Despite the warnings from other reviewers, I purchased this book. After reading through it and deciding that the pattern for the Monogrammed blanket seemed reasonable, I ordered the yarn from my favorite yarn on-line yarn store. My gauge swatch was right on, and I set to work. I've finished my first ball of yarn and have realized there is NO way the specified yarn -- 6 balls of 50gm (98 yards) -- will be enough. I suppose I should have considered that the last sweater I finished used the same amount of yarn, and it was a cardigan shrug -- not nearly a 36x29in blanket.

As others have said, the pictures are beautiful and the finished garments lovely. However I wish the directions lead to those same things.

There are so many great patterns in this book, and the photography is amazing. I started with one of the bootie patterns which proved quite challenging. There was no schematic or photo of the work in progress, so understanding the pattern was difficult. I wish there was a little more detail in some of the patterns, especially on the finishing. But the projects I've made are just adorable. I don't think this would be a great book for the beginner.

I have to disagree with some of the other reviewers. This is a gorgeous book, the photos are beautiful, the yarns used are high quality and yet affordable, and the directions are simple.

I have knit eight of the patterns. I have yet to have a mistake that was not of my own making. Even though I am more of an intermediate knitter, this book is just the thing for a quick project for a gift, or even for your own baby!

Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino Dk weight is a perfect substitute for the Jaeger cashmere, if you can't find it at your local yarn store. Plymouth's baby alpaca does nicely for the teddy bear. I used La Luz spun silk for the garter stitch slippers, and they turned out beautifully. The booties are soft and gorgeous when done in Lorna's Laces Angel (an angora/lambswool blend). I also used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Socks yarn for the Mabel dress. I found the hand dyed yarn to give a gorgeous colorway, and the superwash wool to be extra handy for those times when baby spits all over her dress!

My reccommendations for this book are as follows: Make a gauge swatch. Read the pattern BEFORE you start to knit. Make sure you have checked the sizing charts at the end of the book, and remember that what would have fit my sister Sarah at birth (all nine pounds of her), wouldn't have fit sister Ellen (barely six pounds). Make two sizes if you're unsure, you'll find SOME baby to wear them!

Also, remember, it's just knitting, so don't be fearful to branch out! If you have to pull your stitches out, no one has to know!