Arne & Carlos field guide to knitted birds Over 40 handmade projects to liven up your roost

Rara avises fly around the roost of Arne & Carlos, a clothing design company founded by Nerjordet and Zachrison (Easter Knots). Their knitted birds are the whimsical designs of two creative people, who write as one about "designer birds": birdies that began as Christmas decorations, knitted in one color, as well as ones patterned after real birds, the kind that fly about the men's Norse home. This brightly colored book introduces the flock's expansion into winter and spring birds, green birds embroidered with sequins and contrasting floss, and birds of paradise. The authors figure their readers already know how to knit and have most of the trappings, including bits of yarn left over from bigger projects. The first chapter, which includes the basic pattern (repeated for easy reference on the back overlays), explains the materials and gauges needed for knitting, filling, and decorating as well for the wire stands that keep the wagtail, turdus, and titmouse from flopping over. The cutest avians wear Norwegian sweaters or Peruvian hats with pom-poms. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Nejordet and Zachrison, also known as Arne & Carlos, are Scandinavian knitters acclaimed for their clever, contemporary interpretations of stranded colorwork. Here they bring their trademark style to a flock of knitted and embellished birds. A simple start featuring a solid-colored bird wearing a festive scarf and hat is followed by a series of fanciful birds embroidered using duplicate stitch; realistic birds combining colorwork and duplicate stitch; birds in traditional Scandinavian-style sweaters; and rare birds of paradise embellished with beads, sequins, and feathers. Most of the creatures perch atop wire legs (instructions for building the legs are provided); an alternative placement-atop a tea cozy-is also included. -VERDICT These delightful knitted creations will appeal to bird lovers and fans of stranded colorwork, as well as knitters who enjoy amigurumi-style projects. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.