I've got a real treat to share with you today. It's the latest book from the brilliant Mel Clark!
© Mel Clark, Collins & Brown
I first worked with Mel when she designed for us on The Knitter, and I've been delighted to edit a couple of her patterns for the magazine since I went freelance. Mel mentioned in passing that she had a new book due out and I jumped at the chance to have a look at it. Mel has a style that I can only aspire to. She thinks about each and every aspect of a design to make sure that they work together in perfect balance. You can be sure that her yarn choice is going to give the best possible results for the intended finished item, and that the colour combinations have been chosen with a great deal of care and attention.
Knitting Everyday Finery is a collection of quick-to-knit designs that bring a touch of luxury to your everyday life. It's not so much luxury in the sense of really expensive yarn (although the yarn choices are what I would describe as nice yarns, rather than really budget yarns), but more luxury in the sense of time and effort taken to create an item which conveys that love to its wearer. There are designs for men, women and children so you can knit a piece of finery for everyone in your life!
© Mel Clark, Collins & Brown
I am completely in love with this gorgeous Daisy Dachshund pencil case! I'm not normally one for toys, or dogs for that matter (I'm more of a cat person), but this is too delightful to miss. You can make her as either a pencil case or just as a toy, but what child wouldn't want an excuse to take such a fantastic creation to school each day? Mel has done a short blog post on the making up process for Daisy that you might find helpful.
© Mel Clark, Collins & Brown
These July Gloves also caught my eye, as the construction is a little unusual - they are begun in the round, then the hand is worked back and forth and sewn together later between the bobbles. It gives the gloves an interesting detail and one that I'd enjoy trying.
Each project is carefully photographed from a couple of angles, so it's possible to see all the detail you might require while you are working on a pattern. The instructions are straightforward to follow, and the few charts are of a good size and not too intimidating if you are new to chart-knitting. I could easily be tempted to cast on a few of the designs for a quick and satisfying knit. In fact... I'm off to Loop on Sunday, so maybe I need to pick up yarn for one of these. Hmmmmm. It might be just what my slow-knitting mojo needs!
Mel might be known to you as Slip, Slip, Knit - the name of her lovely and inspiring blog, or perhaps as the co-author with Tracey Ullman of Knit 2 Together - a book of patterns and stories for serious knitting fun (instantly recognisable by the 2-person jumper worn by Tracey and Mel on the cover). She's also on Twitter as @SlipSlipKnit and on Ravelry as melc to do go and check out her other designs.
Knitting Everyday Finery by Mel Clark
Published in the UK by Collins & Brown (and in the US by Trafalgar Square Books)
ISBN: 978-1-84340-663-1
RRP: £14.99
Disclaimer: I asked Mel if I could review this book, and as such was provided with a copy free of charge by the publisher, Collins & Brown.
