Welcoming Home Baby the Handcrafted Way: 20 Quick & Creative Knitted Hats, Wraps & Cozy Cocoons for Your Newborn

I don't like this book. I LOVE this book. I have never knitted anything for babies because I don't want to use that nasty acrylic baby yarn which is what I have always been led to believe is the appropriate thing to do. I prefer art yarn. Ms. Tricia Drake has created a book full of the cutest hats, blankets, cocoons and pods EVER using gorgeous natural fiber yarn. I love the idea these knit up quick (because I won't be spending months making gifts that may or may not be appreciated...) and are so stinkin' cute. Drake's writing style is fun and personable and enjoyable to read even if you never use the book for actual knitting. The photos are awesome! I would have paid twice as much for this book as what I paid on Amazon, that's how much I love it.There are four sections. The first section discusses the why, the yarn, the needles and the few other tools you will need, plus a few technique based things like how to make a pom pom or crochet decorations. It does NOT teach basic beginner knitting stitches and does encourage beginners to get a beginner book or go online. I have found You Tube to be a TREASURE for learning different types of stitches and seaming, etc.The 2nd section is all about hats. There are a total of 7 hat patterns, most include a couple different sizes (newborn, 3-6, 6-12) These hats will take a couple hours to make (!) and are so adorable.The 3rd section is about wraps and blankets with a total of 6 patterns. The Hexagonal Hoodie is genius and the Birthday Wrap looks so airy, soft, luxurious and FUN and unbelievable for a blanket...quick to knit.The 4th section contains 6 cocoon and pod patterns. My favorite for practical purposes is the Snuggle Me Nursing Cocoon, but every pattern is a perfect photo op for new moms and dads searching for the perfect "outfit" for baby's first picture.Every pattern has tips, tricks, options, and yarn substitutions. It also lists manufacturers, colors, and contains a resource list in the back.The only thing that would make this book better is if someone would have a baby so I can make some of these cute things. I might just have to stockpile instead.

I stumbled upon this book while looking for cute hats that I see as props in some baby photos. My sister knows how to knit, so I gave this to her as a gift. She's made tons of hats for my baby. These hats require chunky yarn and big needles, so you might have to buy larger needles than what you already have. There are directions on some of them for straight needles and circular needles, so you can use whatever you find easier (without having to have both available).The author of this book has an etsy website where you can buy the hats in your custom colors for at least double (if not triple) of what this book costs.The hats aren't just girly patterns in girly colors. Most of them would look great on a boy too.There are more than just hats in this book too. There are blankets and cocoons. By the time I purchased the book, my daughter was already too big for the cocoons. She loves to be swaddled though (she's 5 months old now), I bet she would have loved a cocoon.The only negative thing I can say about this book is that most of the yarns the author recommends have already been discontinued (and the book was just published last year). However, you can easily pick your own chunky yarns (you can search that big fabric store's website by yarn weight online). I was even able to find non-wool yarns, which I think are better for babies since they have such delicate skin.

I love this book & practically every pattern in it. I wish I had printed the errata's before ordering yarn for my first project (the hexagonal blanket needs 2 skeins of each yarn not only 1). I have made one of the hats and the hexagonal blanket so far & both are adorable! I don't think I'll be making many of the pods/cocoons only because they are for NEWborns and the baby would outgrow the items within a week or two after birth. I plan on making the birthday wrap for myself since the Be Sweet yarn cost a small fortune and I just love the look of the blanket (changing the color to pale green & chocolate). All the patterns are easy to follow & I like how Tricia gives other yarn substitutions / colorways for boys or girls. Most can be made quickly literally within hours of casting on (assuming no interruptions or you stay up later than your kids one night).

This is a nice book to learn how to knit items quickly by using large needles. There is some upfront costs in purchasing the super bulky yarns and the large needles, but the projects are easy and fun and I am a beginner knitter. Many people complained about not being able to purchase the exact yarns mentioned in the book. Yes this is a bit irritating, however, you can just email the author (her contact info is the book) and she will send you many other yarn options for creating these projects. She also has a facebook page. Fun book to learn how to knit it chunky!

This book contains some of the most beautiful photos of babies I've ever seen. That said, I bought it for the patterns. And there's the issue. I really find it irritating when authors exclude basic information on yarns. If you don't want to use the proprietary yarns she used, you are going to have to do your own research on substitutes as she doesn't bother to give even the most rudimentary information about the weights of the yarns (usually provided in numerical categories). I'll probably keep this out as a coffee table book, but I'm more likely to use patterns that are more user-friendly. What a shame. The projects are just so darned cute!

A cute book ,full of fun ideas ,but as its American I'm going to have to get some help with the yarns .

really enjoyed this book. Not only are the patterns different and innovative, but they also spurred me on to create some patterns of my own

good book so I have been told I'm no good at knitting

Allein es anzusehen, macht große Freude! Dieses Buch spielt mit Formen und Farben - sowohl im Bezug auf das Material als auch auf die Gestaltung der Modelle- in ungewöhlicher Kombinationen. Hier bekommt man Spass am Ausprobieren!die Sprache macht es nicht leicht, aber auch nicht unmöglich. wenn man ein wenig versiert ist und sich die gängigen britischen Fachbegriffe aneignet, dürfte das kein Prblem sein.Also nur Mut - zum Buch und zur eigenen Kreativität!

Great if you have lots of squishy bulky yarns in your stash! (Which I don't) I have owned this book for at least a year and have yet to make anything from it. But the patterns are very cute.