Valerie's Knitting Gallery: Noah's Knits, by Fiona Goble

I've had the pleasure of reading this book over the Christmas holidays, Noah's Knits, written by Fiona Goble and published by the Ivy Press.

Noah's Knits

Fiona Goble

ISBN: 978-1-907332-87-6

RRP: £9.99

The Ivy Press

www.ivypress.co.uk

I really enjoyed making things from Noah's Knits. Knitting books usually have lots of patterns. Most of these patterns have pieces that are beautiful, but that I’d never make. There is usually one pattern in the book I really want to make, so I’ll get the book, using at most two or three patterns. Fiona Goble’s Noah’s Knits is a really good quality book, and is the exception to the rule. Every single little animal has lots of character and is calling out from the pages of the book to be transported from the photos, through your needles and into your home. Not only is it full of patterns that are too cute to resist, from turtles to giraffes, from crocodiles to penguins, from doves to lions, not to mention Noah and his wife, but alongside the patterns is a beautiful story of Noah’s Ark with a joyful mixture of photos and illustrations. Before each knitting pattern, is a short description of each animal/person. The patterns themselves are well written, and easy to follow, with fast and satisfying results. It’s written in a way to allow you to dip in and out and make an elephant here, a monkey there. The more you knit, the more you want to have the other animals to join your growing group! The animals are small enough to use oddments of yarn. And as if all of this weren’t enough, there is a pull-out ark at the back of the book to assemble and store your little knitted creatures!! It is hard to find fault with this book. Once everything is knitted up, and you have an ark full of different creatures, the book needn’t be put on a shelf to fester. The story throughout the book, and the addition of the cardboard ark ensures the book will be well thumbed and well read by most members of the family. Children who want to read the story, adults who will read the story with/to the children (who are playing with the ark) and of course, the knitter. The perfect gift! I highly recommend it.

Below are some of the little creatures I've made so far. I haven't finished making these little animals yet - there are 14 creatures, not including the male and female versions (yes, they come in pairs!) and Noah and his wife. I have knitted up five creatures so far, and I know the others will be calling me to make them, and then of course they'll need Noah and Mrs. Noah, and then they'll all need their pairs... I'm glad they don;t take long to make up!

The crocodile had a lovely textured pattern on his back, so you can see his scaly skin. Instead of incorporaing a small piece of crocheting into this piece (I don't have a crochet needle!) I embroidered the mouth.

The little dove is so sweet and delicate!

His little tail is nice and fluffy and he just sits patiently.

This is a group shot of all of the little friends from above. Their group will be growing!

I particularly like the penguin's feet! He looks like he's waddling along!

The detail in each of the creatures is just really lovely. The pig has a cute little snout, with a curly tail, and even little hairs on the end of the tail!!