Stitch, Bitch

Two manuals uncover knitting's naughty side

Naughty Needles:

Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond

Nikol Lohr (Potter Craft)

ISBN 978-0307337375/$42.95

DomiKNITrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape

Jennifer Stafford (North Light Books)

ISBN 9781581808537/$34.95

'Knitting is sexy. There, I said it. ' So begins your journey into the world of Nikol Lohr and her naughty needles. While there are standard knitting book patterns (knee-high socks and bags) what tags this stuff as sexy are the more off-the-wall items, like ball gags and whips. Practical gear features (the red riding hood cape, garters) but the focus is on fun: the bikinis and lingerie-styled pieces are terribly cute, while the naughty nurse's cap is a nice change of pace from your run-of-the-mill beginner's beanie.

A sense of fun pervades the book: the bitch fight staged in furry bikinis is a winner, and we loved the retro touches sprinkled throughout—Lohr references B-grade movies, Gidget, and 1940s Fredericks of Hollywood lingerie catalogues complete with a photo of a tattooed bathing vixen leafing through the pages. The models are real-life awesome; it's the author's mother wearing the 'Mrs Robinson' spangled bikini (and I bags looking like her after having children). What's also impressive about the book is that Nikol learned to knit from Debbie Stoller's 2003 book Stitch 'n Bitch and then went right on to write her own.

There is one thing letting this book down. The sizing terms are simply 'S, M, L, XL', without final measurements, which may make it tough for a knitter to work out what size to shoot for. That issue aside, this is a great book for any knitter who's looking for a good time—and wants something a little unusual.

—kylie gusset

This black PVC-clad package promises a walk on the wild side for any aspiring and open-minded knitter. Its cool tattoo-style logo, matte-finish pages and line-drawn illustrations scream non-conformist while the patterns titillate with such maverick titles as Winged Heart Bralet, Skull Vest and the Slink.

Welcome to the high-concept (under) world of the DomiKNITrix—and please note that all-important 'k', especially when trying to locate the website. Jennifer Stafford is the self-styled authoritarian, ruling her knits with an iron will: 'I discipline my yarn. I force it into the form I want it to take', she boldly announces in the first paragraph. Informing us she quit patterns in 1980, she promises ultimate control of the craft, and freedom from 'vague patterns'—but only by slavishly following the intentionally bossy instructions to learn techniques through making guess what? Her patterns!

I admit to an urge to assert myself over L'il Red Riding Hoodie, the curvaceous Swizzle Vest and the sleek City Coat. Like most of the designs here, they're funky, form fitting and flattering. And there is ample coverage of the knitting basics as well as some rather exotic techniques such as tubular cast on, grafting facings and installing zips.

In fact, there's no denying this book's cheeky allure—but as for the technique, I'm left strangely unfulfilled. Stafford's approach will appeal to a readership who consider the you-go-girl feminism of Stitch 'n Bitch too tame, but I found it all just a bit of slap and tickle.

—Megan Longhurst