- Hardcover: 136 pages
- Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (Oct 2 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1584792264
- ISBN-13: 978-1584792260
- Product Dimensions: 26.2 x 23.8 x 1.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 921 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #643,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
"Knitting is the new yoga," declares knitting queen Suss Cousins, and she's right. It's hip, relaxing, and deeply satisfying. Knitting has made a thoroughly modern comeback, thanks in part to the inspiration and creativity of knitter-to-the-stars Suss Cousins. Suss has invented a new vocabulary for an old art, and in the process has developed a passionate following of young, smart, stylish knitters, among them some of Hollywood's hottest stars. Bringing her ideas to a book for the first time, Suss invites knitters both new and accomplished to make offbeat and colorful projects that are both elegant and wearable. As a sought-after costume designer for both film and TV, she has also chosen to include some of her most inspired designs for films from The Matrix to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Featuring 30 amazing projects with full instructional details Hollywood Knits is equal parts practical and inspirational.
About the Author
Suss Cousins grew up in Sweden, where her grandmother taught her to knit, and moved to New York in 1982. Her knitwear took off when actress Noelle Beck began to wear Suss's sweaters - and everyone wanted to know where she'd found them. Before long, Suss was designing Bill Cosby's sweaters for The Cosby Show. In 1991 she opened a retail shop in Los Angeles where she taught knitting and sold her clothing. She also continued to design for film and TV, including such films as The Matrix, Scooby Doo, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and such TV series as Friends, Ally McBeal, Frasier, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In addition, Suss Design has licensing deals to children's wear, launching this year, including an Eloise line for fall. Karen Knauer is a fashion and commercial photographer who lives in Santa Monica, CA.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
innovative and adorable!,
By verbminx (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hollywood Knits: Thirty Original Suss Designs (Hardcover)
I have yet to see a knitting book which pleases everyone, and HOLLYWOOD KNITS will be no exception. Nonetheless, I think that a disservice is done by focussing on its negatives. Yes, there is some namedropping - but the author's attitude seems warm and inclusive, and she can't really change how she got her fame in the knitting world (having a shop in LA, making knitted garments for films, etc). Yes, the designs are quirky and modern - some of us like that and seek that. What shines in Suss Cousins's book are some of the smaller designs. There are sweater patterns, but they're fairly basic, and there are other problems with them which I will discuss later in this review. The fabulous patterns in "Hollywood Knits" are those for accessories - some clever, pretty bags, hats, wraps. The knitting bag incorporates a pair of large needles into its design. People have criticised the water bottle carrier as pointless, but I know plenty of young urbanites who use similar carriers on a daily basis. Likewise, I can think of more than a few acquaintances who would enjoy the cellphone cover. Most of the hats, wraps, and scarves are cool, although many of them are made flat, joined, and seamed, when they would have been far simpler to make in the round. Suss generally writes the patterns for straight needles and even recommends a specific bamboo variety. It's easier for a new knitter to use straight needles, although some of the designs (the cowl, the long striped stocking cap, the naturwolle and colinette cap) are far better suited to circulars. My only real problem with this book is the very valid criticism other people have made about the sizing - I'm a slender woman with a 40" chest. The sweaters in this book will not fit me unless I buy a few extra balls of yarn and manipulate the instructions for a size larger than the largest size in the book. I'm experienced enough to do this, but a new knitter would not be. As a result, I don't recommend this as a first knitting book: try the "Yarn Girls Guide" instead. (Skip "Knitting Pretty"; the patterns in it are just weird and not enough photos are provided. "Hollywood Knits" is more for the people who bought Lily Chin's "The Urban Knitter" than for people who need a bare-bones starter guide.) Yet I worry that the knitters who have enough experience for these projects might find them a little too simple and/or tame. If nothing else, many of the patterns in "Hollywood Knits" would work up quickly into stylish gifts. Bottom line is: this is a good second or third knitting book, especially if you are interested in making things for other people. The designs are sleek and about as interesting as simple designs made in generally bulky yarns can be. Suss's design sense is good; she has a genius for where stripes or a contrast band or an intarsia square will spark a project. This is not a book for the heartland, but younger knitters might take to it.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for instant gratification,
By Cat Goddess (Montreal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hollywood Knits: Thirty Original Suss Designs (Hardcover)
I'm a new-ish knitter, so am still in that phase where a project is not gratifying unless it knits up instantly. I eyed this book at the store several times before finally taking the plunge; and I have to say that I'm glad I bought it.There are points which detract from a perfect rating. Ms Cousins' name dropping gets really old really fast, and as another reviewer pointed out, there are minor errors in a few of the patterns (the reference diagram for the cellphone case for example has dimension errors that even a rank beginner like myself could spot). Furthermore, she uses crochet, but leaves out instructions; and doesn't explain important techniques like blocking et al. One thing you should keep in mind before you purchase this book is the fact that yarn prices are obviously no object to Ms Cousins. Therefore, the cost of making most of her sweater designs is easily over $50! And before you think of subsituting yarns, look carefully-- the patterns are simple, it's the yarn that makes them special. However, on the whole, a lot of the designs are extremely exciting and inspiring (and easy) to knit; and the book IS beautifully shot and put together. The woman obviously enjoys her work. And her designs should inspire any new knitter to knit long enough to get well and truly hooked. For all its failings, I must admit that every time I walk past "Hollywood Knits" on my bookshelf, I veer towards my knitting bag to rummage through my supplies to see what I can make next.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good with the Bad,
By A Customer
This review is from: Hollywood Knits: Thirty Original Suss Designs (Hardcover)
I fell in love with the pictures in this book, as I love simple, bold designs. It's a great inspiration for me. That said, it can also be highly annoying to read and work with. The name-dropping is intrusive after the first page or so. Also, the sizes are INCREDIBLY small. Suss' "large" is listed in the X-Small category of standard women's sizes! Unless the reader is willing to do all the math to alter what are, essentially, good designs, I wouldn't recommend this book for beginners.
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