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In Review
Adorable Knits for Tots
by Zoe Mellor
Reviewed By Del Sandeen

Adorable Knits for Tots: 25 Stylish Designs for Babies and Toddlers by Zoe Mellor is one knitting book that lives up to its name. There are so many projects in here I like, I wish my friends would have more kids.

Like any good book geared toward children's clothing, there are projects here suitable for both boys and girls; by changing colors, you can knit the same cardigan for either sex. Most of the clothing is suitable for advanced beginners to intermediate knitters, which encompasses a large group of us crafty folk.

The photographs are beautiful; every stitch is shown to its best advantage and the use of color is superb. Of course, you may choose your own hues, but for the most part, Mellor makes these designs in bright colors, forgoing typical pastels. Debbie Bliss and Rowan yarns are used extensively, as well as Jaeger and King Cole.

From simple cardigans with bobble accents to a Fair Isle hat, knitters can practice new techniques or just hone ones they already know. There are several patterns employing Intarsia as well, with kid-friendly motifs such as stars, fruit, and sailboats. The projects look fun and fresh. Most knitters who have knit for children enjoy it because the projects tend to go quickly on such a small scale.

The sizes of the clothing range from infants to 4 years-old or so, so this book will take you from babyhood to toddlerhood pretty well. There are patterns for blankets (large enough to accompany a child well past infancy) and booties, for those who like the traditional approach to knitting for kids. There are also patterns for the cutest seed-stitch slippers and a lacy sweater that would look adorable on any little girl. Not to be outdone, there is a cabled sweater that would flatter many boys.

What's so nice about Adorable Knits for Tots is that the projects tend to be classic, without being overly plain. I imagine that the sweater on the cover (with the center star) will be as current in twenty years as it is today. Most people want their children to wear cute, child-appropriate clothing. Wearing one of the handknits from this book, any child will be fashionable and, as the title implies, adorable.