Lifestyle Book Reviews
Book Review: Knitted Jackets
By Sandy Amazeen Dec 27, 2008, 17:31 GMT
These 20 patterns, ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced, take knitters on a world tour of coats, jackets, and wraps. Inspired by open-front garments and textiles from around the globe—including Austria, England, Japan, Peru, and Norway—these figure-flattering designs bring a contemporary edge to a variety of knitting traditions. Step-by-step instructions and copious photographs illustrate how to use standard stockinette, garter, and cable stitches. More advanced techniques for fanciful lace and ...more
From the author of Folk Vests and Folk Shawls comes this collection of folk inspired knit jacket designs. The largely simple, classic lines provide a nice backdrop for a variety of techniques including textured stitches, cables, stripes and lacework. Most are well within the capabilities of advanced beginner knitters and achieve their size variations by changing needle sizes. This means of sizing maintains motif placement but can result in the smallest being a bit stiff while the larger becomes more open and drapey. The Edo jacket, based on a traditional Japanese pattern is an excellent example of this feature as the lacey properties become more apparent in the larger size.
The Dakota on the Side jacket is the only design to feature vertical stripes combined with an easy slip stitch pattern to create a colorful, flattering piece. Cables are a prominent, almost repetitive feature in several of the designs like the Bloomsbury Jacket with a garter stitched collar that uses short-rowing for shape. Instead of using the garter stitched hem as shown, creative knitters might want to consider using the more elastic knit one, purl one ribbing to add a bit of shaping to the bottom.
Every jacket has been photographed from a number of angles and includes a detailed schematic, design notes and stitch explanations allowing beginning and intermediate knitters to dive in with confidence. Advanced knitters will likely use these designs as a springboard to create their own renditions.
