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Product Description
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Some of you might know the author from her popular blog, knit and tonic. Ms Bernard is a student of Elizabeth Zimmerman and Barbara Walker, so all her designs are top down, with either raglans or set-in sleeves. For those of you (like me) who can't really get on with either Zimmerman or Walker, this book is a primer - where you get solid directions, techniques to put into play on a pattern, and options that you can apply to personalise the pattern.
The book assumes that you're at least, an advanced learner, so there's no 'how to's here. There's a checklist of things you need to consider when knitting (yarn expense, does the style suit your lifestyle, weight of yarn). Then, the book is divided into sections: raglan, set in sleeves, yoke jumpers, how to make it your own). This book is exclusively women's patterns, mostly sweaters, running from saucy to cosy.
Pattern wise, if you like Ms Bernard's designs from her blog, there are no surprises here. The designs are really cute, with an unpretentious California vibe. The designs are simple, but with little details that make them fun. Like a bit of kid mohair in a neckline for an empire styled top, a cardigan with ribbon threaded through as accent, or ribbing with varying lengths for a top down. In addition, for clothing, most of the designs are done on 3.5-4.5mm needles. There are a lot of dk weight yarns used in this book, so if you have a dk stash like me, it's all good.
A draw back to this book is the act that the patterns aren't indexed, nor is there isn't any indication to pattern levels of difficulty. Some people might like the latter, but it helps to know what you're getting into.
The writing style is engaging, the pictures are sharp, and I can see myself making most of the stuff in the book, if not all. Most of the yarns can be substituted, although a few online british knitting stores may have the brands quoted. I haven't knitted anything as yet, so I don't know if there are any errors.
Update: I am currently using the top down methods in this book to rework a pattern from a sweater from the bottom up. Ms Bernard's instructions are very clear in terms of how you go about doing these things. I'd advise you to research other types of provisional cast on. The one that she's fond of (long tail cast on) is annoying if you're doing over twenty stitches.
Really cute book. Recommended.
The book assumes that you're at least, an advanced learner, so there's no 'how to's here. There's a checklist of things you need to consider when knitting (yarn expense, does the style suit your lifestyle, weight of yarn). Then, the book is divided into sections: raglan, set in sleeves, yoke jumpers, how to make it your own). This book is exclusively women's patterns, mostly sweaters, running from saucy to cosy.
Pattern wise, if you like Ms Bernard's designs from her blog, there are no surprises here. The designs are really cute, with an unpretentious California vibe. The designs are simple, but with little details that make them fun. Like a bit of kid mohair in a neckline for an empire styled top, a cardigan with ribbon threaded through as accent, or ribbing with varying lengths for a top down. In addition, for clothing, most of the designs are done on 3.5-4.5mm needles. There are a lot of dk weight yarns used in this book, so if you have a dk stash like me, it's all good.
A draw back to this book is the act that the patterns aren't indexed, nor is there isn't any indication to pattern levels of difficulty. Some people might like the latter, but it helps to know what you're getting into.
The writing style is engaging, the pictures are sharp, and I can see myself making most of the stuff in the book, if not all. Most of the yarns can be substituted, although a few online british knitting stores may have the brands quoted. I haven't knitted anything as yet, so I don't know if there are any errors.
Update: I am currently using the top down methods in this book to rework a pattern from a sweater from the bottom up. Ms Bernard's instructions are very clear in terms of how you go about doing these things. I'd advise you to research other types of provisional cast on. The one that she's fond of (long tail cast on) is annoying if you're doing over twenty stitches.
Really cute book. Recommended.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've only been knitting since early this Spring, but already I'm finding that I want to adapt patterns to suit my shape and style. I already had Stitch n' Bitch Nation on my shelf when I bought this, which goes into the art of adapting patterns, but to be honest, I found the long-winded maths-phobic approach of that book a bit off-putting. Custom Knits, in contrast offers a much more concise, relaxed approach. Each section covers a different type of sweater design, including those for which a top-down design doesn't work and there are patterns to suit a range of personal tastes, all very wearable. I can see myself knitting a few of these over the next few years.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Custom Knits: 25 Projects (Plus Variations) and Techniques for Customizing to Fit Your Style and Your Body is a must for every knitters libary. The instructions are clear giving you the freedom to actually knit a garment that fits YOU! The patterns are attractive, well written and easy to knit, each with a skill level, ideas on alternative yarns, how to work out the yardage you'll need for your size if substituting yarn, hints and tips on customising your work.
Really lovely book that's fun to read, has some wonderful designs which I just can't wait to knit and is excellent value.
Really lovely book that's fun to read, has some wonderful designs which I just can't wait to knit and is excellent value.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
thank you
excellent thank you, will really enjoy knitting some of the garments in this book. Once again thank you Jill Bates
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. Jill Bates
Custom Knits
This book is great for the reluctant Mathematician, offering pattern changes in bite-size pieces that are easy to understand. Read more
Published 11 months ago by K White
Successful knitting for yourself
This book made me believe i knitting for myself, after not doing so for 15 years, due to garment never fitting in the end. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2010 by Ingrid
Great Information and Fab Patterns
This is a well written, with light-hearted conversational tones. The book is filled with useful information that challenges preconceptions about how a pattern must be followed... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by C. Fletcher
Great resource and reference book!
In short, this book has 25 brilliant patterns showcasing different ways of knitting sweaters and tanks from the top down. Yoked sweaters, raglan sleeves, set-in sleeves.. Read more
Published on 30 April 2009 by Trine Larsen
Fantastic
Lovely patterns and a brief overview of top down design in raglan or set-in sleeve format, plus lots of ideas to customise the designs inside. Would recommend this to any knitter. Read more
Published on 18 April 2009 by Wensleydale
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