Book Review: Kung Fu Knits

Kung Fu Knits by Elizabeth Green Musselman, illustrated by Ben Bender, pub. Cooperative Press, 2014.

This charming book is a graphic novel(ette) with knitting patterns.  Elizabeth, who also did the photography, offers 6 designs for active children: A gi in sizes 4 - 12 (jacket, pants, and belt), nunchucks, shurikens, and a shoulder bag to put them in.

This book is done with typical Cooperative Press attention to detail: watermark dragon emblems on each pattern page and mini emblems by each page number. Patterns and schematics are very clear, and the illustrations are sweet. Elizabeth's son Liam is an adorable, I mean, indomitable model. In addition to the individual project yarn amounts, Elizabeth includes a list of how much yarn you would need to make all the projects in the book.

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Each project comes with an amusing subtitle and clever details. The Gi Jacket is a modified drop-shoulder wrap cardigan fastened with two i-cord ties. The zippered bag has a wide shoulder strap which goes all the way around the top of the bag. Each shuriken is knit in a single piece before stuffing, not as individual points and base.

Anyone who has struggled to get a child to wear their hand knits will relate to the story at the beginning of the book---and the parodic cry "Now we must knit!" is sure to resonate through Ravelry.

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Disclosure:  Kangath received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was provided. The opinions expressed in all Kangath's reviews are her own.