Debbie Bliss Books

Simply Baby: 20 Adorable Handknits for Baby's First Two Years

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

simple, cute, quick 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I dont own this book. However I check this book out from the library on a regular basis. The instructions are simple and very easy to follow. The items are very cute and knit up in a variety of yarns. Personally I have made about 10 of the beanie hat and they always get compliments. Highly recomend for new knitters learning to follow a pattern

I absolutely love this book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is great. I've four months pregnant and after making a bunch of afghans I saw this book in the book store and thought I'd give knitting baby clothes a try even though my knitting experience was pretty much limited to scarves and hats. The instructions are very clear and in the last two weeks I've made two sweaters, the little bear and two pairs of booties. If you have a little bit of knitting experience you should definitely be able to knit the patterns in this book. And they're super cute.

Editorial Review:

Debbie Bliss presents 20 adorable new designs for babies and toddlers--from blankets and booties to cardigans, twin sets, and coats--all using soft, snuggly yarns.

Essential Knits for Kids: 20 Fresh, New Looks for Children Two to Five

Debbie Bliss

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Editorial Review:

For the first time, this popular designer unveils fashions just for toddlers and preschoolers. Featuring children involved in activities from nursery school and birthday parties to dance lessons and sports, the book presents 20 charming modern projects organized into three collections. The first features designs that keep kids comfy while they are hanging out at home, including a double-sided throw for cuddling in front of the TV and a knitted rag doll for both playtime and bedtime. Because every child loves a party, the second collection is devoted to dressy designs for girls such as a cashmere shrug that can be worn over a party dress and a cute beaded bag just right for carrying party essentials. For boys there is a pattern for a good-looking polo shirt with buttons and a collar—and it can be paired with a stretchy striped tie that can be slipped over the head. The final collection focuses on items for the outdoors, including a boy's parka, a girl's coat with scarf, and a fabric-lined bag with its own striped pencil case. Practicality prevails in all the projects; they are knitted in beautiful, classic yarns that are soft and gentle against a young child's skin but are also sturdy and easy to wash and dry.

Special Knits: 22 Gorgeous Handknits for Babies and Toddlers

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Beautiful book, beautiful projects 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was one of the very first pattern books I bought when I had been knitting about year. I found so many projects that I wanted to knit! The book is incredibly gorgeous, and will inspire you to reach for your yarn and needles. I have already finished knitting the Velvet-Trimmed Cardigan for my 3-mo-old and am working on the Beaded Cardigan for my 3-yr-old (although it will NOT be beaded!). I was hoping for more designs for older tots, but what is in there is beautiful, and now I have another baby to knit for!!

If you are a thrifty knitter, or just don't have access to a fine yarn store, I found that Lion Brand Microspun yarn is a perfect substitution for the finer weight Debbie Bliss yarn used on many of the patterns.

I am an advanced beginner, and I don't find the patterns too hard. They are challenging, but definitely doable. Many of the designs are knit on size 2/3 needles, so don't buy this book if you are looking for quick projects. On the other hand, I think that a finer gauge looks better because it is more proportional on a little baby/toddler. Another reviewer mentioned fumbling through the directions. When I have questions, I call our local yarn store. They are always happy to talk me through a new skill.

All in all, this is an incredible book. I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to take a little time to make something beautiful.

Editorial Review:

Top knitwear designer Debbie Bliss presents a collection for newborns that will be cherished and handed down for years to come, from blankets and sweaters to hats and bootees, all using soft, snuggly yarns.

Junior Knits

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great collection of patterns for big kids 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book earns points right away by providing patterns for older kids. Why are there so few patterns available for kids who have passed the toddler years? The patterns in this book are typical of Debbie Bliss's style--classic and elegant. Even the most style-conscious kids will like these things, but none of the patterns are fussy or trendy. Several of the patterns are for boys, and, although I don't have any sons, I suspect most boys would like them. Nothing in this book is overly cutesy. Most of the knitting is quite simple, and many are suitable for beginners. Because the patterns are generally simple, however, they are also easy to customize. I made the hooded pullover in some yarn my older daughter and I kool-aid dyed, and I'm currently working on the raglan-sleeved pullover, to which I've added a pirate motif. The book itself is nicely laid out. The instructions are clear, the photos actually give a good picture of the completed projects, and the spiral binding is convenient. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to knit for gradeschoolers.

