Customer Reviews

Knitted Jackets

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A really diverse and classic collection of jackets here. The author has showcased some of her signature design techniques like seamless construction and beautiful finishing detail. There is everything from simple garter and seed stitch to two-color work, lace and cables. Many different yarns are used in the projects and each pattern includes information on the yarns that will allow the knitter to choose a substitute yarn easily.

While the majority of the jackets are sized in the conventional method, using one gauge and a different set of numbers for each size, the garments that are sized by changing the needle size are done so for valid design reason. This kind of sizing is actually not new and has been used for centuries to maintain the placement of a well thought out design. The discussion of gauge in the Techniques section of the book makes this super clear. Knitters who understand gauge or want to learn to do so, and those who aren't afraid to try a different technique will enjoy adding this one to their knitting tool belts. The author is also a teacher and is known for the clarity of her directions. The knitter can rest assured that these designs DO work though they might lead to more unconventional and creative thinking!

Interweave has done a nice job visually on Knitted Jackets. The photos do a great job of showing both the whole garment and the detail of the stitches and construction. Every pattern has a diagram with measurements for all sizes. A more detailed index would have been nice though.

Lots here to knit!

Cheryl Oberle is a knit designer who often takes her inspiration from various cultures and traditional garments. Then she fuses the ideas with other cultures or techniques to come up with something unique. The jackets here are quite varied, from traditional structured cabled fabric to more free-form kimono style jackets. When traditional shapes (kimono for example) or Salish jackets are used, there is always a twist or a fusion with an unrelated technique of lace, texture or colorwork to surprise you. Wow! Lace and kimono shaping? Celtic knotwork and Native American knitting? Andean design on modern unconstructed shaping? Wow, that's really interesting--and beautiful.

The book is divided in to three sections:
1. Simplicity (simple shapes)
2. Contrast (color work)
3. Texture (lace and cabling)

As I mentioned above, there are some very interesting fusions--a Celtic-Salish jacket for one example. The jacket is knit in the style of Northwestern Native American knitting in natural wool colors, but the light pattern on the dark wool is a Celtic knot, not a traditional Salish motif! This is sure to please anyone who likes the comfy jacket-style Salish sweater but wants it to look rather different. I also loved the "Wabi Sabi" kimono jacket, which is knit using panels of shaded yarn--a great use for hand-dyed yarns if you can find one in a similar gauge and certainly adaptable if you are handy at modifying patterns (and with simple shapes, this can be done with a bit of thought.) The Cusco jacket has beautiful textures and uses two rectangles to create a short swing jacket with lapels in a modern unconstructed shape that is pleasing and flattering to many figure shapes. The shapes in this book will inspire you to create ideas of your own--especially those based on flat rectangles. These are very adaptable to other knitting techniques and ideas, even to machine-knit fabrics in some cases.

What I didn't like as much were some of the cabled patterns; I thought they were mundane and even some of the designs seemed too similar to one another. However, you might want more structured garments or more traditional (ie Irish or Aran) knitting, so you'd love these. Plus, the book has designs that would work, in some cases, equally well for men or women. I didn't find any of the cabled designs I wanted to make, but that also may reflect my personal tastes in knitting these days. I'll bet there are plenty of knitters who will totally disagree with me about the cables and find they are just what they've been looking for in designs.

As for me, I want to knit the long Edo coat, a mix of Japanese shapes from a hanten coat with lace panels (wow!), the Wabi Sabi (that's the shaded yarn jacket closed with an ornamental buckle) and the Cusco wrap. I have a feeling that there is a jacket in here for every knitter, and that the jackets may inspire your own variation. Just like Cheryl's book of shawls, I think this book is destined to be a staple on many knitters' bookshelves. Recommended --a really wonderful new knitting book.

Nice patterns, nice looking book. That said, there is one not-quite-fatal flaw (in my view). Most (not all) of the patterns are sized by changing needle size and gauge, as was done in Folk Vests. I don't believe this works out well on either end of the gauge spectrum; either the knitting is too loose or too tight. With the stable of talent available at Interweave Press, I think they could have done true pattern grading for these.

Intermediate knitters can of course, resize any of these patterns using the "correct" gauge, but it's just one extra step that should have been done by the author/editor.

As with any pattern book, you should check it out before you buy it, but I'd say there will be something that will please every knitter in this one.

I have another book by Cheryl Oberle Folk Shawls (Folk Knitting series) and loved her designs. They are practical and beautiful and never go out of style.

So I ordered this book sight unseen and love it. The designs are mostly classic that you can where anywhere, there are a couple of unique designs that would definitely be fun to knit and be a great conversation piece -- in a good way.

Most of the shapes work well for a variety of body types and patterns include sizes for "larger chested" women as well.

While the patterns will give you a chance to use various techniques (cables, lace, 2-color knitting), you don't have to be a master knitter to tackle them. The directions are clear and well laid out and the photography is inspiring.

This is the type of book that you could well imagine making just about every project in the book. There aren't many you can say that about. Normally, if there are 3 or 4 out of 20, I consider that to be a good book!

FYI -- if you are love to make knitted jackets and would like another good source of classic timeless designs, I would also recommend:

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

This is a fantastic little book! The patterns inside address a wide range of skill levels from beginner to advanced. The knitting directions are clearly written. The assembly instructions are concise with simple illustrations to guide the reader. One feature that I especially like is the simple fact that these are not knits designed for a particular yarn (that always end up being far too expensive for my budget!) The author lets the reader know which yarns were used for the look in the book, but then adds little bits of information such as "the two strands held together work up to a chunky weight". Even a beginning knitter like me can adapt my stash to meet the pattern requirements and any doubts I might have are addressed by the yarn substitution guide in the Materials and Techniques section. My only problem with the patterns in this book is that not all of them are sized large enough to fit my bustline. Time to learn how to adjust patterns! I think it important to mention that the overall tone of this book inspires a strong sense of confidence. I know I feel no hesitation in trying new techniques when they come from Cheryl Oberle.

Cheryl Oberle is a renowned knitter and teacher. She is famous for the workshops she gives around the country and especially in Taos, New Mexico. She is also the author of several knitting books. This is one of her best.

There is a great selection of jackets and I think all knitters will be able to find a jacket that they would love to knit for themselves or someone else. The jackets are versatile and practical. They range form fairly easy to intermediate. I don't think that any knitter has to be way experienced to be able to tackle a pattern from this book.

I have already purchased yarn to knit the cover jacket.

I haven't made anything from this book yet, but it's a lovely resource. It has great pictures and seemingly clear instructions. The patterns go beyond jackets and there are several in my future. (As long as I live long enough for all the patterns that are "in my future". ) Very stylish too.

This book is not quite what I expected. There are many useful patterns, apparently well written and easy to follow. However, for my personal use, there are only one or two that I would want to knit. There are several books on knitted jackets that I would turn to first. It would have been helpful to have a sneak preview of the contents.

This book is what I wanted. Alot of times I just want a book that I think may help me decide what to make next. Sometimes for eye candy. This book satisfies both of these reasons.

I was amazed to receive my order on 5/9/11 some 13 days earlier than advised by Amazon and I am very happy with my purchase and the great variety of jumper patterns in this high end publication. It is something I have search for in our stores without any inspiration.

I'm sure I will enjoy the many challenges in knitting a selection of these beautiful jackets.