Nursery Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Clothes, Toys and Other Items for 0-3 Year Olds

Rating:
Summary: Fun knits for kids
Review: Debbie Bliss has brought together a fantastic collection of her distinctive kids knits. They're fun, bright, and very easy to knit, and no matter how picky the child (or their parents) are, you will certainly find something here that they'll love. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow. My only complaint is that I don't have enough time to knit them all!

Rating:
Summary: Can't help but like this one
Review: I am generally not a Debbie Bliss fan--her books contain typos, I generally prefer stitch designs to color patterns and/or stockingnette stitch, and the patterns tend to be recycled through her books. However, there really are some irresitible sweaters here. Hopefully you will like working with color charts, since most of the sweaters focus on color, though there are 4 sweaters that rely on stitch patterns to create an interesting effect. While the book describes itself as having items for 0-3 year olds, the patterns are generally written for one size only, which I found really frustrating. It's pretty rare to find children's patterns in only one size, and it's very inconvenient since there is a great difference in size between a 6 month old baby and a one year old baby. Experienced knitters will be able to adapt, but I think it might disappoint a novice. As in all Debbie Bliss books, the yarns are listed by name rather than weight (and, yes, they are all Rowan yarns), so you may be left guessing what weight to use. Again, this might frustrate a novice. You will need to be able to read knitting charts to do the color patterns. Between 3 and 4 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Adorable
Review: I love everything in this book. Some outfits for the whimsical, others for the baby who goes for a more grown-up look. All are very cute and practical. I love that they all have matching accessories: blankets, hats, toys, shoes. I have gotten the knitting bug again after many years "off" and can't wait to get started on one of these. All I need now is a grandchild to wear them. I plan to order more of Debbie Bliss's designs.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful but limited sizing
Review: I love my Debbie Bliss books. But I was slightly disappointed in this one because the sweaters were generally sized for mostly only one (a few had two) size only (some of her later books size for various sizes ranging from 0-12 months, or 1 - 5 etc.). So, if I liked a design, but the baby I was knitting for was not the exact size the pattern was fitted for, I was out of luck. There was no variation and I am not experienced enough of a knitter to adjust the pattern This was very frustrating, because some of the sweaters are quite cute.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful but limited sizing
Review: I own 4 of her books and have knitted sweaters from each one. These are books that compel you to knit as the sweaters are beautiful. There are many original, clever patterns to suit every knitter and child. The last 6 sweaters I've knitted have been Debbie Bliss creations and all were well received. I have one problem with her books. There are typos that will frustrate the novice knitter. As another reviewer mentioned, read her patterns carefully and check the photos. The photography is very good with the emphasis on the sweater, not the model. The errors generally occur on the wrong side row instructions. The first row sets the pattern with a knit-purl combination while the second row instructions just have "purl" when clearly you have to follow the combination set in the first row. If the second row instructions seem to simple for the pattern, they generally are. I have found this same typo in 3 books. The books are beautifully done. The patterns are varied and creative. She needs a editor who knows how to knit.

Rating:
Summary: how to choose...
Review: Take one look at this book, and you have to knit everything in it. Each of these designs is beautiful, and the range includes something for every level of knitter. Be careful though--she is VERY precise in her patterns, not a single word more than is necessary. Read everything twice then knit it. That said, if you think you will ever have to knit anything for a baby or toddler, get this book. The styles in it are classic, so you can knit them for babies born this year, and then knit them again for when those babies grow up and have kids of their own.