Knit Wear Love (review and giveaway)
More TNNA goodies to share, this time it’s the delightful Knit Wear Love: Foolproof Instructions for Knitting your Best-Fitting Sweaters Ever in the Styles you Love to Wear from Amy Herzog.
You know how I always say I’ll never knit a sweater? Now part of that is because of my whole short attention span / that’s an awful lot of fabric issue. But part of it is also because I’ve been scared I’d make one and not love it when it was done. I’m absolutely a product knitter. If I’m knitting something, it’s because I want the finished piece. Can you imagine the heartbreak of making a whole sweater and not absolutely adoring it at the end? It would be too much to bear. But Amy’s bound and determined to keep that from happening. And I’m pretty sure, if you follow her advice, you’re going to be safe from sweater heartbreak!
She starts by helping you figure out which style you’re in the mood for (vintage, sporty, casual, bohemian, modern, romantic, classic, or advant-garde) and talking about the fibers, fabrics, and colors work well with each style. This intro totally sets the tone for the rest of the book, conveying Amy’s absolute confidence that you can do this, you’re in charge of your knitting, and you’re the expert on what you like.
Once you’re excited to begin, she makes sure you’re ready to work by laying out the technical info you need to make a sweater really fit. That includes understanding your measurements, understanding the sweater’s measurements, and knowing where and how to tweak the sweater (on the off chance that your bust, waist, and hip measurements aren’t all exactly the same as the pattern says). If the first section gave you inspiration, this section will give you confidence.
The main section of the book is the patterns. Amy’s taken eight silhouettes (pullover, cardigan, vest, cowlneck, tunic, wrap, tank, and bolero) and offered three adorable variations of each.
And if that’s not enough, each of those 24 patterns is written for three weights of yarn (sport, worsted, and aran) and twelve sizes (to fit a bust of 30-54 inches in two inch increments). It’s all beautifully laid out so your numbers are easy to find. But just to make it even easier, there are also worksheets for each style where you can fill in just your own numbers for exactly the size you’re making. You can either photocopy them from the book or download them from the website (you can see lovely pictures of each of the sweaters there as well). It’s the perfect touch to make the book amazingly easy to use.
If I ever do make the leap and start a sweater, you can bet I’ll have this book (and very likely Amy’s previous book, Knit to Flatter) clutched firmly in hand to make sure all that hard work pays off!
I’ve got a copy of the book to inspire one of you on your own sweater knitting path. Just leave a comment telling me how you feel about knitting sweaters. Is it all you knit? Are you starting your first? Still working up the nerve?
Comments left between now and the end of the day Monday, August 3 will be entered to win a copy of the book. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to send yarn their way. Be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them. Sorry, but I can only ship physical prizes to US addresses.
Sweaters are just one of the many different items that I knit. My last two adult sized both require major ripping back and retweeking.
I’ve knit lots of sweaters, but none with any shaping currently otn – socks.
I do knit sweaters (not as much as socks, but I do knit them), and although there are some I love, some of them are “great, but…” Great, but the hem doesn’t lie correctly. Great, but the yarn sheds like a mofo all over my black pants. Great, but I need to be about 6″ taller to pull off that silhouette. I’d love a chance to really dive into this book and make my sweaters better!
I love to knit sweaters but I would love to learn more about shaping to flatter myself! I have yet to knit one I love for me!
I have made several sweaters but never had one fit well. Would live to learn how to customize a pattern for me! Thanks for the give away.
I recently finished a sweater I started knitting about 5 years ago–and it actually fits!!! It has some collar issues but I have an idea…
I knit more hats, shawlettes, and mittens than sweaters but I’d love to learn to make a sweater that fits on purpose and not just from dumb luck.
I love knitting sweaters (vest, cardigans, etc), and I probably knit 6-8 per year. Love that designers are now creating patterns that are flattering for all sizes and body shapes.
I knit myself one sweater. While it fit like a glove (because I tried it on every 4 rows), it’s not as flattering as it could be. If I ever knit another sweater, I’ll have to leverage Amy’s books! : )
(Hope this doesn’t appear twice, responded first from my reader and it didn’t appear to go through).
I knit one sweater and it didn’t fit at all. I’ve started another sweater, one of Amy’s but without the customizations, but it got too hot to work on so I’ve only finished the back. It’s a gorgeous pattern and I really think it will fit as written. It’ll at least be close enough since I never button my cardigans.
I have knit several sweaters, I think this is a super book, I would find it very helpful !
I love to make sweaters and I love the way Amy Herzog helps! I have her custom fit queued up to try soon. Knowing how to make any garment fit is key to knitting happiness.
I love knitting sweaters. Wearing handmade clothing of any kind makes me feel super beautiful (and skilled). And living in the north-east-ish, I get a LOT of wear from my sweaters.
Knitting sweaters is definitely my go-to preference. I think in terms of sweater projects and use accessories and socks as fill-in projects for portability, trial of new techniques, gauge checks, and stash busters. BUT, I do get frustrated when it doesn’t work out exactly like I expect it to. But, someone in the family can usually use it, or I end up donating it – and that organization is always happy to get it!
I just finished a huge sweater project that makes me feel so accomplished! Sweaters have been a new thing for me as of this year.
I have made a couple sweaters in the past, now I’m ready to make a new cardigan for work (it’s chilly in the office). Would love to have this book.
Sweaters are the sole reason I’ve continued to be interested in knitting. It took me a while to get into mittens and hats, and years and years to want to knit socks or lace. (I can even remember declaring that I’d never knit a pair of socks–ha!)
I’ve knit several sweaters, usually they end up, as my husband says, quite dumpy. I think my subconscious figures as long as I can get it on, it’s not a waste of time and money. I do love the idea of wearing my own sweaters, so I continue on, warily, trying sweaters. At least I have learned that the local weather means I need to knit sort weight it lighter sweaters or they won’t get with because, fit or not, they’ll be too warm.
I’ve knit a few cardigans and shrugs, but I’ve always been scared to do something like a pullover since my measurements never come close to what the pattern is written for! I would love to learn how to adjust a pattern to make sure that it will fit my rather curvy torso!
What a fabulous book! I have knit several (I’d guess about 15) and I can honestly say that I only wear one with any regularity. There is just something a bit ‘off’ about each of the others. It would be awesome to have a guide to figure out what I am missing in looking at a pattern and what the finished product turns out like. I have sweater quantities for another 10, but have been too afraid to start. I will have to purchase both of Amy’s books!
I have knit about 8 sweaters over the last 2 years and frogged 4 of them because they did not fit well. I could definitely benefit from this book.
I am in the working up the nerve category. Plus I’m trying to lose weight and I figure if I’m smaller the sweater will take less time.
I once did the unthinkable and knit an ex a sweater. Three months of my life wasted! I have been nervous to knit another. This may be the key to getting over it.
I’ve started my first adult sweater but have been stalled/beached/stymied for the past 2 months with an early problem.(problem + work overload). The book looks fantastic and I’ve heard great things about Amy Herzog.
I’ve only knit one sweater so far, and it didn’t turn out as I’d hoped. I’ll try again someday, but I like smaller projects for that instant gratification.
Sweaters are not my preferred knit (one to two skein projects are more my attention span), but Amy Herzog could definitely convince me to change my tune!