Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too

I really wondered if Ann and Kay could write another book as satisfying and engaging as their first, which spent as much time in my lap as a favorite grandchild. So I am both delighted and a bit astonished to find that this new book is at least equal to, and perhaps even much better than the first!

Ann and Kay have a way of making you feel like you're in your pajamas sitting next to them in their pajamas on the third floor of a creaky white-washed house by the seashore knitting in the wee hours after all the boring people have gone to bed, and in between sips of cocoa, you're laughing, learning, and happy as a child. They weave charm, humor, and comaraderie with wisdom and technical insights like no one else.

There are some designs in this lovely book that I predict will become legendary: The Mystery Sweater, which in itself is a stunning design, given in sizes from small to extra large, which I think would flatter anyone. The knitter chooses words to write around the bodice using chain stitch, for an effect that has literary value, yes, but which is also absolutely enticing to the eye, since the words are worked in the same color as the background, making them subtle and mysteriously decorative, yet fully readable. I'll bet this sweater will be worked in many different languages, by mathematicians writing favorite formulas, on and on - I can't wait to check it on Ravelry in about a year to see the thousands of variations. I wish I had time right now to start one myself.

There's a new dishcloth pattern which also made me want to stop everything and knit dishcloths . . .

And a great pair of socks - "Errant Socks" - which invite the reader to either follow the cable charts or use them as a springboard and let those cable branches dance with the spontaneity of jungle vines - all supported by clear instructions which give a knitter with no cable experience such clear understanding and practical experience that cable liberation becomes possible. This pattern is a great example of how Ann and Kay succeed in carrying new knitters to new horizons, building confidence and trust and then declaring - "Now look what you can do!"

This is a book to be read, and reread, and knit from again and again. Ann and Kay are providing today's knitters with incredible support, inspiration, instruction, and happiness, and I am grateful to them for nourishing our enormous population of knitters to harness their joy and intelligence.

I loved the first Mason-Dixon book and was looking forward to their second book with great excitement. But I have to say I'm a little disappointed in it.

There are some nice things...the Daily sweater, the diaphanous mohair sweater, the mohair shawl, one of the coat sweaters, the Mystery Sweater. All those are in the first section and after that, I'm afraid my enthusiasm runs down rapidly. I have no kids/tweens to knit for. God knows, I'm not going to be knitting cuffs for rubber gloves or cozies for paper lanterns...or table runners or mop covers.

I found the first book to be really inspirational...there were designs that just got the reader thinking, "What about doing this? Could you do a log cabin this way? What if you did the rag rug using plastic bags?" The book just didn't give me the same creative jolt that the first one did.

But the writing is still charming (I loved the Kay and Ann's color wheels) and I'm not sorry I bought the book. Just a little sad that the zing of inspiration isn't there for me.

I think that one of the most important criterion for judging knitting books has to be - how many patterns does it inspire the reader to make? The first Mason-Dixon book aced that test. Sure, there were a few things that were beyond my skills as an average knitter - and that's fine - but the book was a treasure trove of wonderful patterns that almost anybody could knit.

Outside the Lines is another story. Numerous complicated patterns, many advanced techniques, and not a whole lot of stuff that made me want to reach for the needles and pull out some yarn. As I read the complex directions for The Daily Sweater, I thought back to how, in MD I, Kay Gardiner raved about how great it was to knit log-cabin blankets because you didn't have to count stitches or worry about increasing and decreasing. You know, it *is* great to knit that way. And, after reading the first book, I went on to create numerous projects which allowed me the freedom to knit outside the box. It's highly ironic, therefore, that the new book - despite the title - is all about knitting according to the directions, *inside* the lines.

Having said all that, I have to add that the writing is as fresh and witty as ever. That's why I gave the book two stars and why I will refrain from donating it to the Dallas Public Library.

It was hard to rationally imagine how the authors could top their first book, but both are such talented writers that I was expecting another home run. And yes, this book does not disappoint! Other reviewers have done a great job running through the projects in the book -- suffice to say that although my stash already equals a good-sized yarn store, I will be adding more very soon. (Yarn is squishy. It will fit.) There are (in my opinion) some wicked clever things in here that I've never seen before, and if you saw the size of my knitting library, you'd realize that's saying something. Clever, and yet doable and enjoyable to knit whether you're a newbie or have been at it for decades, like I have. And the writing! Oh my. It's pretty good when a book that you buy for the projects makes you laugh at loud. The Mason Dixon ladies really seem to capture the spirit of why I knit -- it's not just about whipping sticks and string around to make a sweater or a blanket, it's also about connecting with our families, our tribes, our best and worst caregiving impulses, our individual vanities, strengths and foibles. There's good stuff in here.

Although I do not read the blog, I loved the first book. It was a real help to me, a relatively inexperienced knitter. The down-to earth conversational explanations are fun to read and easy to understand. This second book is beautiful to peruse even if I never knit a thing from the patterns. But the items are beautiful and make me want to start a new project right now! Explanations are clear, yarns are obtainable, photos are good, chatty anecdotes are a hoot. I am not a great knitter, but these patterns seem doable for any level of expertise (or lack of it). There is something for everyone. For example, I do not need to knit for kids now, but I would love to make one of the women's coats. I predict this book will sell out fast; if you are a knitter, better get it SOON!