Custom Knits: Unleash Your Inner Designer with Top-Down and Improvisational Techniques Hardcover – Bargain Price, September 1, 2008

I read both the positive and negative reviews regarding this book before deciding to make my purchase. Finally, I thought what the heck the positive comments far outweigh the negative and the patterns looked awesome! With the book now in hand I must admit I am at a complete loss as to what on earth the negative reviewers are talking about? Bulging arms? REALLY?!? Where? Do you honestly believe that the photography staff would let the sweater lay in such a way as to be unflattering and show bulging arms? Sounds a little more to me like someone is a bit hyper critical...Scantily clad photos? I believe one reviewer called them sensual... ROFL!!! REALLY!?! If you've picked up any catalog in say the last 10 - 15 years; J.C. Penny, Sears, or Victoria's Secret you have seen WAY more than you will in this book. Lets do be serious here. There are a few photos with the models wearing bikini's or panties. People R E A L L Y???I found this book to be well organized and easy to use. The patterns are written in multiple sizes from x-small up to 3X. Notions, yarn, needles, gauge, etc... are all easily referenced and clearly marked at the beginning of each pattern. Instructions are clearly written if a bit crammed together (just a pet peeve of mine that I find in most knitting books). Each pattern has a diagram denoting sizing instructions (length, width, and circumference) that I have found most helpful. While I don't think this is my Grandmother's knit book I did find many of the patterns appealing for a variety of occasions; formal and more conservative to sporty and sexy.One of the best parts about this book... they didn't waste chapter after chapter on trying to teach me to knit. For once I don't have another knit book wasting page after page explaining basic knitting! If you're a beginning knitter buy the book after you've completed several other projects.What truly sets this book apart from your everyday knit book however, is that Wendy (the author) gets it! Or at least I think she understands knitters like me, that see a pattern and want to make it our own. She spends a great deal of time showing you alternatives and explaining how to create your own variations to several of the patterns. I truly find this book to be inspirational and instructive!

Most of the book is women's sweater patterns. All of them are knit in one piece, most of them from the top down, which is by far one of my favorite methods-it makes it so much easier to try on for size, not to mention not needing seaming later.One of my favorite things is that each design comes with suggestions for things you can do to personalize it, and, the designs themselves? I think they're lovely. In fact, there's not a single one that I did NOT like, even if I'm not itching to pick up my needles and knit every single one of them.The final chapter is one of my favorites. It's titled "Unleash Your Inner Designer" and then breaks down the structure of the different top-down designs ... what you need to do a raglan for top down, what you do to do a set-in sleeve from top down-all the math and the schematics necessary. Not to mention a very nice section of instructions on what to do to change a neckline, or the depth of an armhole, to make a design more personal.This, I think, is my favorite part of this book-that it not only has nice designs, but that the author thoughtfully spells out what you need to do to make the sweaters more "you." She gives you good designs, and then gives you the tools you need to take them to another level-tacit permission to PLAY, instead of trying to make sure you never vary from the designs she gave you.Really, about the only thing I DIDN'T like was that there was no index or listing of patterns, making it tricky to find a specific one later on.

The patterns in this book are all top down seamless and ABSOLUTELY YUMMY! I want to make every single one of them. She has a great writing style as well, and comes right out and hits you over the head with the inevitable difficulties involved beyond just making the sweater. It's the first time I've actually sat back and realized that not every sweater I drool over will actually look good on me.The designing section is a bit more than my skill level but it'll be a huge help down the road. No more ogling over patterns trying to find the right sweater- soon I'll know how to create a fit that works for me!My only problem with this book are the pictures actually. Why would you go out of your way to show your sweaters on half dressed women? I mean, who wears a sweater with just a bikini bottom? It's a bit ridiculous. She also writes about how pictures are misleading and to judge a sweater by its schematic- and yet does nothing to make her sweater pictures any less misleading. But it's a minor issue.[...]

Looking forward to knitting these

in diesem Buch wird sehr gut erklärt, wie man Pullover passend für den eigenen Körper strickt, incl. wie strickt man Brustabnäher bei "viel Holz vor der Hüttn" in einen Pullover, sodass der Pulli vorn nicht immer hochzieht. Die Modelle werden teils normal von unten nach oben, aber auch top-down gestrickt. Allerdings sollte man gute Englischkenntnisse haben oder sich wenigstens eine Übersetzungsliste der Strickbegriffe besorgen. Die Strickmuster sind eher schlicht, aber das tut dem Zweck des Buches keinen Abbruch. Über Strickmuster gibt es ja genügend andere Bücher.

la consegna è stata molto veloce e la è qualità ottima. il prodotto è proprio quello che cercavo, fedele alla descrizione e ottimo prezzo.

Pour commencer, Wendy Bernard nous explique comment faire" notre double" : un mannequin de couture à nos véritables mensurations, pas comme les "madames" plus ou moins réglables'chapitre 1 : Déterminez votre style, taille, ampleur, afin de tricoter des vêtements que vous aimerez porter- chapitre 2 : pulls raglans sans couture tricotés du col à l'ourlet, d'une pièce ;- chapitre 3 :pull à manches montées tricotés du col à l'ourlet, d'une seule pièce- chapitre 4 : pulls à empiècement rond- chapitre 5 : pulls improvisés au fur et à mesurechapitre 6 : Devenez votre propre designer : Modifications à apporter, et comment commencer de zéroOn a tous les éléments pour créer ses propres modèles :- comment s'assurer que le style nous conviendra'- schéma et vue d'ensemble des différents types de techniques- modifications 1 : cols et bandes d'encolure- modifications 2 : profondeurs d'emmanchure- modifications 3 : formes et longueurs de manches- modifications 4 : manches rajoutées après-coup- modifications 5 : passer d'un pull à un gilet ou vice-versa- modifications 6 : changer les bordures- partir de zéro (schéma, calculs ')- déterminer le nombre de pelotes nécessaires- techniques spéciales (rangs raccourcis pour les poitrines volumineuses, montage provisoire')

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.