The Bookish Elf: Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice, by Melanie Falick (photographs by Susan Pittard)

Handknit Holidays:
Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice
Author: Melanie Falick
Photographer: Susan Pittard
Publisher: STC Craft | Melanie Falick Books
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
View on Amazon
Source: NetGalley

Unless you are a person of very diverse talents and interests, it's unlikely you'll make every single one of the projects in this book. Unless of course you happen to knit, crochet, embroider, do lace work, metal work, felting AND you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, winter solstice, the Feast of St. Lucia and various Russian folk traditions AND you make gifts for children, adults, newborns and dogs AND you're looking for a new holiday craft book. In which case, you're amazing. And I just found you the perfect book.

For everybody else, this book would be more of a starting point, a source of inspiration or new ideas, even if you only make a few of the projects in it. It really takes the "something for everyone" approach to heart, with a selection of clothing, decorations, household items, ornaments, gifts, toys and more to make. There's even a cookie recipe. For me, it's probably not a book I would buy (I received a digital copy for review purposes) because I just don't think I'd get enough use out of it. But I could see it making a great addition to your crafting library if you have a crafting circle, if you teach classes, etc. Otherwise, I would recommend checking it out from your local library first and seeing if the projects appeal to you. There are a lot to choose from and there may be enough that are intriguing that you want to own the book.

I'll just say one more thing about the projects though. Don't judge them based on the picture on the cover of the book. In my opinion the cover photo is the ugliest one in the whole book (sorry). It's dated and, I think, a little tacky. And most of the projects in the book are not at all like that. I'm not sure what made them choose this particular glove-hood combo thing for the cover but it makes the whole book look like it came right out of the early 1980's. So don't be fooled. A lot of the ideas in the book are actually very pretty and modern.

Which reminds me. If I'm going to make any knitted gifts for Christmas this year, I'd better get started! There's a tree skirt and a table runner in the book that I'm dying to try but I'm not sure if they're too hard for me (I'm truly a beginner). If I make them, I'll be sure to post my results!

Or maybe I'll just start with some of those adorable tree ornaments...