Chris Craft Reviews

If you want just patterns that tell you exactly what to do stitch by stitch, this isn't the book for you. If you want to everything necessary to learning how to design your own garments, along with a generous helping of commentary and lots of fodder for your imagination to spin off and invent your own "knitting workshop," then GET THIS BOOK. The seven separate sleeve shapings and how they can be done on a circular needle alone are worth five times what you're going to pay. The garter stitch chapter doubles that to ten.

Seriously -- get Barbara Walker's stitch collections, a fair isle chart book or two, and this. You literally do not need anything else to be knitting sweaters that you yourself designed for the rest of your life. Then, when people ask you what pattern you used, you can smile subtly and say, "Oh none, I just made it up." You and Elizabeth Zimmerman. :-)

I am a huge Elizabeth Zimmerman fan, and I love this book. The baby garter stitch surprise jacket is an icon of knitting. Everyone who saw the first one I made went completely gaga over it. I was embarrassed at a baby shower when I gave one and everyone went nuts over it. One caveat: EZ gives the pattern in a 7st/in guage, which makes a VERY tiny sweater. I would recommend going up some needle sizes.
I like the directions for the seamless shoulder shapings in this book better than the directions given in "Knitting Without Tears" because there are more of them, the pictures are front and back, and I feel the directions are more clear. Of any of EZ's books, this is the one with the most projects I want to make. I love it, and I frequently refer to it for techniques I want to use in my own projects.

Like all Elizabeth Zimmerman books, this one is a joy to read. But unlike some of her books, this one really teaches you the "nuts and bolts" of some specific projects. Some of the projects are "out there" like the Puzzle Pillow, but most of them are timeless and endlessly appealing, like the Pi Shawl. Very, very valuable book for nearly every knitter (and even the experts will enjoy reading it).

This is not a type of beautifully decorated book usually found on coffee table to amuse guests even though it is of superb quality. It belongs in the workshop. It is written for both inspired and motivated beginners as well as serious luthiers. The chapter on tuning plates is revealing but can confuse a beginner. Since I am a beginner myself, I wished for complete measurements of the violin. I overcame the shortcomings by contacting a supplier of woods, tools and plans. Rest assured, the author included the list of suppliers at the end of the book.

I have purchased a few books on Violin making and this is by the far the most impressive of all. This book is full of clever techniques and lead you through the complete process from beginning to end, including the delicate area of varishing. Alternative methods are also give for some key areas, such as hollowing out the back and front of the voilin. The thing that makes this book stand out from the others is the artwork and the photographs that accompany each step of the process and the superb presentation. The tip I liked the best, was how to solve the problem of forming the rib joint at the bottom of the voilin. Being a novice, I struggled with this initially.

If there had to be a criticism it would be that it does not have typical template for the main mould, however this is only minor as templates are available from a various other sources.

This book is worth every penny..

This book has the best drawings and photographs of the process of violin making that I have ever seen. Large format, good camera angle, good shadowing and lighting. I have been an amateur violin maker for a long time and I learned about a half a dozen new procedures or tool modifications right away. I highly recommend this book for aspiring violin makers.

This told me EVERYTHING to begin serging, practically from taking it out of the box. It discusses everything from turning the machine on and off, to threading for different stiches, the differences between stitches, good fabric to use versus good fabric for regular sewing, etc. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for the complete novice.

Having just bought a serger and quickly realizing I had very little idea of what to do with it I went hunting for a book. This one was a great choice.....It is comprehensive, easily read and understood, and has great visuals. I am positive that I will be referencing it constantly as I try and learn to use my new machine.

One thing: In hindsight I wish I had bought the spiral bound version...The soft cover version does not stay open on its own (nor does it lie flat) which means I either have to give up a hand to hold the book or read some and set it down and go back to it again.

Also, I would not recommend this book to an experienced serger. It definitely sticks to the basics (which is still a lot to say to a novice), and I have seen more creative and comprehensive books for the more advanced. This book is definitely for the person who has never serged before!!

