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Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Unusual Designs for Your Money
Review: If you like Nicky Epstein's work, you will probably like thisbook, although it doesn't plow as much new ground as Epstein's"Embellishments". For technical knitting enthusiasts, thebook has patterns for some rather unusual knitted items: lampshades,comical three-dimensional animal pillows, and decorative felted apples(replacing traditional wax fruit). There are also some verychallenging intarsia afghan patterns: a knitted version of anembroidered "wedding proposal" sampler, and a knittedmedieval tapestry with interwoven animal, bird, and plant figures.Other interesting items include an afghan made up of highly textured(three-dimensional) counterpane squares, a colorful Fair Isle afghanusing Zodiac symbols (not the more usual pictorial figures), and aChristmas afghan with graceful trumpeting angels. In fact, thereare a lot of pretty afghan and pillow projects in this book, utilizingcables, geometric design, intarsia, and multicolored or texturedyarns, and ranging in difficulty from easy to expert. There are evensome attractive knitted lace doily and placemat patterns. Like anybook of knitting patterns, this one will be worth the price if evenone of the designs is a "gotta make" pattern for you. I'drate it at 3-4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous Victorian stuff! (and some weird stuff, too)
Review: If you like the Victorian style, I think you'll love many of the designs in this book. I've never seen knitting patterns like this before, and find this book extraordinary. There's an afghan that takes it's inspiration from Victorian needlepoint (a.k.a., Berlinwork), with a black background and jewel tone fruits; a striking Christmas afghan with a dark background and trumpeting angels; a cable afghan with raised fruits; a diamond lace afghan with insertions of ribbon; a knitted photo frame; a cute "gentleman's sampler" that looks like it's a quilt made of squares from old sweaters; and knitted lampshade covers that are very feminine and Victorian/Edwardian. There's also an amazing afghan that's inspired from an old tapestry. The piece de resistance is an afghan that looks like it's copied from an 18th or early 19th century embroidery sampler. Then there are items that would fit into any home: A classy cable afghan & pillow; a glorious counterpane afghan and pillow that's very feminine; a diamond afghan; some pretty pillows; and an afghan with what looks like appliqued knitted leaves on it. I also really appreciate the few doily patterns that are included. There are wackier things, too, which I like less: Knitted animal pillows; three-dimensional fruits for a fruit bowl; a not-very-attracrtive teddy bear; a fur pillow; an afghan featuring a golfer and a pillow that looks like a giant golf ball; and some "celestial" and almost hippie looking designs. This book's problem doesn't come so much from it's designs, in my opinion, as from the difficulty of the projects. A few might be suitable for a beginner (some of the pillows and maybe the lampshades); others are rated "intermediate," but it seems that most are pretty complicated. Even so, this book is inspiring, if nothing else! I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: not for MY home
Review: Loved this author's hats, and her embellishments reference book is quite good (though did she have to include such things as k1p1 and k2p2 ribbing???), but this book goes beyond cute and fun and whimsical into weird and goofy and gaudy. Not one thing that shouted "make me" in the whole collection.
Rating:
Summary: not for MY home
Review: Nicky Epstein is known for knitted embellishments and very decorative intarsia (color picture knitting) designs. Some of the projects here have been published elsewhere (the Zodiac throw was I think in a series of issues of Knitters.) As to weirder things like knitted ornamental fruit (?) and lampshades, I suppose they have a place in shabby chic, or even could be interesting knit in chenille. Knitted lampshades are not unusual in Germany; a common home item is a hanging shade on an octagonal wire frame, knit of lace in nice natural colors. Kinda cute. However, I prefer Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments book as a reference; lots of useful techniques with I cord to make Celtic Knotwork on afghans and pillows, fringes and tassels. You might also look at Erica Knight's Home Decor knitting book or Judith Shangold's Design Source Book of Home Decor, with an Amish inspired throw. If you want some stunning intarsia throws, this is a great book to have. Otherwise, for knitting items for the home, I think you'd be better off with the other books mentioned here.
Rating:
Summary: Good for accents
Review: This book isn't as bad as it is made out to be. The designs are mainly good for accents, not for decorating your entire home with and I think that the animal pillows would be adorable in a child's bedroom. All in all, a good book if you have a room that needs just a little bit of zaniness. As a twenty year old knitter, I am more open to wilder themes. If you want some lovely afghans or some crazy additions to your home, then this is the book for you.
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