used on your "stationary pet", ie: stuffed favorite like a teddy bear or bunny.
You will want to take this book home with you, not to mention all the models in the book, too.
Buy it today and start making stylish knits for your favorite pet!
Rating:
Summary: Even a beginner can use this book.
Review: I only knew garter stitch when I bought this book. In fact, I'd never read a knitting pattern, but I do sew, embroider and quilt. I'm what they call an "adventurous beginner", and this book is written in such a way that I understand most of the instructions. If there's something I don't get (like twisted rib), I search the Web and I'm off. My little pug Marley now has the most glorious basketweave cardigan known to man, and my other pug has an Icelandic sweater in the works.
My advice for beginners: read the patterns through carefully, and make the _exact_ sweater in the book before you start adding width, etc. The sweaters work up pretty quickly. If the resulting test sweater doesn't fit your dog, donate it to a rescue.
Rating:
Summary: Get ready to start taking orders!
Review: I only knew garter stitch when I bought this book. In fact, I'd never read a knitting pattern, but I do sew, embroider and quilt. I'm what they call an "adventurous beginner", and this book is written in such a way that I understand most of the instructions. If there's something I don't get (like twisted rib), I search the Web and I'm off. My little pug Marley now has the most glorious basketweave cardigan known to man, and my other pug has an Icelandic sweater in the works.
My advice for beginners: read the patterns through carefully, and make the _exact_ sweater in the book before you start adding width, etc. The sweaters work up pretty quickly. If the resulting test sweater doesn't fit your dog, donate it to a rescue.
Rating:
Summary: Great Variety of Projects
Review: The book features a variety of styles to suit all tastes and to fit different sizes of dogs. There's a cable stitch sweater, an Icelandic design, and others plus some blankets and a pillow for your dog. The directions seem very detailed.
The book starts off with instructions for measuring your dog and adjusting the patterns. It continues with a glossary and 5 pages of basic techniques before plunging into the actual patterns.
The photos are charmers showing dogs modeling the outfits. The author even throws in a recipe for a flea shampoo and doggie snacks. Sprinkled throughout the book is trivia about dogs (popular dog names, quotations, background on the models).
I'm giving this as a gift to a neigbor who is talented with handwork. Her two dogs will look adorable in these outfits.
Rating:
Summary: Labor of Love
Review: This is a beautiful book with gorgeous photographs and incredible knitting projects for a beloved dog. It would make a handsome coffee table piece because of its unusual subject and lovely pictures. I am knitting "Icelandic Beauty" for my "grand-dog" and the directions are very complete. I gave this book to them for Christmas with a handmade "gift certificate" for a sweater and they chose this one from among the many wonderful options. I am very pleased with this project and appreciate the attention to detail the author put into this. I hope this book stays on the shelf for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Labor of Love
Review: This is a beautiful book with gorgeous photographs and incredible knitting projects for a beloved dog. It would make a handsome coffee table piece because of its unusual subject and lovely pictures. I am knitting "Icelandic Beauty" for my "grand-dog" and the directions are very complete. I gave this book to them for Christmas with a handmade "gift certificate" for a sweater and they chose this one from among the many wonderful options. I am very pleased with this project and appreciate the attention to detail the author put into this. I hope this book stays on the shelf for a long time.
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