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Product Description
Product Description
The word finishing fills many knitters with dread. Some even abandon projects rather than complete the necessary steps to achieve beautiful, wearable garments. Now, notable knitter and designer Deborah Newton shares her expertise and love of finishing techniques in an on-the-page master class. Deborah patiently takes her student-readers step by step through the ins and outs of blocking, seaming, edging and embellishments, giving them the confidence and skills to create professional-looking knitwear. In addition to Deborah's expert instructions, the book includes patterns for 12 sweaters, jackets and scarves, many with variations.
About the Author
Deborah Newton has been a knitwear designer for more than 25 years and her designs have appeared in numerous publications including Vogue Knitting, Threads, Knitter's Magazine and McCalls. She also teaches around the country, most recently for Vogue Knitting's annual VK Live Event in New York City.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have only had this book a week or so and keep dipping into it. It gives all the information I wanted to know about. Well named a Masterclass for Knitters. It's the first book to make sense of working with and adapting a schematic. It totally demystifies blocking. The pictures and illustrations are really clear. I know I will be referring to it again and again.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
22 reviews
362 of 364 people found the following review helpful
Could Be The Best Book on Finishing Techniques Ever -- Certainly The Best in My Library!
26 Sep 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When author Deborah Newton subtitled this volume "A Master Class for Knitters," she was right on the mark. Here's a book for knitters who already know the basics of knitting and are ready to advance to more challenging skills. While I am far from being a novice knitter, she presents techniques I did not know, and she has also given me confidence that some of the skills I learned from my grandmother are still spot on.
Here's my take on "Finishing School - a master class for knitters:"
PROS:
1. The book itself is heavy and hardbound, but produced in such a way that it opens fully and stays open at any page you may be studying. Paper is also heavy and feels great.
2. The book is packed with illustrations. Most are photographs, but there are also line drawings to simplify the technique and help you understand clearly how to proceed.
3. Newton tackles sticky problems, like how to block lace without skewing or messing up your lovely pattern in other ways. Steaming and patting can go a long way! And if you ever thought to skip the hated step of knitting a gauge swatch, you'll be ashamed to do it again.
4. Ever wonder how to seam your new sweater so that it comes out looking professional? You'll learn a number of techniques here, including my least favorite -- grafting. And you'll feel better knowing that seams do not necessarily need to be hidden. Whew, that's a relief.
5. Newton devotes a big section to knitted edgings. You may already have seen a widely read book on knitted edges, but Newton makes it clear how to attach these fancy edgings to a garment. There's more than one way to kiss that pig.
6. Another large section addresses issues like buttons and pockets, along with felting, making easy linings, and more. I still have not conquered my fear of steeks, but with these instructions I may yet.
7. Newton has included workshops in most sections to help you apply the techniques you've just learned.
8. Finally, there are patterns -- gorgeous patterns for scarves, sweaters, bags. There are some real knockouts here.
CONS:
Absolutely none, but there are caveats -- this is not a beginners knitting book. Enjoy the text and illustrations now, but shelve this book in your library until you've finally created something you need to finish!
Overall:
I'm delighted, and I can't wait to finish my current project to get started on some of the patterns Newton presents. I cannot imagine any seriously addicted knitter who would not enjoy this book. How about as a present for a special occasion?
Here's my take on "Finishing School - a master class for knitters:"
PROS:
1. The book itself is heavy and hardbound, but produced in such a way that it opens fully and stays open at any page you may be studying. Paper is also heavy and feels great.
2. The book is packed with illustrations. Most are photographs, but there are also line drawings to simplify the technique and help you understand clearly how to proceed.
3. Newton tackles sticky problems, like how to block lace without skewing or messing up your lovely pattern in other ways. Steaming and patting can go a long way! And if you ever thought to skip the hated step of knitting a gauge swatch, you'll be ashamed to do it again.
4. Ever wonder how to seam your new sweater so that it comes out looking professional? You'll learn a number of techniques here, including my least favorite -- grafting. And you'll feel better knowing that seams do not necessarily need to be hidden. Whew, that's a relief.
5. Newton devotes a big section to knitted edgings. You may already have seen a widely read book on knitted edges, but Newton makes it clear how to attach these fancy edgings to a garment. There's more than one way to kiss that pig.
6. Another large section addresses issues like buttons and pockets, along with felting, making easy linings, and more. I still have not conquered my fear of steeks, but with these instructions I may yet.
7. Newton has included workshops in most sections to help you apply the techniques you've just learned.
8. Finally, there are patterns -- gorgeous patterns for scarves, sweaters, bags. There are some real knockouts here.
CONS:
Absolutely none, but there are caveats -- this is not a beginners knitting book. Enjoy the text and illustrations now, but shelve this book in your library until you've finally created something you need to finish!
Overall:
I'm delighted, and I can't wait to finish my current project to get started on some of the patterns Newton presents. I cannot imagine any seriously addicted knitter who would not enjoy this book. How about as a present for a special occasion?
149 of 151 people found the following review helpful
LOVE, love this book
8 Oct 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is exactly what I've been looking for, a finishing book that talks about preparing and planning your knitting pattern BEFORE you pick up a needle. As someone who is struggling through "Milanese Shower Bolero" from "Loop-d-Loop Lace"(3 errors and counting, totally crappy directions, the "d" must stand for 'dumb knitters') I especially loved it when Deborah Newton said, "The first thing you should consider when reviewing a pattern is whether to attempt it at all". Some patterns just aren't worth knitting because they lack any inherent possibilities for good finishing. She went on to say that if a pattern author can't be bothered to clean up their pattern, why knit it?
