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.
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Book Description
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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. Her first book, the bestselling Designing Knitwear, has been in print for more than 15 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
439 of 441 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could Be The Best Book on Finishing Techniques Ever -- Certainly The Best in My Library!
September 26, 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?
190 of 192 people found the following review helpful
By M. Wyze
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.
175 of 178 people found the following review helpful
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 ...)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful book
I'm a knitting teacher, trying to stay a few steps ahead of the great knitters in my class, and this book taught me several techniques I'm anxious to try.
Published 18 days ago by Sandra Knight
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource for knitters!
Excellent book for even long time knitters. There is much knowledge each person can take away from this book no matter what their level. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jan Hale
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource.
Very good pictures and good instructions for knitters wanting to put that added pizazz and finish to their knitting projects.
Published 1 month ago by Janice Todd
4.0 out of 5 stars
book
very thorough instructions and guidance on knitting projects with high-quality finishing and photos are helpful -- some of the instructions are a bit intimidating if you are a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by joe
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite knitting books
I buy a lot of books on knitting. Most repeat the same thing over and over just with different knitting patterns. However with this book i was quite impressed. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Arielle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finishing knitting projects
I have knitted many years and have never had a book on finishing the knitted product. i just always had the instructions to block your garmet and weave seams together--this book... Read more
Published 2 months ago by carolyn pinney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must own for even beginners
Your work is only as good as the finishing work. Sloppy, or undone finishing makes the garment unfinished and this book does a good and enjoyable part in convincing you that you... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nancy Lindquist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Details from a professional
One can knit up a storm, but, only if they put time in finishing their project, will it shine. This book seems to
tackle most details clearly.
tackle most details clearly.
Published 3 months ago by JEG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative!
This book is very informative and cleary written in easy to understand words and photos are very helpful also tor showing directions.
Published 3 months ago by Deb Gillilan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of anecdote, short on techniques
I should have remembered that a master class, in many fields, means a seminar in which students learn the personal experience of one artist. This book is that kind of lesson. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Emma Bull
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