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Along with being pleasurable and satisfying, knitting can sometimes be frustrating: the turtleneck that looked so fabulous on the model is too bulky for your body, or the cardigan you spent countless hours on just doesn’t fit right. Herein lies the beauty of Custom Knits, which teaches knitters how to use improvisational techniques to achieve spectacular results—and to unleash their inner designers. Wendy Bernard, creator of the popular blog Knit and Tonic, provides 25 original designs for sweaters of nearly every type, plus variations, most knitted in one piece starting at the top, a method that allows you to try on as you go, alter as desired, and essentially design on the fly. “Make It Your Own” prompts in each pattern suggest easy alterations to suit your style and body type. And an in-depth reference section teaches how to alter key sweater elements, for example, change a crewneck to a V-neck, add sleeves to a vest, and much more. For the truly adventurous, the book concludes with guidelines for knitting sweaters with no pattern at all. Bernard’s friendly writing style and photographer Kimball Hall’s lively images create an inviting book of beautiful designs and key techniques that a knitter can use to customize nearly every garment she knits from now on.
Fabulous knits!!!!!
| Customer Rating:  | | I just received this book along two others that I ordered (great time of delivery) and I am on my way to buy yarn for TWO projects already! the TANG and the TUXEDO VEST are just too fab for words!!! Can't wait to start. This is my first time with a Top-down project and I am very excited and eager to start! thank you, Wendy, for this fab book! |
I LOVE the patterns and the versatility
| Customer Rating: | The patterns in this book are simple and classic in style but not boring at all. I want to make at least 9 of the patterns in this book, which for me is saying a lot. An important item to note, however, is that the majority of the patterns are for sweaters: button-up and ribbon-tie cardigans, pullovers, long sleeved, short sleeved, turtlenecks, cowl necks, scoop necks, etc. Toward the end of the book there are patterns for a scarf, a hat, a wrap, a skirt, and a tank top.
One unique and interesting feature of this book is that each pattern comes with ideas on how to make the sweater your own by altering the pattern in different ways, and some basic instructions on how to accomplish this. Another awesome feature of the patterns themselves is that they offer a range of sizes from XSmall to 3XLarge! How refreshing.
While I think this is a great introduction to creating your own sweater, I don't think this book should be recommended for beginning knitters. There are several techniques you need to be able to accomplish such as provisional cast ons, picking up stitches, the kitchener stitch, short row shaping, etc. that I think may be quite overwhelming for a newish or inexperienced knitter.
The last chapter is probably the main reason to buy this book. Called "Unleash Your Inner Designer: Elements to Alter and Starting From Scratch," the author gives easy to understand instructions on how to work your way through the 2 kinds of sweaters in the book: Top-down raglans and Top-down set-in sleeved sweaters. Visuals and diagrams are included. It goes step by step through each possible element you may want to alter and how to go about it: Neckbands and collars, armhole depth, length and shaping, "afterthought" sleeves, changing a pullover into a cardigan and vice versa, and changing edgings.
There is also a guide on how to begin designing a sweater from scratch. It tells you what, where, and how to measure, and goes on from there until you're finished!
This book offers SO much guidance in every step of knitting a sweater, no matter which way you decide to go about it. I have a feeling this is going to be of infinite use to me.
*One thing I found annoying about the book, however, are the scantily clad models. Why are 75% of the women in the photos wearing their sweaters with bikini bottoms, underwear, or way-too-short cut offs? The first photo you see when you open the book is the "Playmate Jacket" (mm hmm, very Hugh Hefner) and she's wearing the sweater over some hot pink boyshorts. What's the point of this? Like I said, it's kind of annoying. |
Awesome
| Customer Rating: | | The designs in this book are nothing short of gorgeous. I HATE seaming and this book solves that problem. I can not say how well the patterns are written because I have not had time to start any (a 2 year old and 9 week old have put the knitting on hold for a while). The chapter on how to design/modify patterns is worth the price. A must for any fashionable knitter. |
The Best!
| Customer Rating: | | During last few years I bought almost every available book on knitting and just few of them where worth the money. This book is definitely the best book over past few years! |
Could this be the today's EZ and B Walker? Is it possible??
| Customer Rating: | I admit it, I am a reformed knitting book addict.
After reading all of Elizabeth Zimmerman's books, and B Walkers " Knitting From the Top Down" it changed my entire perspective on knitting.
I didn't think that there would be one person (in this generation of knitters) that could even come close to the wit and wisdom those two woman had. I teach basic knitting to home schooler's and other young people so I am very careful what I teach, and what methods I use.
I do not want my student's to become knitters SO glued to a pattern that they wont take chances and personalize their knitting.
I found that the very reason they want to learn to knit in the first place is that they love fiber and color,,, and want to add touches that only a handknit item can offer.
They surprise me all the time with their eagerness to learn,,, and most importantly, their desire to break the " rules" of knitting.
I began to use the top down process vs. the bottom up process of knitting sweaters more often than not (with the exception of color work ski sweaters ) knitting top down is the ONLY way to guarantee 100% that your garment will fit you in all areas, not just sleeve or hem length. I taught myself to do this (by reading and experimenting) and am now teaching young students to do so also.
The knitting book market is literally flooded with and overabundance of books,, but always PATTERN books~ and no one near the caliber of the" great ladies" of knitting. Books are published by the dozens each month, none have much substance to them. I scour through them at local shops in an effort to see what will help me teach more effectively and have not seen much that is worth spending money on.
I did not think there was a single talented knitter that even came close to the late great EZ and B Walker.
I couldn't have been more wrong in my thinking !
This book is as close as it gets to truly understanding the top down method of B Walker's book,,,,, and,,, teaches EZ's EPS system ( an amazing method of knitting ) PLUS,,it offers loads of design advice you wish you would have many sweaters ago.
If you honestly have the desire to have finished projects that fit and flatter you or anyone you knit for, this book will teach you how to do so.
If that isn't enough, there are so many things offered such as how to make your own dress form for only a few dollars ( so you can see how the knitted garment will hang on you from all angles) and how to do set in sleeves on a top down garment. I think making the dress form will be a great class to teach(!!) using this book as my guide.
Set in sleeves,,, it can be done and look very professional WITHOUT sewing!
I have not attempted to do this myself because even though
B Walker does mention this in her book , it just wasn't clear in my mind, no matter how much I tried to wrap my brain around those concepts.
I am thrilled to now have the clarity I was searching for, and wish I had this book many disappointments( and wasted $$ ago.)
Just like EZ,the author encourages you to be the "boss of your knitting" and I am thankful that this author was able to pick up where 2 incredibly talented knitters left off.
EZ's books and B Walker's books are the backbone of my library,, they are the books that I refer to over and over again.
This book has earned a spot on my bookshelf right next to those books and I will use this book in much the same way.
It adds a freshness and a whole new perspective to my designs and I feel that I can spread my wings further and further , as well as my students.
I can't praise this book any more than others already have, but I would give this book a 15 star rating if it were allowed.
EZ and B Walker were THE groundbreakers, THE rule busters,, and maverick knitters of their time,,,,, but this author did far more than write one book.
I think that she actually picked up their needles, and started to knit where they left off~ and that is one huge compliment to Wendy Bernard. I cant help but believe that they must be smiling down at her and cheering her on.
I suspect that this book is the just the beginning of this author's knitting career,I think we will be reading about her a whole lot more in the future.
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