Customer Reviews

Saturday Sweaters: Easy to Knit, Easy to Wear

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

 

 

I just got my copy in the mail and am excited about making just about all of the sweaters in it. They are very basic and not trendy at all, yet they look very much like what I'd buy in any department store today. The patterns look very simple to make and the instructions tell you what weight of yarn to buy if you don't want to use what the pattern calls for. I would imagine that the designs will be in style for many years and I'm glad to have this in my library.

I'm so disappointed by this book. No imagination!!! Every single sweater has a round neckline whether for the pullovers or for the two plain cardigans. Not a single v-neck, shawl collar, or square neckline at all. The shapes of every single sweater appears to be the same - square and boxy. All have the same plain, straight sleeve. The differences are in the yarn and nearly half are a rib stitch. The others are basic stockinette. If I could be so bold... please save your money and go to an on-line free pattern website for much cuter and infinitely more creative designs with instructions that are equally as clear. I give two stars because the basic shape is ok despite the fact that it is used throughout the book.

I didn't plan on reviewing another book, but when I saw this book I knew I had to purchase this one. This is one book that any knitter will use over and over again regardless of his/her knitting level. Don't hesitate to purchase this one!

The author accomplishes exactly what she claims - classic patterns that are easy to knit, are classic in style, and something you would use over and over again, especially when you need a sweater in a particular color.

Just about everything in the book is done just right - lucid instructions, close-up details of neck and sleeves. Also the sweaters are well tailored. She does not neglect the dressmaking details on the sleeve or necklines; they are not only nicely done, but she includes suggestions to ensure the necklines lie smoothly. I have seen patterns by well-known designers where those details are sloppy. If you are an advanced knitter and prefer adjustments for set in sleeves instead of the drop-sleeves, do short-row shoulder sloping, or make shorter sleeves for summer tops, these patterns can easily be adjusted. The designs also allow for easy substitution on of other favorites yarns. I confess to a personal bias that stitch charts should always be included in sweater patterns but for this collection, it really isn't needed.

I realized that I need a sweater in a wine color to go with several of my skirts and could not find one in the store. I purchased an alpaca worsted weight yarn, and I can quickly make one of those sweaters to round out my wardrobe. My problem is deciding which one to choose.

I hope that this writer will make the time to publish more of her designs. This is one classic book worth owning by knitters of any level!

The author has indeed achieved her goal of "easy to knit, easy to wear" as stated in this book's subtitle. Her idea for these sweaters would be ones that could be worked somewhat mindlessly in times of stress, and don't we all have periods like that, when we don't want to be doing a complicated fair isle, lace or cable pattern or a close-fitting sweater with equally close attention needed for body shaping.
But even though these sweaters are simple, they are all attractive and ones that I would wear. This is somewhat unusual, generally there are always a few designs in a collection that scream who could/would wear this! Also the author has a knack for making good yarn choices for each of the stitch patterns. For example, hand-painted and variegated yarns are done in some variation of garter rib, or in one case, a basket weave which helps to counter the pooling or stacking of colors. In contrast, a couple tweed yarns are done just in plain stockinette, the better to see the beautiful nubs.
The photography as usual with Martingale books is high quality and excellent, with some close-ups of stitch patterns, that make you want to get out your knitting needles and search your stash for a sweater candidate.
I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of the highest rating because all the sleeves styles are simple drop shoulder, which makes them not look as fashionable as they could be. But this is a minor point, given the ease of adapting this to one's own favorite armhole shaping, and the overall good taste that these sweaters show.

One of the best books for basic women's sweater patterns ever. I've made three of the patterns thus far and found the sizing is true, the instructions accurate and easy to understand. I've been knitting for over 40 yrs and I learned some good, new techniques. I wish Ms. Marquart would publish a pattern book for men and/or children also.

I love this book! As a fairly new knitter, I like the simple designs. However, I'm making my first project from this book, and found what I believe is a mistake. In the garter stitch side-to-side solid jacket, when dividing each side for front and back, it says to place 4 sts on a holder, then place the rest on another holder. It never does say what to do with those 4 stitches. If anyone knows, please do tell!! (BTW, I did check extensively on the pattern corrections page of the publisher, to no avail.)

The instructions for the green sweater on the cover are WRONG! Row 1 says knit the whole row - it should say purl. My 80-year-old mother couldn't figure out why her sweater didn't look like the picture. Guess not if she knit a row that should have been purled. The pattern is only two simple rows. If the author can't get such a simple sweater right, I shudder to think about more complicated patterns. Sheesh!

I have yet to knit anything from this book of sweaters, but like to have many to choose from, when deciding what to knit next. It is a good book to have in the 'library' of the knitter.