Review: The Knitting Book by Cath Kidston

The Knit Book is a gift set that is sure to wow any novice knitter. Cath Kidston has created an exclusive yet simple striped scarf design that is the perfect beginner hand-knit project. Using double-knitting weight yarn in six classic, cheery Cath Kidston colours, you can now make your own Cath Kidston scarf. Packaged in a bright floral design, re-useable tin, this gift set includes everything you need to make the scarf including six balls of yarn, one pair of red metal 4mm knitting needles plus a double-sided pattern sheet that gives all the instructions for making up the scarf. In addition, the gift set includes a 48 page paperback booklet containing all the essential how-to-knit information on the basic knitting techniques, including casting on, casting off, changing colours and achieving an even tension across your knitting. There is even an alternative scarf design in case stripes aren't your personal style. With clearly written instructions accompanied by explanatory diagrams, The Knit Book will get everyone reaching for their needles in time to make this cosy scarf.

My thoughts

Yes I know this is a new one for me review wise but I thought after seeing me witter on about this set on twitter you might like to know how it went. I got this set from my UKYABB secret santa and ws delighted with. As picture the knitting book includes the wool, needles and basic knitting instructions to make a scarf. I am already a reasonably proficient scarf knitter so I didn't pay much attention to the instructions but they seemed simple enough to me for the complete noivce to take a bash at but they are quite basic. I would suggest maybe getting something a bit more detailed or using a youtube tutorial as well when you are first learning.

The kit was presented in a 'book' tin with a set of needles and a selection of wool (more than enough to make the scarf) with instructions on small leaflets so please don't take the 'book' part of the title literally because you'll be disappointed. The wool was a nice quality and nice to knit with.

The final product is nice. The scarf is quite short but made with a hole to thread the other end through and is actually a perfect length if you don't want something that is too bulky but just to keep the chill off. The instruction on the pattern do say cast on, knit 4 rows, change colour, continue to change colour after every four rows when it should say that the cast on / cast off row is counting in your knit four rows if you want the stripes to be even and pattern to stay solid which is a little bit confusing but easily dealt with. I made it up in less than a week whilst watching TV.

Long term the tin is nice to keep knitting things in and I certainly would reuse the pattern (although maybe without all the fiddliness of doing stripes (or so many stripes) and definitely worth a look if you are interested in learning to knit but don't want to fork out on loads of stuff because you decide if you enjoy it or not.