I'm wondering if anyone could reccomend any books with children's patterns. It seems most books with children's patterns are mostly for babies/toddlers. I'm more interested in patterns for older kids and even stylish things for pre-teens/teens. Easy patterns, patterns for thicker yarns/big needles, classic/simple styles a plus too.
I ordered a couple Debbie Bliss books the other day along these lines but I'm totally addicted to knitting now and love collecting crafty books
Thanks
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~Dannielle
Momma to Isabelle (8/95) and Mason (1/01)
I have a Woman's Day Quick and Easy Knitting and Crocheting magazine from this winter that has a few patterns for bigger kids. I haven't been able to find any of their other magazines at the store, so I don't know if it is a regular feature or not. My daughter has been begging me for the crocheted hoodie in that issue.
I've also had some success with making adult patterns with smaller hooks and/or yarn to "downsize" them. The downside is that you have to try on things a lot.
For books for older kids, I just got Rowan's Pipsqueaks, which has Kim Hargreaves' designs. They go up to about 10yo sizes. I love these designs.
I think it's tough to come up with books like this because kids start to be pickier about what they wear. Plus, the sweaters take longer to knit, and the kids *still* outgrow them quickly (my kids keep wanting me to knit them socks -- gees, they'd wear them about twice then outgrow them, so what's the point).
Another book I have (but haven't used yet) is Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which has all the math charted out for you to make up your own designs. It includes children's sizes, starting at a 26" chest. It features various guages of yarn, from chunky to fingering weight, and gives various basic styles (drop-shoulder, set-in sleeves, raglan, etc.), neck shaping options, explains how to revamp a pattern to make a cardigan...great stuff.
I've heard that in other countries people just look at fashion magazines and knit up sweaters according to what they see that they like -- they just make up the patterns themselves. Wouldn't that be cool?
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Seventeen (the mag) puts out a book of knitting for teens. I have seen another one too at Amazon I think. My girls are still little so I have not paid that much attention.
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Michelle
-- Mom to Beth, 11 and Sam, 8
Seventeen (the mag) puts out a book of knitting for teens. .
Wow! I learned to knit from one of those little Seventeen booklets when I was about 10yo. It had a pattern for a skirt in it, which was my first project (turned out awful, but I had fun making it).
I got "Junior Knits". It just came in today's mail. I really like the look of a lot of the sweaters in it. And there are some that don't look overly complicated. The only thing that I didn't like is that they are all made with Debbie Bliss's own brand of yarn which is way too expensive for everyday-type sweaters for kids, imo. I love my kids but I woudn't send them outside to play in a sweater made of $70 worth of yarn lol! And that's what I want to make them...functional, everyday kind of sweaters. So I'll need to find substitutions for her "aran" and "dk" weight yarns.
Hmmm...I wonder what weight kitchen cotton yarn is? It's a bit thicker than sport and less than worsted...wonder if it is somewhat equal to dk weight. I love cotton sweaters.
Oh, I also ordered "Easy Knits" and "Cotton Knits for All Seasons" (both Debbie Bliss) but they just shipped yesterday.
I've heard that in other countries people just look at fashion magazines and knit up sweaters according to what they see that they like -- they just make up the patterns themselves. Wouldn't that be cool?
I have a friend from the Czech Republic and she knits. One day I showed her one of Theresa's patterns to ask her how I could add a collar and she couldn't believe I paid for a pattern She said she has never once used a pattern, and that where she is from you wouldn't waste your money on a pattern when it could be used on yarn Anyway, I have to use patterns because I am pretty inept at knitting otherwise!!
I second the rec. for the Rebecca Kids mag. It's pretty pricey (around $10 at my LYS) but it has some of the most incredible kids patterns I've ever seen.
Monie 
and Sam, 8 
She said she has never once used a pattern, and that where she is from you wouldn't waste your money on a pattern when it could be used on yarn 
so happy to be 8
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