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One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit or Crochet
These knitted and crocheted fashion accessories and decorative accents for the home vary in their required levels of skill, but all can be completed quickly and require only one skein of yarn. The stitch patterns and clear instructions make it easy for even procrastinators and the less-than-diligent to create a ruffled cravat, a drawstring bag, a tank top, cozy scarves, arm and leg warmers, lace wristlets, fingerless gloves, a mohair pillow, and even a sweater for a baby. Several projects do not require any new yarn at all―instead projects such as the Felted Striped Tote or the Labyrinth Circle Rug are designed using up a skein's worth of leftovers from other projects. A guide to terms and techniques, a resource directory, and a bibliography are also included.
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
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447 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Radford
6Ìýbooks12ÌýfollowersLeigh Radford is an award-winning author, designer and teacher. Artistic, inventive and resourceful, Leigh frequently explores creative re-use and imaginative application of unusual materials.
Her books include AlterKnits Felt: Imaginative Projects for Knitting and Felting (STC Fall 2008), AlterKnits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises (STC Fall 2005) and One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit & Crochet (IWP Spring 2006). Winner of the 2006 Craftrends� Award of Creative Excellence (ACE award), One Skein is the fastest selling title in Interweave Press history. One Skein also won the Western Regional Book Design and Production award for the best How-to Book of 2007 by the Publishers of the West.
In 2006, Leigh created Silk Gelato, offering knitters a fiber with enhanced texture and plays of color for her unique pattern designs. Her enterprising efforts have resulted in a highly successful business collaboration with Lantern Moon, producers of Silk Gelato. Leigh provides artistic, product development and marketing direction.
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Her books include AlterKnits Felt: Imaginative Projects for Knitting and Felting (STC Fall 2008), AlterKnits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises (STC Fall 2005) and One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit & Crochet (IWP Spring 2006). Winner of the 2006 Craftrends� Award of Creative Excellence (ACE award), One Skein is the fastest selling title in Interweave Press history. One Skein also won the Western Regional Book Design and Production award for the best How-to Book of 2007 by the Publishers of the West.
In 2006, Leigh created Silk Gelato, offering knitters a fiber with enhanced texture and plays of color for her unique pattern designs. Her enterprising efforts have resulted in a highly successful business collaboration with Lantern Moon, producers of Silk Gelato. Leigh provides artistic, product development and marketing direction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
July 26, 2016
So I got all excited when I saw this book at my library, 'cause I crochet and would like to work on my knitting. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single knit project that I would want to make. In my opinion, these projects kind of feed the bad reputation knitters and crocheters get for lacking taste and style. Also, some of them are fantastically impractical, like the knitted cupcakes. Perhaps I'm just a snooty biz-natch, but who would decorate with knitted cupcakes?
Another strike against the book is that there only six crochet patterns. Out of thirty. Perhaps I'm just biased, but if you're going to say "knit and crochet," the balance between the two should be more even. Maybe not 50-50, but 65-35 at the least. Also, perhaps an indication of which patterns are knit or crochet in the contents or the index, so those of us with no interest in knitting/crocheting can skip right to what we want to look at.
The only advantage I see to this book is that the author actually suggests using your scraps. I keep running into these projects called, like, "Scrap Bag" and "Scrap Throw" and then the pattern is all, "Oh, you need a skein of each of these colors and two skeins of this one." How is that a scrap project? Radford not only includes projects that you could use scraps for, but says things like, "I went digging in my leftovers to see what kind of funky yarns I could use for this. You should do the same." So I gave it an extra star. No, I didn't. But I thought about it.
Another strike against the book is that there only six crochet patterns. Out of thirty. Perhaps I'm just biased, but if you're going to say "knit and crochet," the balance between the two should be more even. Maybe not 50-50, but 65-35 at the least. Also, perhaps an indication of which patterns are knit or crochet in the contents or the index, so those of us with no interest in knitting/crocheting can skip right to what we want to look at.
The only advantage I see to this book is that the author actually suggests using your scraps. I keep running into these projects called, like, "Scrap Bag" and "Scrap Throw" and then the pattern is all, "Oh, you need a skein of each of these colors and two skeins of this one." How is that a scrap project? Radford not only includes projects that you could use scraps for, but says things like, "I went digging in my leftovers to see what kind of funky yarns I could use for this. You should do the same." So I gave it an extra star. No, I didn't. But I thought about it.
November 17, 2007
I was really looking forward to this book - I'm always looking for one skein projects. Unfortunately, while some were cute, none were anything I'd be interested in making for myself or anyone else I know.
