Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm [Paperback]

Martin Storey (Author), Wendy Baker (Author), John Heseltine (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2007

It's a fact of life: men wear sweaters. And hats. And vests. So why do so few knitting books offer patterns for men's clothing? Finally, Rowan, the name that knitters trust, has expertly gathered dozens of easy-to-follow patterns that are perfect for stylish men of all shapes and sizes. Page after page of eye-catching designs detail fun, fashionable and, of course, masculine sweaters, vests, hats and much more that will keep men toasty no matter what the weather. "Knitting for Him" is the perfect pattern collection for male knitters and the women who love to knit for them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Storey is a designer for Rowan and co-author of Classic Knits for Real Women. Wendy Baker is the senior knitwear designer at the London retail house Hobbs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561589926
• ISBN-13: 978-1561589920
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice enough; expensive projects, December 14, 2007

By 

GardenGuy42 "Man Who Knits" (FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm (Paperback)

As a man who knits (and has for 35 years) I am always interested in new patterns that I can make for myself or make for loved ones. This is a nicely laid out book and I enjoy reading it again and again, although the artsy, sparse, "on location" shots of many of the projects don't really allow for any clear, full views of the completed item, but rather partial sections which I found annoying and puzzling.

I have ordered the Scottish Tweed for the Argyll V-Neck and it was very expensive (even after several hours of online searching for the "best" price) and 2 of the colors were out of stock at every online source I tried. I finally found an online shop that claimed to have them in stock and I placed an order; they backordered twice and I now have 2 of the 3 colors in the mail and am looking forward to knitting this beautiful vest when and if I get the 3rd color. I hope it turns out well after laying out that huge amount of money for the wool.

What I am not so happy with are these issues: 1. all projects are piecework and must be sewn together -- no knitting in the round, which I sometimes prefer, especially with socks and caps. 2. The recommended yarns and colors are hard to come by where I live in the US, in my experience, and very expensive, especially since the projects require large amounts of wool since they are knit on small needles and I'm a big, tall guy. I'm going to try ordering for the next project straight from the UK. I don't like to have to search and search for a suitable substitute and wonder how the finished project will change and if it will look OK if I do have to substitute. 3. Almost everything is knit on small needles and with DK or Aran weight yarn. I like some things in this weight but I also like working with worsted weight and bulky wools. Nothing much for that. 4. I'm not tall and thin but rather tall and big so most of the projects in this book, although beautiful, were not designed with me in mind. My chest is 49", which puts me over the largest given size on every pattern. Take heed if you want to knit for bigger men. The slim-cut sweater designs just won't look right or feel good for most guys who aren't thin and lanky.

Having said all that, the stitch patterns are subtle and handsome, the color choices are great, the finishing techniques are lovely and well-done and most of the projects are well-written and carefully designed. Check out the projects before you buy and make sure they will fit and look good on your intended recipient and that you have a source for Rowan yarns or be prepared to substitute and probably get very different results.

I also appreciated that there was a bare minimum of the usual cliched "guys only like dull colors and plain patterns" offensively stereotypical sexist fluff that pollutes so many books written for women who don't "get" their men and can't figure out what to knit for them. My own knitting community (MenWhoKnit.com) is full of hundreds of male knitters, both gay and straight, who knit a wide variety of projects in an amazing array of colors for a plethora of people and that old Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus sterotype is just noxious nonsense that is not based in any reality I've experienced. This book just presents beautiful projects for men that should be workable by most knitters.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cover your man head to toe with knitting, October 2, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm (Paperback)

When Martin Storey and Wendy Baker were approached to design a book of men's patterns for Rowan, they "realized that most men prefer garments that are comfortable, and prefer colors that are not too `gaudy'." Yet the knitters making these sweaters want a project full of interesting stitches rather than miles of plain stockinette stitch in brown.

Storey and Baker found the middle ground in their new book Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm - garments knitters are happy to undertake and the man in your life will be happy to wear. This volume contains have many of the "standard" garments knit for men: the argyle cardigan, the fisherman's guernsey, the tennis sweater and the classic ribbed cardigan. But this isn't Dick van Dyke's argyle sweater - the silhouette is elongated and relaxed, featuring a single panel of argyle on each side of the front and a single diamond on each sleeve. Edgings are in moss stitch and, rather than the standard deep v-neck, the sweater buttons all the way up and has a small, stand-up collar.

Storey's attention to detail is most clearly illustrated in the "Plain Guernsey." At first glance, this appears to be a very basic stockinette sweater; however, on closer inspection the interesting construction elements become clear. The front and back are basic squares with a garter stitch edging on three sides. Shaping is provided for the armhole and neck by using traditional gussets and sleeves have ribbing at top and bottom. Knit in a luxurious blend of cashmere and wool, the result is a garment that is fun to knit and a pleasure to wear.

All the sweaters in Knitting for Him are designed to fit chest sizes 40" to 48" (102 - 122 cm) and there are projects here for ever skill level. Patterns are also included for hats, scarves, mitts and socks, ensuring the man in your life is covered head-to-toe in hand-knitting.

Armchair Interviews says: Garments your man will want to wear.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, September 27, 2007

By 

JC (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting for Him: 27 Classic Projects to Keep Him Warm (Paperback)

I'm tiring of the many knitting books that continue to offer yet another trendy felted bag, leg warmers, capelet (*who* wears those anyway?), poncho (personally, I was happy never to see these again after 1976), iPod cover (really, does your iPod need a knitted garment?). You get the idea. This book offers beautiful, classical sweaters. Practical, elegant. Ten years from now they will continue to impress and you won't scratch your head pondering, "What was I thinking?"