55 Christmas Balls to Knit || Arne & Carlos

Scandinavians have a wonderful ability to be able to take themselves completely frivolously and yet seriously at the same time. I’m stereotyping because the cover illustration of two men in sweaters that would be the envy of Sarah Lund suggests nothing less than a bit of fun. Ever wondered whether Gilbert and George dissolve into helpless giggles as soon as they’re behind closed doors? Well, these two do, surely!

I want to get this up in time to encourage you to buy it before Christmas and get to work so that your tree can have an authentically Norwegian feel to it. ABR’s knitting correspondent is currently on a gap year but as soon as she’s back, I hope to have a proper assessment of the book’s delights.

Our knitting correspondent adds:

“We live and work in an old train station in a rural community in Norway” – the first thing you learn about Arne and Carlos, and that explains it all. A book dedicated to knitting instructions for Christmas baubles might seem a little mad, but I think it’s brilliant. I am a novice-knitter, and even for me the instructions are simple and easy to follow. None of the baubles are complicated – you’ll just need a bit of patience as the patterns are sometimes a little intricate. There are charts for each design showing you how many stitches are required from top to bottom – you’ll have to make each one four times though, in order to create the ball.

Arne and Carlos cover the basics, so even a beginner will pick up what to do easily. There’s a small amount of crocheting involved as well, and that is clearly explained. I’ve also enjoyed Arne & Carlos’ quirky introductions to the chapters of the book and explanations of how they can up with ideas for designs. 55 Christmas Balls To Knit is just a fun and quirky book, and now I want to have a go at all of the balls… though it might take me until next Christmas before I’m finished!

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding || Fiona Goble

I have to admit, most things to do with the impending Royal Wedding make me want to poke things in my eyes. There is something, however, extremely charming about this book, which offers you the chance to knit the entire cast – including the corgis – plus a range of outfits and accessories. There’s even a kit to create your own balcony for the newly-weds.

This is not a challenge for the faint-hearted and a fair amount of patience will be required. Those with no prior knitting experience probably ought to practise the basics before embarking on it. The book is aimed at all skill levels, though, so novices can be confident there isn’t anything too complex.

Once you get down to work, the book is set out clearly, and explains the basics, from casting on to knitting, purling and casting off, plus other techniques and tips. Goble makes life easy by listing all the things you will need to create each figure before you start, and the step by step instructions ensure you work logically through each person to get all the parts together.

The book will probably only hit a niche market, and its appeal will diminish as the hype around Kate & Will’s wedding passes, but it’s still quirky. The fundamental things it teaches means you’ll be able to knit a range of figures for any occasion!

[DHM]

How to buy it