November 24, 2010
This book includes a good number of cute and quick patterns. I don't crochet so I wish the book were devoted only to knitting projects.
March 12, 2018
As an avid crocheter who cannot knit at all, one of my biggest pet peeves when looking for new patterns is when a book or pattern collections says it has "x number of projects to knit and crochet". Invariably, the vast majority of patterns are knitting and there is no quick and easy way to know how many are crochet until you look at every single pattern. So, this book purports to have "30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet." In fact, it has 23 to knit and 7 to crochet. of the 7 crochet patterns, there was only one I found really interesting (a cotton bath mat).
At different times in my life I have seen patterns written for both forms of needlework. I completely understand that not every pattern can be adapted to both forms successfully or even appropriately. but a lot of the patterns in this book, and these kinds of books in general, could fairly easily have both forms included when the writer, compiler, editor, is skilled in both forms.
At different times in my life I have seen patterns written for both forms of needlework. I completely understand that not every pattern can be adapted to both forms successfully or even appropriately. but a lot of the patterns in this book, and these kinds of books in general, could fairly easily have both forms included when the writer, compiler, editor, is skilled in both forms.
August 9, 2017
I'm not 100% certain I agree with the "one-skein" definition here since in at least one case she's actually using one of those gigantic cone things that are roughly the size of a zip code. There are, however, at least three projects I might want to try here, and another three or four that I find intriguing but are probably beyond my skill level at this point. I really like the purses she has, though, and I find the pom-pom scarf very cute.
May 21, 2019
The patterns are tacky and lack imagination, especially the crochet ones (which there were barely any off). Yarn requirements are inaccurate. The crochet patterns were exactly the kind of fuddy duddy things that people make fun of crocheters for- and there's so much more and better patterns out there.
May 10, 2017
The patterns were impractical and it was severely lacking in crochet patterns. The only pattern I might have worked up was the tub mat, but there's no way it would only take one skein of peaches and cream yarn.
October 15, 2019
Ugh - why subtitle your book 30 quick projects for knit and crochet, when in truth, it's 27 knitted projects and three boring, ugly crochet projects - a boring hat, an ugly scarf and some clutch bag variations. This is why I don't buy yarn books, and why most yarn stores are simply disappointing.
August 4, 2017
beautiful but light on description especially in shorthand. advanced
December 3, 2019
I really need to try the ruffle cravat again. It's gorgeous.
February 23, 2025
Lots of pretty pictures.
March 8, 2023
I like Leigh Radford and her designs, so I'm biased. Seventeen years after publication, I still like this book although I won't make anything from it. Some designs are quirky, some are dated, some are rather basic but one thing I like is her choice of yarn and her color palette. The yarns are luscious and luxurious and the colors are quite the same! This would be a good book for an intrepid beginner as many of the projects are straightforward but have interesting details or techniques.
September 27, 2007
Wow! The book I've been waiting for months to get, I've been on the request list since November of last year, I think. And it's no wonder, it's a super duper book.
There are so many projects I'd like to try, I think I may just need to own it. The concept is that there are 30 patterns that you can make with a single skein of yarn, which is super fun (knitting and some crochet).
From leg and arm warmers to footies to gloves and hats and scarves, everything you need to stay warm. Then there's great babystuff like the petal bib, which I think is adorable, and the color block cardigan, although I would make it not asymetrical if I did it. I love the cupcakes. Just a super book.
There are so many projects I'd like to try, I think I may just need to own it. The concept is that there are 30 patterns that you can make with a single skein of yarn, which is super fun (knitting and some crochet).
From leg and arm warmers to footies to gloves and hats and scarves, everything you need to stay warm. Then there's great babystuff like the petal bib, which I think is adorable, and the color block cardigan, although I would make it not asymetrical if I did it. I love the cupcakes. Just a super book.
January 24, 2010
I might eventually give this five stars, but to be honest I haven't actually worked up any of the patterns. There are some killer baby items in here though--an awesome asymmetrical sweater, some sweet hats, and a darling little petal bib. No idea what I would do with a knitted cupcake, but it's cute, too.
I love that I can utilize yarn from my stash, and that the patterns are only a one-skein commitment. Though I don't crochet, several of the projects in there are motivating me to learn so I can try them, especially the little purses.
I think this is one book that I will actually buy, which is saying a lot.
I love that I can utilize yarn from my stash, and that the patterns are only a one-skein commitment. Though I don't crochet, several of the projects in there are motivating me to learn so I can try them, especially the little purses.
I think this is one book that I will actually buy, which is saying a lot.
