Customer Reviews

Vintage Knits: 30 Exquisite Vintage-Inspired Patterns for Cardigans, Twin Sets, Crewnecks and More

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As I sit here typing, I'm wearing the second sweater I've knit from this book's selections, and I couldn't be much happier with the results.

Yes, the book's directions seem scanty and the sizes don't go up past a 38-in. bust; and, like other reviewers, I wish I didn't have to do so much work to decode the color charts. But just try working from a REAL vintage pattern from the 30s and 40s some time. Believe me, this book is much easier to use: the instructions are clear and stripped down to knitter's terminology basics, and the layout is uncluttered and easy to read.

As a realtively new knitter, I've needed a knitting reference book on hand occasionally while working with Vintage Knits, but the better part of the projects here are for intermediate-skilled knitters and are pretty easy and satisfying to complete. As far as yarns go (which for these projects range from fingering- to DK-weight and no heavier), there are cheaper substitutes out there for the recommended brands -- all that's really important is staying in gauge. If you were knitting from actual vintage patterns you'd end up searching for substitutes anyhow.

So here's my one complaint: while I dig the garment choices, color combos and presentation, and I think the very idea of publishing a book of adapted vintage projects is fantastic, the author's gone too far in "modernizing" the original designs. The shaping and sizing are too far from vintage, not nearly as close-fitting as real vintage sweaters and designed with slightly dropped shoulder seams (as opposed to the high-armscye, lightly shoulder-padded originals), making them more slouchy and casual than the tailored, high-Hollywood glamour-look of real vintage. (One clue: as cute as the contemporary models are, the b&w models look even better!)

Most knitters won't care, but frankly why bother to even look for vintage inspiration if the sweater ends up looking "modern"? You'll find pretty, casual-styled, vintage-inspired sweaters on the rack at Talbott's (!). Besides, it seems to me that the point of knitting is to have something unique as well as handmade. It's as though the publisher felt the need to over-compensate for the mistaken idea that "vintage" equals "dowdy" by taking many of the distinctive vintage features out of these sweaters, and in the process actually made them *more* dowdy and less sexy.

That said, I still strongly recommend this one. It's inspirational eye-candy and maybe it'll encourage knitters to go off in search of other resources for vintage knitting. Call me a tramp, but I'll take a vintage "sweater girl" sweater over anything modern any day.

I like this book and a few of the patterns...but please be aware that the sizes are quite small and allow for little ease in the modern style. I have adapted 2 of them for a similar size and greater ease and that has worked well.

Two major quibbles...one design called for beading but did not specify what type of beads. I spent two hours in a bead store with bead professionals who said the type of beads in the picture aren't made to fit that style of yarn. Also, there could have been more instruction on beaded knitting...this isn't something most knitters have a lot of experience with.

Second, although this inevitably happens with every pattern book, I was dismayed to find that almost every pattern uses Rowan's Botany, a discontinued yarn. You expect that when you get a book years after publishing but not so soon after release. As it is, the reader will probably never be able to duplicate the shading in the pictured designs as the yarn no longer exists.

To end on a positive note, I do find the patterns well written overall with nice designer touches.

Be warned that the patterns in this book are sized for 32", 34" and 36" chest measuremenets. Most of the patterns are very close fitting, so there's not much ease to work with if you're a bigger size. If you're comfortable resizing patterns, then I would recommend this book because the patterns are fabulous and very much the style of what young adult women are wearing. But if you just want to follow the printed pattern, you're going to have to make a pretty small sweater.

Also, nearly all the patterns call for Rowan yarn, which is quite expensive. Once again, if you're comfortable with yarn substitution or have plenty of money to spend on knitting, this will be fine. But the price of the recommended yarn might be discouraging to some people.

I just received my copy of this and I am in love. There are at least 10 patterns in here I must make for myself. If you love vintage or classic knit styles, this book is a must have. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions seem to be clearly written. This is also a great book for younger knitters, the patterns are classic, but very stylish and fun. There are several cute lacy tops and camisoles, and a great basic ribbed cardie. I can't wait to get started knitting one of these! I wish there were more books out there like this one.

