Customer Reviews

Sculptured Knits

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is an absolutely beautiful book, with sweater designs for everyone. Out of 40 total designs, Moss has created a handful for the home (lovely afghans and pillows), numerous attractive sweaters for women, a bunch of charming sweaters for kids, and even a few sweaters for men. Mainly Rowan or Classic Elite are used -- cottons, silks, blends, and wools, with Colinette yarns being used as well. The designs for the sweaters -- inspired by art, film and architecture of the past decades -- are just phenomenal. They are the most creative I've seen this year, and I'm just amazed at how many tastes/moods Moss manages to cover. There is something for everyone here, from conservative and stylish looks for the office to innovative sweaters for the young or young-at-heart, to fashionable evening or weekend wear. The men's sweaters are stylish and masculine and include a fisherman sweater that looks like a combination of gansey and aran styles -- it's so nice I'm going to knit it for myself! Beautifully photographed. Some new techniques as well, and Moss provides drawings to illustrate how to perform the new stitches or new construction. There is a reversible sweater (yeah! I've been wanting to learn this technique) and a sweater jacket with pleated vents in the back, like a very traditional English walking jacket, made in a gorgeous Jean Moss tweed yarn. The instructions for knitting are thorough, with diagrams that include measurements (in inches, not centimeters, for the US audience) so you can easily follow along while knitting and blocking. This is the best knitting book published in this year, topping the very nice A Close-Knit Family. If you've seen previews of the book (the Fitzgerald sweater is in Fall 1999 Knitter's magazine and someone sent me a brochure on the book), you'll be glad to know that the book far outclasses the previews. Do not miss adding this book to your knitting library!

Whilst I do not usually respond to reviews, I would like to clarify a few things about my work. My approach to knitwear design is a combination of my love of the craft, a lifelong interest in costume design and a passion for creating beautiful things. My aims in constructing a collection of my designs for publication are not driven by economics (I could find a better paid job in Woolworths), but by my wish to compile a beautiful book of designs, underpinned by a common theme. In Sculptured Knits my theme was the decorative arts of the twentieth century. With such massive scope I don't pretend to have covered anything but a fraction of it, but it does serve as a springboard and adds another dimension to the book for the intelligent reader who is interested in learning more about the design process.

I always try to be thoroughly professional in my work and know that the accusation of producing a "rushed job" is totally unjustified. Sculptured Knits represents a year's work and I feel is excellent value for money, having no less than 48 unique designs in one book. You will find no half measures here - you will either like an individual design or you won't, but what I hope you will find are patterns which collectively are fun and inspiring, and individually, enough interesting pieces that you will want to knit to justify buying the book. Each design is executed in three sizes with much thought given to shape, texture and detail, the latter, in my opinion, being so important in producing a coherent design and a trademark in all my sweaters.

I realise that I can't please all of the people all of the time, but I do feel that some people will never be pleased. The craft of knitting is not served by spiteful reviews . I have no problem with constructive feedback - it's inspiring to hear suggestions on how to make ever more exciting and innovative knitwear books. The learning process is ongoing and criticism invaluable in pushing the boundaries. I always give my best to a project as it is not in my nature to do things by halves. I am very proud of Sculptured Knits and challenge the "forget it" and "wet kiss" amateur reviewers to be more specific in their criticisms instead of writing glib, negative two liners which are useless to the genuine knitting public. For knitters who might like a fuller and informed review, please refer to the Spring issues of Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits or consult my website.

Jean Moss

As a knitwear designer, I am quite familiar with the work of Jean Moss and many others. I found Sculptured Knits to be inspirational, informative and cutting edge. Ms. Moss approaches her designs as a dressmaker would. You can be certain of excellent fit, fashion and diversity of design. I recommend this book heartily. I am delighted with Jean Moss' use of the 20th century decorative arts movement as a touchstone for her latest designs. The instructions are clear and concise. Sculptured Knits is a treasure to have in any knitters library.

This is an interesting book with a focus on texture and tailoring not colour, which is in keeping with the title. I have found it especially interesting in that several of the patterns were technically quite innovative, which is something that I rarely find in most commercial knitting books. It is rare to have a pattern which is novel for its knitting technique rather than its colour use. In particular, there is a pattern to produce a fully reversible jacket that is differently coloured on each side.

This is not a flawless book, I don't like all the patterns but the majority are more than good enough to repay my investment in the book. The instructions are clear, concise and blessedly error free and it is nice to have a new knitting book that is not just another book of full of intarsia patterns.