We've all spent a tour in Knitting Hell because the pattern author hired people to knit for them. Deborah shows us exactly what a good pattern should read like, and gives us little clues to let us know when the pattern author is clueless or if the pattern is simply a poor fit for our figure. I so love it when she empowers knitters by in effect saying; it's your time. You've spent a lot of money on yarn.
We've all spent a tour in Knitting Hell because the pattern author hired people to knit for them. Deborah shows us exactly what a good pattern should read like, and gives us little clues to let us know when the pattern author is clueless or if the pattern is simply a poor fit for our figure. I so love it when she empowers knitters by in effect saying; it's your time. You've spent a lot of money on yarn.
129 of 131 people found the following review helpful
NO MORE TOADS--best finishing book EVER
13 Oct 2011
Format:Hardcover
As a lifelong knitter, I can tell anyone reading this, that your end product will really ONLY be as good as your finishing techniques. Minor pattern goofs can be overlooked, sizing can be adjusted with blocking, but bad finishing will just make your finished garment or project look sub-par.
Deborah Newton, the author, is a noted knit designer, and she is particularly known for tailoring, garment structure, texture and well, yes, a goodly number of her designs require the dreaded sewing-up. But she reveals a lot of her techniques and tricks here, and if you employ them, you will be so much happier with your hard work put into a wonderful knitted project. Her long experience as a designer and costume-maker make this book chock-full of valuable hints, tips and advice.
Here are some of the examples of what Newton teaches us in this book:
Blocking: how to flatten, stretch, shape and otherwise tame a lump of knitting into the proper shape. Blocking is in my book, numero uno of a must-learn. I do a lot of lace and lace is not LACE until you block it. And if you knit cardigans or jackets flat-style (pieces like a sewn garment) you MUST BLOCK. And it will let you fit that garment to a nicety.
Seaming: Mattress stitch, other methods to get the flat pieces joined. This is one of the most frustrating parts of constructing a cardigan, for example, from flat pieces. If you seam correctly, it will look and fit well. If you don't, it will look like a bad school project.
Edgings: these are finishing techniques knitted on and in some cases crocheted on or even sewn on and they make your garment looked finished at hem, cuff, placket and other areas.
Closures: such things as zippers, buttons, frogs, other ideas to close or fasten a garment.
The chapters have sections that go into the trouble spots for each type of technique and give you a how-to on fixing those issues, as well as a list of cheats to quickly refer to when doing a finishing technique (I'd like to see those pulled out into a book of laminated cards that are held by a spiral spine to flip through--hint hint, Deborah!)
Some people hate finishing so much, they hand it off to a pro to take care of. When I did production knitting for a designer in St. Louis years ago, the finishing was what that designer was most concerned about; if you didn't get your seams right or the loose ends properly fastened and hidden on the back of the garment, she'd throw it right back to you and reject it.
This book will really help you to love, well if not love, at least get good at finishing. And that will be the difference between a successful knitted project and prevent those FROGS (rip-it, rip-it, rip-it out and do over) and worse yet, TOADs (Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust ...)
Deborah Newton, the author, is a noted knit designer, and she is particularly known for tailoring, garment structure, texture and well, yes, a goodly number of her designs require the dreaded sewing-up. But she reveals a lot of her techniques and tricks here, and if you employ them, you will be so much happier with your hard work put into a wonderful knitted project. Her long experience as a designer and costume-maker make this book chock-full of valuable hints, tips and advice.
Here are some of the examples of what Newton teaches us in this book:
Blocking: how to flatten, stretch, shape and otherwise tame a lump of knitting into the proper shape. Blocking is in my book, numero uno of a must-learn. I do a lot of lace and lace is not LACE until you block it. And if you knit cardigans or jackets flat-style (pieces like a sewn garment) you MUST BLOCK. And it will let you fit that garment to a nicety.
Seaming: Mattress stitch, other methods to get the flat pieces joined. This is one of the most frustrating parts of constructing a cardigan, for example, from flat pieces. If you seam correctly, it will look and fit well. If you don't, it will look like a bad school project.
Edgings: these are finishing techniques knitted on and in some cases crocheted on or even sewn on and they make your garment looked finished at hem, cuff, placket and other areas.
Closures: such things as zippers, buttons, frogs, other ideas to close or fasten a garment.
The chapters have sections that go into the trouble spots for each type of technique and give you a how-to on fixing those issues, as well as a list of cheats to quickly refer to when doing a finishing technique (I'd like to see those pulled out into a book of laminated cards that are held by a spiral spine to flip through--hint hint, Deborah!)
Some people hate finishing so much, they hand it off to a pro to take care of. When I did production knitting for a designer in St. Louis years ago, the finishing was what that designer was most concerned about; if you didn't get your seams right or the loose ends properly fastened and hidden on the back of the garment, she'd throw it right back to you and reject it.
This book will really help you to love, well if not love, at least get good at finishing. And that will be the difference between a successful knitted project and prevent those FROGS (rip-it, rip-it, rip-it out and do over) and worse yet, TOADs (Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust ...)
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