Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit, and Finish for Today's Knits [Paperback]

Jean Frost (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Jean uses her 12 years of teaching and designing experience to create 21 beautiful jacket patterns. She breaks down the process of knitting jackets into manageable steps - from taking initial measurements to choosing appropriate yarns to the finishing details and perfecting the fit. These beginner to intermediate patterns cover a wide range of classic, designer-inspired styles. It has the XRX quality that you have grown to expect; it's packed with beautiful colorful photos and detailed line drawings for guidance. All the designs offer professional-looking handknit jackets that are comfortable to wear, easy to pack, and fun to create.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Years of working in the garment industry have sharpened Jean Frost's skills in career-knit design. Jean has been teaching and designing, with an emphasis on hand-knit jackets, for over 12 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Xrx Books (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893762157
• ISBN-13: 978-1893762152
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

156 of 157 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classy collection of sweaters for meetings or the office, March 14, 2003

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit, and Finish for Today's Knits (Paperback)

While much of the fun of knitting is making colorful, comfortable clothing for relaxation, there are times when a knitter needs to look "presentable." "Jackets" is a terrific resource for any knitter who wants to look professional while enjoying the sense of accomplishment and individuality that a handknit garment can bring.

This book provides 21 patterns of office suitable cardigans and Channel style jackets, all of which would look as polished as a blazer or a suit jacket. The looks are sharp but traditional enough not to go out of style quickly. Each pattern runs 4 to 6 pages with several photo angles and detailed instructions. The end of the book features a section on finishing tips which is most appropriate given the tailored tone of most of the sweaters.

For those of you who can thumb through the book before ordering, here are some details that may be helpful:
1. Colorwise, there are 14 solid color jackets and 7 multicolor slip stitch patterns. The multi-colors are mostly tweedy looks. Most of the solid color sweaters are knit is stitches other that stockingnette - twills, nubby textures and such. There is only one lace project.
2. The writer/editors rate one sweater as easy; two as "easy plus"; fifteen as intermediate; and three as advanced.
3. The yarn weights are on the light side - one in sport weight; nine in DK weight; nine in worsted weight and two in bulky. Also, this book employees Knitter's Magazine's new generic yarn requirements system (with only small print notations of the specific yarn used in the model jacket).
4. The needles involved are also on the small side - four sweaters on US size 3; four on US size 4; two on US size 5; four on US size 6; six on US size 7; and one on US size 10. As one knitter who is getting pretty tired of the bulky look, this is one of the best part of the book IMHO.
In summary; a great book for professionals who've had to keep their knitting in the closet or the knitters who never know what to make to the young woman lawyer in the family.

96 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic patterns are refreshing but be cautious of errors, December 3, 2003

By 

CKKNH (New Hampshire, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit, and Finish for Today's Knits (Paperback)

It's tough to find knitting patterns for sweaters with classic "jacket-like" lines. Vintage knitting patterns come close (e.g. the recent "Vintage Knits" book), but many vintage patterns were designed for much smaller sizes, say up to a size 34. The sweaters in the book are really beautiful, and the directions are for the most part clear, although not really meant for the beginning knitter. Most of the patterns are worked on small needles, so each sweater will take considerable time for the average busy person. There is a reference section at the back of the book which summarizes the various stitch patterns, which is helpful. However, there are numerous errors in the book that can result in disaster (I learned this the hard and painful way). XRX books is happy to send or email corrections (almost every sweater contains errors), and hopefully the changes will appear in subsequent editions to the book. I would recommend this book if you love the patterns, but would make sure that you call the company for corrections before starting a project.

96 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Female lawyer plans to wear these to the office!, March 21, 2003

By 

Sydney's Mom "7923" (Clarendon Hills, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit, and Finish for Today's Knits (Paperback)

I'm thrilled with this book! I'm so sick of bulky sweaters I can only wear on the weekend. I can't wait to make several of these jackets, which with a shell and a skirt or pair of pants, will look terrific in the office. I have just taken up knitting again after 30 years, and I don't want to waste my time with mittens. I have already ordered the yarn for several jackets, and my daughter is complaining because her stuff was put on hold! Don't be intimidated by the ratings - like I said, I have taken up knitting again after 30 years, and the first jacket I am making is rated advanced. But there are no complicated charts to follow, everything is pretty straightforward. I am confident I can make any of these jackets - and I would rate my skills at intermediate. Although I found the colors used for the jackets in the photographs kind of boring (I'm a lawyer, I'm not dead!) you can easily jazz up some of the colors.

Basically, I was looking for a book that would allow me to recreate St. John's knits for the office. Putting a simple pull-up skirt with these jackets does it, I think. And I can get the colors I really want, and the price will be 1/10 the price of St. John!