Editorial Review:

Top knitwear designer Debbie Bliss presents 25 fabulous new projects for four-to-ten-year-olds, from easy striped legwarmers to a denim sweater and hooded parka.

Essential Baby: Over 20 Handknits to Take Your Baby from First Days to First Steps

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

over simplistic and derivative 2 out of 5 stars.
15 of 17 people found this review helpful.

This is a disappointing book. On the positive side, the first portion of the book is dedicated to teaching knitting, from casting on to instructions on reading patterns. The explanations and accompanying graphics would be helpful to a complete newbie. However, all this information is available for free on knitting help websites and they have video.

The patterns are nice, but nothing spectacular nor even very creative. Garnstudio has a website which provides hundreds of free patterns for knitted baby items. You can find every one of the the 22 items in the book at that website or other sites, such as Knitty.

The photography for this book is quite lovely, but focuses on the baby rather than the project. The babies are adorable, but this is a book about knitting for babies, not babies in knits. Thus, we never see one blanket in it's entirety, just the bits which are visible while it is wrapped around the baby. The lace pattern on that blanket is given as text, with no accompanying chart.

Also, as with all knitting writers these day, Debbie Bliss has her own yarn line, so all the patterns call for her yarn, with no suggestions for substituting.

Editorial Review:

A complete knitwear collection for every new baby, this guide includes 20 must-have designs for babies ranging in age from zero to 18 months. Divided into three main sections—Coming Home, On the Go, and Downtime—the author has carefully considered the needs of any new parent and devised an assortment of essential projects for their newborn.

Toy Knits: More Than 30 Irresistible and Easy-to-Knit Patterns

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

spotty information, but very cute designs 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

The patterns in this book are all knitted in flat pieces, on straight needles (usually US #3 with DK weight yarn). This means that there is a lot of sewing to do to finish them.

I've only started one of the projects, but I already found an error: half of Chart 1 for the cow is missing. (I've decided to fill in the chart myself, copying from the photo where necessary. Hey, it's only a cow spot.) The debbie bliss website (debbieblissonline.com) has errata from her patterns, but this mistake isn't on the list. The website has no contact information(!) but I've sent a note to the publisher, St. Martin's.

As another reviewer said, this book has somewhat confusing directions (the style takes some getting used to) and the lack of schematics can be confusing. On the cow, I learned that you have to join the back legs with the slanted, not straight, portions toward the middle. The directions are ambiguous about this point, but if you don't get it right you'll have to frog or dismantle a lot of knitting to correct it.

About half the designs in the book are teddy bears and bunnies (they come in different sizes and wearing different costumes). The other half include some very cute and ingenious designs - a reindeer, a camel with a saddle, anthropomorphic mice and rats, a monkey with a fez, several farm animals, and a "farm set play mat" that includes miniature versions of the cows, sheep, pigs, and piglets. The miniatures are about 4 inches long; the larger size farm animals are 12-16 inches long. (I'm looking forward to making some little sheep out of wool scraps!)

If you buy this book, join me in pestering the publisher about errata - without schematics or clear directions, it can be hard to tell when you've gone wrong.

Editorial Review:

Debbie Bliss, author of the enormously popular Baby Knits, New Baby Knits, and Kids' Country Knits, presents instructions for more than 30 irresistible soft toys-- from pigs to cuddly teddy bears to dolls, sheep, and even a kangaroo.Beginning and advanced knitters alike will enjoy these easy-to-knit projects, many of which can be created in a matter of hours. Clear instructions and delightful photographs accompany every toy in the book.Children of all ages will adore these fun and imaginative soft toys.

Baby Knits for Beginners

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good solid book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I looked at a lot of books by Bliss before I settled on this one - it has some really nice projects. I wasn't necessarily a beginning knitter when I picked this up, so some of the projects weren't attractive for me. But I have done the boat-necked sweater, the cashmere booties, and the umbilical cord hat (several times, to the delight of friends). I'm about to start on the garter-stitch cardigan. It would be nice, though, to have diagrams showing how the pieces should turn out/be blocked. I've used different yarns with a lot of success - don't think you have to stick with her yarn. I'd recommend this book. The simplicity and elegance of the projects make them classics, and you could easily add your own touch to any of the items in the book.