And if you are a novice, this will be a wonderful resource!! (regardless of which brand or type of serger you have)

On a recommendation from a friend, I checked this book out and decided to purchase it. It is informative, easy to follow and easy to understand. I highly recommend it to anyone that just purchased a serger or has owned one for sometime and it's setting in a closet in its original box!

A wonderful look at the history of Chris Craft.

Terrific pictures of some beautiful vessels.

This book is exactly what I have been looking for to give to my husband: a BIG Chris-Craft enthusiast. If you love boats, or know someone who does, I highly recommend that you get this book. I'm sure you'll be very happy with it too.

The only book out there where you can learn about how Chris Craft Boats came to be a part of Americana in the twentieth century. This historical account details the arena of wooden boating and how it progressed under the Chris Craft logo. The perfect holiday gift for the boater in your life, or for anyone who is intereted in classic boating and its history in America. Not to be missed!!!!!!!

I first encountered this book in the library and checked it out so many times that I finally gave in and bought my own copy. I've made gifts using the instructions and patterns in this book, and found that the guidelines and levels of difficulty ratings are dead accurate. I've used this book as a springboard to go further into this craft.

One word of advice - I have found origami paper the best suited paper for most of these projects. Regular silhouette paper is hard to come by and expensive. Construction paper is much too thick, hard to cut, and usually not acid-free.

This is a very nice first book for someone who thinks they might be interested in paper cutting. It reviews different countries approaches to paper cutting. It contains patterns and directions for lots of different projects. Best of all, it has things simple enough to convince you to try the craft out while at the same time including enough complex, exciting projects to fire your imagination. The Polish style was particularly appealing to me and I've ordered 2 books on that type of cutting.

This book never ceases to amaze me when I pull it off the shelf for a little inspiration or food for my soul. Chris Giftos is aptly named for he gifts us with this book and his designs. Each arrangement featured suits the area and rooms of the Met as just the right thing for the surroundings. His knowledge of color and combinations of flowers is insightful. Fabulous photos and design aside; it is also an interesting read.

"A Bouquet From The Met" is well worth the price if you are at all interested in floral design, either professionally or as a hobby.

Lila Acheson Wallace was an incredible woman to have allowed New Yorkers the enjoyment of Giftos's flowers at the Met. I can't wait until the day when I can see it all up close.

An amazing look behind the scenes at the unsung work of a true Master Artist. Thanks to a generous gift from the late Lila Acheson Wallace (Reader's Digest founder), Chris Giftos brings colors and life to an already breathtaking architectural wonder, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The book is full of rich photographs that showcase his talent in different environments. The Temple of Dendrum, The Cloisters, The Great Hall. A wonderful gift for anyone who loves flowers!

Basically the subtitle says it all. This beautifully illustrated book consists entirely of photos and captions. But, oh my god, what an incredible collection of mind-expanding work. Each piece is perfectly crafted, fresh, and often whimsical. My eyes just got bigger and bigger with amazement as I flipped through this book for the first time. Covering the full range of the best in modern ceramics, this book has hundreds of full color photos to inspire beginners and professionals alike. There are large architectural pieces, thrown pots, handbuilt functional and decorative wares, low fired, pit fired, high fired and raku wonders - something to delight everyone.

This is a beautiful book with many unique & imaginative ceramic designs that will provide inspiration for ceramic artists of all levels. It also makes a great gift or a delightful coffee table book for any art lover

The book is in full-color displaying one to three art pieces per page. Both handbuilt & wheel-thrown ceramics are shown. Captions provide the artist's name, date completed, & size as well as materials & techniques used.

Some of my favorite pieces includes a raku crackle jar & carved tree tiles. I love both the plate with waves & a teapot, and another with egrets on it. I also enjoyed a hand-built multi-colored teapot.

Several eclectic figures, a humorous bird sculpture, & a huge mosaic-style dragonfly screen also caught my eye. This is an indispensable reference tool packed with great ideas & a must-have book for any serious ceramic artist.

