The “Teen Knit Café” is the setting for this arts and crafts instructional program, which spins the art of knitting with a hip-hoppish soundtrack and a teenage group of stitchers. Host Chelsea Powell provides viewers with a solid overview of the tools (knitting needles and yarn—outlining the difference between balls, skeins, and hanks, as well as the importance of matching dye lot numbers for projects), techniques (including the slipknot and knit stitch—the right-hand English method is taught, although the left-hand Continental method is mentioned), counting stitches (including garter, stockinette, and rib stitches), binding off, weaving in ends, joining squares, and troubleshooting (fixing dropped or extra stitches, etc.). While the chumminess of No Rules Knitting is slightly exaggerated (I seriously doubt that most teen boys are eager to share their knit-work with buddies) the 14 projects (including scarves, bracelets, an iPod-holder, rug, messenger bag, and more) seem pretty cool, although these are not actually demonstrated but features only text instructions. DVD extras include segments on making custom-dyed yarn with Kool-Aid and creating clay needle toppers. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)
No Rules Knitting at the Teen Knit Café
(2007) 98 min. DVD: $19.95. Leisure Arts (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-60140-562-6. January 7, 2008
No Rules Knitting at the Teen Knit Café
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.