Customer Reviews

Hollywood Knits: Thirty Original Suss Designs

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I love this book, the pattens are fun, easy and they are knitted up quickly.
I bought it for one pattern but, found all these other patterns that I love
and will eventually knit...

The projects are wonderful to look at, but unless you are a "hot" knitter who can adjust your patterns on the fly steer clear. If you must knit one of her patterns KNIT A GUAGE and then KNIT IT AGAIN. If you are looking for a wonderful intermediate pattern book try Weekend Knits or the Stich n' Bitch book, if you want a nice coffee table knitting book by all means spend go for it.

i picked up this book because of the good photos of the projects. after i started reading it, i found that the sizing on every project is TINY. movie stars and teenage girls may be 36"-busts or smaller, but real women have curves and need larger sizes on sweaters. took the book back to borders and got a refund. thanks to other reviewers here for also pointing out the many errors in the instructions. nothing like spending 80 bucks on yarn only to find that the steps are flawed.

As a newbie knitter in my twenties, this is my favourite book. The projects are simple, the photos are gorgeous, and I can see returning to this book for years to come because I love the designs so much. The step-by-step instructions are great and I wish more books were written this way. (I can't stand knitting by antiquated abbreviations.)

I did have a couple of problems. There are a lot of misprints in the book. If you buy the book, be sure to visit www.sussdesign.com to get the list of corrections before you begin any of the projects. I also wish she included instructions on how to crochet the pieces together, since this is a finishing technique used often throughout the book.

Overall, a book I would readily recommend to other beginning knitters. Well worth the price.

I was extremely disappointed in this book! The patterns contained are so simplistic, you could train a reasonably intelligent monkey to knit them! Oh, it is glossy and colorful, to be sure but there really is nothing in it for the intermediate knitter and for sure, a complete waste of money for the advanced knitter. Who would want to knit a cell phone cover?? When I ordered the book, it sounded as though there were plenty of patterns in it, thirty, I think but most of them are a joke. I would recommend "Knitting Without Tears" for the beginner or for anybody who really does love to knit and enjoys trying something a little different. Leave this one on the shelf!

Demi-celebrities are different from you and me. They're skinnier. How else could they make use of sweater patterns that top out at 36 inches, and tube and halter tops that appear to be sized for prepubescents? The instructions seem to range from mostly clear to inanely detailed (40+ rows of row-by-row instructions for a scarf). The name dropping (all over every page) somewhat impedes the flow of information.

I have to think of this book as something like one of those gourmet cookbooks that assumes that you have a food processer, a stand mixer, a spare oven, and the willingness to measure out four onces of egg white and one third of a cup of chopped onion. It's not so much about cooking (or knitting), but about imagining what it would be like to live that way.

There are plenty of nice pictures, but no meat.
If you love knitting, like I do, this book will only discourage you. But if you want a book to look at pictures, This is yours.