Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids

Rating:
Summary: Misleading title
Review: I bought this for my mother who routinely knits for my kids, age 5 and 7. This book has maybe one pattern suitable for "kids". It should be 30 designs for infants and toddlers. Cute patterns, but certainly only for babies.

Rating:
Summary: mislead
Review: I purchased this book for the hat pattern shown several times on the outside cover and inside the book. It is not in the book. Also, this book is not for kids, it is mainly for toddlers. I have a 3, a 6 and a 10 year old grandchild and most of the patterns only go to 4. I feel this was very misleading.

Rating:
Summary: A versatile book if you knit for kids
Review: Kids' sizes are harder to find in knitting patterns than babies. (and who cares if it doesn't fit the baby? Too big and just waitaminnit, that baby will swell amazingly to fit any sweater.) This is not the case with kids; they grow a bit slower, they are fussy about their clothes and the fit. So this is a useful book.

It has patterns for sweaters that can be used for either boys or girls, even has pants. The most useful section is on blocking and finishing and necklines. Necklines are tough; kids have bigger heads in relation to their bodies so it is well to understand how to fit a neck opening on kids.

I give the book 4 stars out of 5 because it specifies a lot of acrylic type yarns. (To be fair, the book also has some cotton as well.) If you read Elizabeth Zimmerman, she claims wool is better for kids even though it needs hand washing and that the best wool probably won't itch. If you like machine washing, then acrylic is your fiber. If you want extreme warmth, wool is better, and you can always substitute a wool yarn of equal weight to the ones specified in the patterns.

Oh, there's also a bit about charting your own designs, which is handy for people who want to knit HP sweaters and the like. Not a bad reference if you knit for your children, grandchildren or children of friends--or for charity, too.

Rating:
Summary: Provides over thirty knitted designs knitters
Review: Mary Bonnette and o Lynne Murchland's Paintbox Knits provides over thirty knitted designs knitters can make for kids, blending beautiful colors with motifs designed to attract youngster interest. From pullovers and tunics to pants and jackets for boys and girls, the projects will satisfy any knitting for kids.