Editorial Review:

This delightful new book from best-selling author Debbie Bliss is a complete beginner's guide to knitting for babies, from bootees and blankets to simple sweaters. Published in a handy format ideal for tucking into a knitting bag, it features 15 stylish projects.

How to Knit: The Definitive Knitting Course Complete with Step-by-Step Techniques, Stitch Library, and Projects for Your Home and Family

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good for someone transitioning from "beginner" 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I did not use this book to learn how to knit--I bought it for its stitch libraries and these have not disappointed. There are pages and pages of stitch patterns from the very basic to the more difficult that are easy to read and have great variety. I have incorporated several of these stitch patterns into new designs. My brother is in the navy, so I created a fun scarf pattern using the "Anchor" stitch, and it turned out great. However, I would not recommend this book for someone who has never held a pair of knitting needles and has no idea how to knit: the instructions are brief and the diagrams are not very helpful. But if you know your basic stitches and want to transition to something a litle more complicated than garter stitch scarves, this is a great help!

Editorial Review:

Leading knitwear designer Debbie Bliss returns with a complete course in knitting, taking you lesson by lesson through all the techniques and stitches. The book features 15 specially designed projects to practice new skills, and extensive stitch library, and 350 color photos and illustrations, plus charts.

Great Knits for Kids: 27 Classic Designs for Infants to Ten-Year-Olds

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great sweaters, size variance limited, some ins. unclear 4 out of 5 stars.
66 of 66 people found this review helpful.

The Debbie Bliss styles are wonderful -- however, some are too bulky - especially those for infants. I would have preferred that the patterns included a range of sizes -- only a few do. I have made five sweaters to gauge -- in each case some of the instructions were unclear and I had to anticipate what the author's intentions were. In one particular case, a matching beret was huge -- I knit one and so did a fellow knitter, following the same instructions and using same needle size as the matching sweater. The hats were too large for me -- this hat was supposed to fit a three-year old! My advise to fellow knitters -- really pay attention! And try your gauge over the cable patterns AND whatever stitch the instructions recommend!

Editorial Review:

With beautiful color photographs and well-presented instructions, Great Knits for Kids moves away from cute tyke clothing to stylish tunics, cardigans, jackets, sweaters, and hats. The first half of the book features lovely full-color photos of the knitwear in action (worn by kids at the seashore or in the park). Clear charts and specifications support the easy-to-read directions. Pattern sizes range from infants to 10-year-olds, with most projects giving a wide range of size options.

Teddy Bears: Twenty-five Irresistible Designs for Knitted Bears

Debbie Bliss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

not much variety 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The instructions are clear enough, however I was hoping for more size varieties, 4" - 20". I am still looking for a tiny knitted bear pattern.

I also deducted points for the author's insistance on one yarn, which not everyone has ability to obtain. I think an improvemnet would be using generic terms for yarns, baby weight, sport weight, 4 ply, that sort of thing.

I hope that these tiny complaints will not stop others from trying this author's patterns. The one I am doing now is going together well and it is very very easy to do.

Very nice toy book 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I really like this book, actually. I only made one teddy bear (the one in the bunny suit), but the directions were quite clear, and I had no trouble with it. And the bear came out very cute, I thought! Just like the picture.

There are lots of adorable teddies. The best part about them is the detailed wardrobes most of them wear. Alot of the clothes are also interchangeable, so you can knit one teddy bear with several outfits -- a great gift for a little kid! The outfits are mostly old-fashined-looking, and quite charming. There are also a couple of decorative teddies with flowers embroidered on them. I'm not crazy about those, myself, but someone else might be.

I also like the way this book is organized -- the pictures of all the bears are on the first pages of the book, followed by the actual directions for making them in the later section. Each picture is referenced with the page number the directions are on.

The thing to look out for in this book is, the pieces are very fiddly. The author has you casting off and on all in the same piece. Of course, as a result, there is LOTS of seaming. I think there are easier ways to achieve the same shaping. Some of the pieces seem weird, but it wasn't too difficult to figure out how they were supposed to fit together.

Overall, a very nice toy knitting book.

Editorial Review:

Each easy-to-knit pattern is complete with clear instructions, making them suitable for knitters of all levels of skill.

Delightful photographers illustrate every bear in the book.