One Skein: 30 quick projects to knit and crochet
Leigh Radford (Interweave Press)
$31.95, ISBN 1931499748
Flick through this book and your fingers will itch to try these attractively photographed projects. Along with the usual one-skein wonders—hats, scarves, gloves, socks—there are surprises like a bathmat, felted bowls, a tank top, and some wee knitted cupcakes. Radford, contributing art director for Interweave Knits, jazzes up the more ubiquitous projects with cabling, beading and buttons.
The 'Rediscover Your Stash' chapter includes a 'lust have' stash handbag, gorgeous felted striped tote and funky labyrinth circle rug. A helpful glossary includes instructions on several crochet stitches and four different types of seaming.
The only rub is that the title bends the truth a bit uncomfortably. Yes, the projects here are likely to be quick. But some of them are based on particular yarns, and some of the skeins—well, it puts me in mind of the joke about the Englishman, the Australian and the American. I've long since forgotten the punchline, but the gist of it is the Yank thinks everything in America is bigger—and if this book is anything to go by, he certainly got it right when it comes to yarn.
Some patterns here use regular-sized skeins of yarn (including some readily available in Australia) but once you start to substitute, the notion of 'one skein' goes out the window. So if you really think you'll create all the projects here out of just one skein each, I'm afraid the joke's on you.
—Megan Longhurst