I love this book, the patterns are gorgeous and there are at least three or four things I want plan to knit. However try and get hold of the UK edition, not the US one. The US edition does not have any legends for the many fair isle charts, so you need to decypher them from the photography which is generally not detailed enough. The UK edition has the correct charts with legends and is also available on Amazon.com.

I'm starting to hear people say how tired they are of scarves and ponchos and they'd like to move on to something new. Next, they say how expensive it is- both $ and time-wise to buy yarn for a sweater if they're only going to want to wear it for a couple of years and then it will be out of style. I want to pull my hair out! I keep telling people, well then don't choose a pattern for a trendy style. If you're going to spend the $ on sweater yarn and put all that work into it, make it a CLASSIC. Make it something you will wear for years like a charming cardigan or a fair isle- never goes out of style. That's where this book comes in. Lovely designs that stand the test of time. You won't want to bury any of these in a drawer in a couple of years. Yes, the sizing is on the smaller size, so if you are larger than a size 8-10, you may have trouble with even the largest pattern sizes. That is a drawback to this one, but I still love it and it's just a gorgeous book. A huge improvement on the dumpy, trendy, otherwise unwearable patterns that all the yarn companies are putting out.

While these patterns are beautiful, there are at least two major problems with the directions. Every sweater in multiple colors has a color key that does NOT have the symbols coded to match the pattern grid. Unless you want to compare the color photos with the grid and color it in yourself (risking errors), you might as well skip at least five of these projects. The next project I selected said "Change to moss st and continue..." There is no description in the pattern or the book of the moss stitch. These are the obvious problems at first read -- I fear starting a project for those errors that may be less obvious. The color key problem was identified by a reviewer on September 4, 2002 at publishers website, along with a plea for assistance. It appears no one has responded. Again, the patterns are absolutely lovely, just poorly written.

Yes, it is true that the largest sized pattern is a 36" bust BUT, this book is truly worth all the hassle it would take to figure out how to resize the patterns to fit your measurments.

If you read the book it does explain this flaw; in the 40's and 50's "the emphasis in fashion was on a tiny waist. It was not unusual for women to have a wasit of 21 inches or smaller."

It further explains the sizing saying, "The sizes for the garments in this book are mainly small, medium and large, i.e. 32in, 34in, and 36in chest measurement. As the inspiration for these designs originates from 1940's and 1950's knitting patterns, many of the garments are intentionally quite close fitting."

These are just absolutely beautiful projects and like I said earlier worth the extra time you may have to take. I would recommend this book to everyone who has an eye for fashion. I myself have a 38" bust size but I am going to learn how to resize these patterns so that I can make the garments fit me.

My only problem with this book is that it's not enough. I adore these patterns, they're great updates of classic styles yet still retain their historical airs.

Yes, a large just isn't' but, most are not so complicated that resizing is difficult. An appendix of how to resize would be helpful; most vintage patterns have such a paragraph. I don't feel that this small flaw detracts from the overall book.

There are a wide variety of styles and the colour scheme makes this a true collection with many items sharing co-ordinating accents.

Don't judge this book by it's cover however, the other patterns are much nicer. The photography is modern yet clear and the pattern writing is easy to follow. I especially like the pairing of patterns with their vintage inspirations.

I think this book is great. The designs are really pretty and you can easily alter measurements to fit larger chest, waist, and shoulder sizes, substitute colors for softer "vintage" looks, etc. However, I would agree the book may not please a vintage purist, but it is not advertised as being reproductions, but rather, "inspired". It's good if you like a vintage feel, but without the odd look that wearing actual vintage pieces can result in. This book is NOT for costumers, that's for sure! The designs to run young in presentation, but as mentioned can be easily done in different colorways to accomodate a more subtle expression.