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ThatPainter
Book review

Naughty Needles by Nikol Lohr: Book Review and Interview

Nikol Lohr’s 2006 knitting book mixes retro glamour and adult humor across 30 designs, from bikinis and lingerie-inspired garments to costume and role-play pieces.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond is a 2006 knitting-pattern book built around playful retro glamour and adult humor. Nikol Lohr’s 30 designs range from swimwear and lingerie-inspired garments to costume and role-play pieces. Lohr described most patterns as “adventurous beginner,” a useful guide from the author rather than a guarantee that every project will be easy.

What kind of knitting book is Naughty Needles?

Published by Crown / Potter Craft in 2006, Naughty Needles is a 144-page pattern book that pairs knitting instructions with a pin-up sensibility. The publisher’s catalog lists 30 designs, 75 full-color photographs and 30 line drawings, with a full-page photograph for each pattern, plus variations and hints. Its visual references include retro figures such as Gidget and Pussy Galore.

The book’s tone is cheeky rather than strictly practical: Lohr called it “a cheeky collection of unconventional knitting patterns with a bedroom-friendly undertone” in a December 15, 2006 interview with Make:. Publishers Weekly’s August 14, 2006 fall-title coverage described the patterns as ranging “from the demure to the bizarre.” Those descriptions capture the book’s mix of wearable knitwear, novelty and theatrical styling.

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What projects and patterns are included?

Lohr’s examples in the interview give a sense of the range: a cover bikini, pom-pom sock garters, a cashmere-blend garter slip, a felted corset, a tapered leather I-cord whip, a nurse cap and a mermaid tail. The projects do not all serve the same purpose; some are garments or accessories, while others lean toward costume and role-play.

One organizing idea is “The Great Bikini Experiment,” a base pattern with variations for four garments, including the cover bikini and Bond Girl designs. Make: reviewer Nataliezdrieu also highlighted a “Gidget goes Hawaiian” bikini, a Fembots pattern, a Bond Girl tank or dress, and criss-cross gloves with ribbon embellishments, as well as a “Dress-Up” section. Together, these examples suggest a book whose appeal lies as much in its retro character and transformations as in any one finished piece.

Is Naughty Needles suitable for beginners?

Lohr said she would rate most of the patterns “adventurous beginner”—and added that this was about the level she considered herself. Treat that as the author’s assessment of most designs, not an independent difficulty rating of every pattern. A knitter new to garment shaping or fit should expect some projects to demand more judgment than a small, straightforward accessory.

For knitters experimenting with their own designs, Lohr’s advice was: “Don’t be afraid to mess up.” In context, that encouragement fits a book that invites variation rather than treating every pattern as a fixed, formal template.

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What should knitters consider about yarn and fit?

Lohr cautioned that it can be hard to judge a piece’s real-life size while it is still on the needles, and that yarn choice affects how a new design behaves. Her practical check is to take the developing piece off the needles, thread it onto waste yarn with a yarn needle, and inspect it flat. That gives the fabric room to show its dimensions more clearly before you commit further work.

Do not assume a substitute yarn will behave identically to the one used for a pattern: the author’s point is that yarn affects a design’s behavior. The interview does not establish specific yarn weights, fibers, needle sizes or finished measurements for every project, so check the pattern itself before substituting materials or relying on a size estimate.

How to identify the book

Detail Information
Title Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond
Author Nikol Lohr
Publisher and publication year Crown / Potter Craft, 2006
Length 144 pages
Cataloged contents 30 designs, 75 full-color photographs and 30 line drawings
ISBN 9780307337375

The catalog gives an on-sale date of December 5, 2006. That publication-era detail does not establish whether the book is currently in print or in stock, or what it costs today. If you are looking for a copy, the exact title, author name or ISBN can help distinguish it from other knitting books; verify current availability and price with the seller.

Who is the book for?

Naughty Needles is most likely to suit knitters who enjoy vintage-inspired styling, playful adult themes and patterns that can double as costume or statement pieces. Lohr’s “adventurous beginner” description may help newer knitters decide whether to explore it, but the book is not presented as a uniformly simple starter course. Its particular draw is the combination of knitting instruction, retro imagery and a deliberately saucy project mix.

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