I picked up this book to see if I would be able to make some wreaths for my home. Having never done it before, it is very encouraging to see the instructions photographed and clearly written in this book. The wreaths are absolutely gorgeous and detailed, and I loved seeing the different types. Being a beginner, I also appreciated the listings of all the flowers and supplies needed for each wreath, which are included in the descriptions. I'm buying it for my daughter, Emily, who has made some nice wreaths on her own. I recommend this book to anyone who is serious about making something beautiful for their home.

What kind of wreath do you want to make?

Oh, you want to make a square wreath? Oh, you want to make three wreaths entwined together?

What! you want to make a vine wreath with each vine a different color?

No problem. How to make these wreaths and 197 more are in this book. The Complete Book of Wreaths is really a compendium of the wreaths of many different wreath makers. Most of these wreath makers have had other books published. It is great to find all of their talents pooled in this one work.

The first 40 pages of this book are devoted to wreath making basics. These are concise instructions on how choose or even make your own wreath base as well as basic points for choosing materials to complement your wreath, like seed pods and ribbons.

The next 180 pages are a wreath a page in full color with descriptions for each one that explain what is in the wreath and how to create one like it.

The last section is on Novel wreaths like all feathers and potatoes and moss???? And, you won't want to miss Terry Taylor's wreath of broken cups and cup handles.

This book only has wreaths, just wreaths and it is wonderful.

The best thing about this book is that you don't have to follow the instructions verbatim. You can experiment and make each project uniquely your own. Each project is so beautiful I intend to fill my home with as many as I can.

This is the one of the most detailed books on filet crochet that I have ever read. It has background, history, comparisons, patterns. The pattern section has a good variety to choose from and are not just doilies. The instructions are excellent and the patterns are just beautiful. The introduction and general "how to" instructions are detailed and have large illustrations. There is a conversion chart of hook sizes, as well as US and British terms for chart symbols and abbreviations. There are complete instructions on how to read charts, do increasing and decreasing, make turns and calculate patterns. It has a great "first project" with one the best illustrated directions I've seen for how to work the stitches and where to actually place your hook for stitches and turns. I would recommend this book regardless of whether you are already into filet crochet or want to learn how to do filet crochet. Chris did an excellent job.

I have crocheted before but everytime I tried to follow instructions on how to filet, I couldn't understand them. This explained it very well and I was quickly making very nice projects. Filet works rapidly and you can really make things quickly.

I fall into the category of kids of "all ages." I'm an adult who wanted to take up knitting as a hobby, with hopes of making a few holiday presents along the way, too. This book taught me the basics and gave me some great ideas for projects. I was able to take the ideas given here and go off on my own... as well as read more advanced knitting patterns. This is a great starter book for anyone who wants to learn to knit!

This is the book my 8-year-old daughter and I used together to learn how to knit. As the subtitle says, it's a book for kids "of all ages".

When you read through this book you will not only learn how to knit, but you will have a deeper appreciation of needlework in general. The author covers what basic supplies you need to get started, how to make your own knitting needles (yes! And it is a lot easier than you may think), how to decorate your needles, why you should start using two different color needles, what to do when you don't have any needles (you can still knit with your fingers, the book shows you how!), how to make "kool-aid" yarn in super-fun colors, and where yarn comes from. The instructions were much simpler to understand than those in the traditional "adult books" and after finishing a few of the basic projects, I actually felt inspired to learn more, as did my daughter.

If you are looking for a terrific alternative to TV and video games then definitely buy this book. There are plenty of photographs of girls AND boys from all different races and creeds who seem to be enjoying their time spent knitting, and the pages are splashed with fun colors and typeface.

5 Stars. This is the very best beginners book on the market!

This really is an excellent, unintimidating, extremely well-produced book written by a true expert in the craft. I absolutely ADORED the projects, of which I can name a few: little animal puppets that can double as washcloths, knitted caterpillars, dishclothes, sampler scarves, eyeglass cases, and backpacks. I felt that the projects were very well designed.

My knitting teacher lent me her copy to see if I would like it. I just picked a project I liked (an owl puppet). I didn't really know what else was out there since I was a new knitter, but when comparing it with other sources I have seen since, I'm glad I started with this book. It made knitting seem really fun to me and not deadly serious and strict.