Beginners and experienced knitters alike will rejoice at this approachable guide to making just about any sweater in any yarn, gauge and size thanks to their “Knitter Fitter” system that relies on an accurate swatch gauge and personalized body measurements. These measurements are then used to draw out a schematic and a visual “sweater map” laid out on graph paper which isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds. Especially nice are the side-to-side designs like the “Rose-to-Blue V-Necked Pullover” and a charming child’s cardigan, knit from the centerline out which creates slimming vertical stripes without the effort of intarsia work. Necklines, sleeve dimensions, armholes, cuffs, fit ease, joinings, edgings, blocking and more are explained in enough depth to useful without being overwhelming. Many of the projects were originally designed to use varying amounts of hand dyed, handspun yarns and can be used with whatever fibers are hiding in your stash. Do not overlook the Designer Notes sprinkled throughout as they provide a window into the design process, sources of inspiration and information regarding potential problems, fit considerations and possible variations. These are designs meant to be worn by real people, each with a fitter list detailing the yarns, gauges and full knitting info along with all the sweater measurements and stunning full-color photography.
This nice introduction to sweater design and construction invites knitters to wean off commercial patterns in favor of creating their own customized patterns. Although advanced knitwear designers will likely continue to rely on Sion Elalouf’s The Knitting Architect and The Advanced Knitting Architect for more design options, this book addresses most of the concerns and styles the average knitter is likely to encounter.
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