<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Love to knit? Love to decorate? Good news: The knitting explosion of the past several years has spawned a nearly endless supply of patterns and ideas for cute, stylish home accents and gifts (no, we&amp;#039;re not talking afghans). Even more good news: You don&amp;#039;t have to be an expert knitter to make these gorgeous goods. Here&amp;#039;s a list of books to get you started.  Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit and Crochet by Mags Kandis, Interweave; $25 Over 30 projects for everything from a tea cozy to a laptop cover (and hats, mittens, socks, and more), plus personal recipes for easy food gifts and simple sewing patterns make Gifted a treasure-trove of homemade handicraft.  Knit Your Own Dog: Easy to Follow Patterns for 25 Pedigree Pooches by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, Black Dog &amp;amp;amp; Leventhal; $15 Okay, who can resist a cuddly canine? We certainly can&amp;#039;t\u2014and we&amp;#039;re betting anyone on whom you bestow a purled poodle (or a stiched sheepdog, or a...well, you get the picture) won&amp;#039;t be able to either.  Knitting at Home: 60 Classics from Ella Rae Designs by Leanne Prouse, Sixth &amp;amp;amp; Spring Books; $25 Leanne Prouse, creater of the Ella Rae brand of wool, shares patterns for pillows, blankets, tote bags, clothes, and more for beginners to advanced knitters.  Knitting Block by Block: 150 Blocks for Sweaters, Scarves, Bags, Toys, Afghans, and More by Nicky Epstein, Potter Craft; $30 Blocks are the, um, building block of so many knitting projects\u2014but we bet you&amp;#039;ve never seen blocks quite like these. Use the 150 patterns to fashion your own custom projects, or follow designer Nicky Epstein&amp;#039;s simple steps to create intricate, sophisticated accessories.  More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, STC Craft; $27.50 Perfect for the time-challenged knitter (okay, that&amp;#039;s all of us!) Joelle Hoverson&amp;#039;s follow-up to her popular Last-Minute Knitted Gifts organizes 30 projects\u2014from bracelets to baby blankets\u2014by the time it takes to complete them.  Mug Hugs by Alison Howard by Alison Howard, The Guild of Master Craftsmen; $15 Wondering what to get for the teacher/assistant/favorite aunt/friend with everything? Mug cozies make sweet, practical, personal gifts\u2014and they&amp;#039;re a smart way to use up yarn left over from other projects.  Nordic Knits: 25 Stylish Small Projects by Martin Storey, St. Martin&amp;#039;s Griffin; $25 Make pillows, placemats, table runners and more, all with intricate Nordic-inspired patterns created by top knitting designer Martin Storey.  Simple Knitting: A Complete How-to-Knit Workshop with 20 Projects by Erika Knight, St. Martin&amp;#039;s Griffin; $25 Even an absolute beginner can make simply elegant home decor, thanks to Erika Knight&amp;#039;s easy-to-follow instructions and beautifully pared-down designs.  The Knitter&amp;#039;s Year: 52 Make-in-a-Week Projects\u2014Quick Knits and Seasonal Gifts by Debbie Bliss, Trafalgar Square Books; $25 Make a gift each week with these easy-to-follow projects\u2014from throws to iPod covers to holiday ornaments\u2014from Debbie Bliss. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/how-to/a24172/knitting-home-accessories-gifts/>