December 25, 2010
This was a well put-together book that featured nice designs and lovely photographs. I liked the set-up and thought the book had a nice balance of pictures of the knitted items. I liked most of the patterns in this book, but not enough to knit any of them. I think I would still recommend to other knitters though, I just didn't find anything that caught my fancy.
*Taken from my book reviews blog:
*Taken from my book reviews blog:
April 25, 2009
I missed that this was a knit and crochet book, so I got it home before I realized that a couple of the projects that I really wanted to do were crochet. Drat!
I'm working on the petal bib for a friend's baby that is due at the end of summer. Looks pretty good, but I think the second time through will be 100% better.
There are a couple of other projects that I might modify, but I have to agree that some of the "one" skein projects are just ridiculous.
I'm working on the petal bib for a friend's baby that is due at the end of summer. Looks pretty good, but I think the second time through will be 100% better.
There are a couple of other projects that I might modify, but I have to agree that some of the "one" skein projects are just ridiculous.
August 16, 2019
I think perhaps a small project will get me going again in the world of knit.
Edit: The projects in this book were far more compelling than I thought they'd be. I plan to try a few out. I'll let you know if they patterns are as easy as advertised, and mistake-free.
Edit: Knitted the cotton bathroom rug and used it for probably 7 years!
Edit: The projects in this book were far more compelling than I thought they'd be. I plan to try a few out. I'll let you know if they patterns are as easy as advertised, and mistake-free.
Edit: Knitted the cotton bathroom rug and used it for probably 7 years!
November 3, 2007
Love reading pretty much anything knitting related. Make sure you check the web site for corrections to the patterns before you start though. The baby bib and the footies are two patterns that I want to make that have corrections.
Very cute stuff and I definitely want to buy this one for my library.
Very cute stuff and I definitely want to buy this one for my library.
March 29, 2008
my mother in law gave this to me the crictmas before last. i have to admit that i haven't actually completed any of the projects yet, but it's more to the fact that i just don't knit all that much compared to crochet, but it really has the type of projects i dig, as my biggest problem with knitting is losing interest in doing projects for a long time.
September 13, 2013
Uninspired, unpractical projects. I buy my yarn vintage which means I often only get hold of one skein of a particular color of a fave yarn, so I really wanted this book to be good. Damnation!
Plus, I don't think the format 'knit AND crochet patterns" is good, because it seems always to be 80 % knitting and 20% crochet - and the crochet patterns invariably are mostly "cute" baby items.
Plus, I don't think the format 'knit AND crochet patterns" is good, because it seems always to be 80 % knitting and 20% crochet - and the crochet patterns invariably are mostly "cute" baby items.
October 18, 2007
A good way to use up your odds and ends left over from projects. There's a rug in here I want to make from all the waste yarn I've gathered over the years. If I can put my real projects aside long enough to get to it.
November 17, 2007
I wasn't so impressed with this book. There are maybe three patterns in the whole book worth bothering with... all the others simply look like something you were too cheap to buy more than one skein of yarn for and then made small. I'm glad this was a library book and not a purchase. :)
June 8, 2008
My sister gave me this book, and it's been so useful. My favorite pattern (which I've used for two baby gifts with good results) is the baby bolero. Some of the weird instructions are to keep projects to one skein. I did do a little of my own rearranging of things to make the knitting easier.
March 15, 2009
Has a pattern for the cutest little knitted cupcakes! Directions were easy to follow and my cupcake turned out perfect the first time! I love all of the picture examples she gives, along with detailed info on the yarns she used.
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June 28, 2009this book is filled with adorable projects for beginners but I would bet that this would have to be an advanced beginner. It's the kind of craft book you pick up and want to buy and would have good intentions about doing some of these projects.
May 2, 2010
The projects in this book were kind of so-so. I didn't feel I really wanted to make any of them, but if you're looking for something quick & easy, or need to get rid of a skein, this book might come in handy.
March 8, 2010
This book is like a welcome friend, to a novice knitter. I have enjoyed reading, viewing and trying the patterns. The projects range from easy to more complicated but for a beginner the patterns are very well written out. The layout of the book is quite comfortable
June 9, 2010
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh giving this book only 3 stars - I see others really love it and it certainly does contain some cute patterns. But, I've had the book four years and have never knit anything from it.
December 18, 2014
well, I knit one project from this book (the tote). It ended up fine, but the One Skein title was highly misleading. the tote took 3 full skeins and 3 partial skeins, and I reduced the number of stitches and the length of the project. upshot: I was not impressed.
March 6, 2015
The patterns aren't much to look at. Bowls and sachets are clever and the labyringhth rug is an excellent way to use up leftover bits of yarn. I have other books that have better patterns for using one skein of yarn.
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