With Boutique Knits, you can make your very own knockout accessories. If you love showing your personal style with the "it" handbag, funky scarf, or the hat that makes heads turn, then this book is for you.

Author Laura Irwin designs knitted accessories for the trendsetting indie designer fashion boutique Seaplane in Portland, Oregon, and is particularly known for her felted hats and stylish bags (including the Formal Boot Bag from the cover of Bag Style). In Boutique Knits, Laura presents designs for knitted accessories that stand out from the crowd.

Patterns cover a variety of knitting techniques in varying degrees, including felting, intarsia, Fair Isle, lacework, and cables. Get comfortable with your crafty side as you incorporate non-knitting tools and techniques to transform your knitting to achieve that one-of-a-kind boutique feel: pliers, hammers, a sewing machine, use of millinery techniques, and handsewing techniques. Many of the projects use unique adornment: buckles and bolts borrowed from leatherwork close an intricately cabled belt, a chain handle finishes a felted bag with circle pockets, leather lacing dresses up a knitted bag, and grommets finish a half-felted handbag. Vintage lace, beads, ribbon, and fabric-covered buttons also appear. The author uses knitting and felting techniques to create effects like ruffles, shibori-style pleats, and clever shaping.

This collection of modern, stylish patterns will inspire beginning and intermediate knitters with its uncommon techniques and materials. Transform your knitting with Boutique Knits!