I enjoyed this book greatly. I am a brand new knitter so some of the designs are over my head (not for long, I hope) but I intend to try some as soon as I am comfortable with the craft. The bolero on the cover is my favorite. I also liked the Rennaisance coat and the portobello tunic. I do think that the little jumper would have been better with two different lengths like the Garbo outfit. After all, not everyone can or will wear mini skirts. The instructions are clear, easy to read and complete. The childrens clothes are adorable as are the throws and pillows. In all, good job to Jean Moss, it's a beautiful, well designed book with plenty of imaginative designs. (With shaping, thank heaven. I hate potato sack sweaters) Naturally, not all the designs were my cup of tea but everyone's taste is different so what else can be expected. The point is, I liked most of them and I'm happy knitting so that's all that matters.

Every knitting designer focuses on different techniques and style. Sasha Kagan and Kaffe Fassett are known for color work, Alice Starmore for Aran and Fairisle inspired design with an Scottish flair. Jean Moss' book is very interesting, in that it concentrates on texture and form, rather than color.

It is unusual to find knitting books with tailored, sculpted patterns. So this book stands out in that it has patterns that are a departure from the huge, shapeless bulkies of today's haute couture, or the classic jumpers that are featured in many other books. If you love shape and texture in knitting, you will not be disappointed.

The best thing about this book is the use of Colinette yarns in some of the designs. These designer yarns are gorgeous, handpainted, textured, and matched for working together. It isn't always easy to visualize how to use them, and it's wonderful to have some patterns to show them at their best.

I'm not yet a good enough knitter to make most of these, but it's waaay more inspiring than any other pattern book I've seen. Usually I'm lucky if a book has two patterns that I can imagine wearing more than once; this one I keep paging through and sticking new notes to.

I count 17 patterns for women, 8 for men/teenage boys, 1 unisex jacket, 9 for kids, and 11 for the home (including shawls). The flap says there are 48 patterns total, but I can't figure out what that last one is. Of these, there are 15 patterns that I'd very much like to try and only 4 garments that I hope never to see on anyone, anywhere. There are 17 that I'm pretty sure I _could_ make given my current skill level (I've knitted one scarf and 1-1/2 sweaters, all quite plain); almost none of these happen to be the ones I _want_ to make, so I have a strong incentive to learn to do stuff other than knitting and purling.

Most of the patterns are shown in more than one color, which is helpful if you tend to immediately dismiss a pattern that's in a color you dislike--or to get excited about one that's in your favorite color, whether it would look good on you or not. I had to stick Post-its over the heads of some of the models, but the photographs in general are lovely. XRX makes beautiful books.

I'm very glad I bought this book but have docked it a star because (a) I wish there were some kind of difficulty ratings on the patterns, and (b) the range of sizes is small and vague. I have a feeling the size L will fit snugly on me (I wear a US 14-16), and there's no XL.

Note that there are alternate photos of a few pieces (Fortuny, Lalique, Tiffany, and Klimt) on Jean Moss's web site, jeanmoss.com, where you can order a kit for any project from the book. There _are_ difficulty ratings for some of the projects there: everything I assessed as "difficult" is rated "average" or medium." The ones I considered "doable" are marked "easy."

I am an experienced knitter but haven't done anything in the past years - on one hand because I am too busy - on the other hand because I was searching for something challenging that also looked nice when finished. Well, I search no more. This book gives me all that I need: challenge, beautiful designs and a pretty result that I can wear, give away or have in my home and enjoy. You will not find the usual bulky sweater in this book and the designs are thought through and very artful. I am sure, I will keep knitting things from this book for the next few months and I will keep this book as a very special knitting design book. I have not seen such designs anywhere else yet and would love to see a sequence of sculptured knits soon.

My copy of Sculptured Knits arrived yesterday. It is indeed beautiful, innovative,classic and timeless. I have Jean Moss's other three books and admire her vision. My needles are already "clicking" with the Gaia design. I am using beautiful New Zealand Treliske merino wool.

XRX have set a new standard in knitting book publishing.

Thank you for this wonderful book Jean and please keep publishing.

Best Wishes Stephanie Coote

Despite reading some prior negative reviews, I decided to give this book a try. The book was not up to par with my expectations on two major points:
(1) The title is misleading. Judging from the word "sculptured" and the garment on the cover, I assumed that the emphasis of the book is going to be on fitted patterns (i.e. "sculptured" to follow body lines, like a sculptor "sculpts" a body). Now, this is only my opinion, but I feel that "Textured knits" would probably more accurately reflect the patterns that follow. Except for the lone pattern featured on the cover, there is no spectacular body shaping techniques employed in the garments featured. In that sense, I completely concur with both power-surg's review and Eliza's.
(2) Even if one ignores the misleading title and chooses to approach the book with an open mind, the patterns featured are subpar in quality and design. The stitches and styles are quite dull and passe. Definitely nothing groundbreaking here. You are better off picking up any Rowan or Debbie Bliss book instead.
The bottom line? Don't waste your money on this one.