Customer Reviews

Vintage Knits: Thirty Knitting Designs from Rowan for Men and Women

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

 

 

I pre-ordered this book based on the positive editorial reviews, and I was not disappointed! The book itself is beautiful eye-candy - the photography inspired me immediately. The patterns are very well presented and seemed at first reading to be easy to follow. The book includes projects for a range of knitting levels, from a long sweater coat in chunky yarn on size 10 needles, to a fair isle sweater done on size 3s. The suggested yarns come from the Rowan collection, but a description of each yarn (gauge, content, length, etc.) is given in the back of the book, which makes substituting ever so much easier. All the patterns in this book are tailored (i.e. close fitting) but they do include sizing from XS (32" bust) to XL (40" bust). I am an intermediate knitter, and am planning to knit several projects from this book ASAP, and will probably make more as my knitting skills increase. All in all, a lovely book.

Since I loved the "Vintage Style" pattern collection enough to commit right away to three different projects, I couldn't resist purchasing this new hardcover edition. It has at least one important correction, because it includes the yarn color key to the chart for the Kaffe Fassett vest that was inadvertently omitted from the softcover edition. This is not a book for brand-new knitters, because the patterns use light- to medium-weight yarns, include shaping, and may utilize "advanced" techniques like intarsia. However, the finished garments are well worth the effort! Many of the patterns can be previewed on the web sites of Rowan yarn retailers that carry the "Vintage Style" pattern collection.

I love all the beautiful patterns in this book. They are all very unique and different from any other knitting patterns I have ever seen. My only problem with this book is that while most of the directions seem correct, you will get to the end of knitting a piece and realize that part of the directions were omitted and the piece you knit does not match the piece in the book. I have been knitting for several years and have made two sweaters from this book so far and each one I was in for a horrible surprise when I finished. The problems are easily fixable for the frequent knitter but it is very frustrating to have to rip out half of your work to fix the problem.

Unfortunately, this is NOT a new book from Rowan. It was first published last winter (2004) in the company's usual paperback format as "Vintage Style." It is still a lovely book with several attractive designs to knit, but it's the exact same book most Rowan fans already bought last year. I am extremely disappointed in Rowan for misleading its customers with this repackaging effort.

Showcasing the contributions of eight expert knitters, "Vintage Knits: 30 Knitting Designs from Rowan for Women and Men" offers aspiring needlecrafters with a series of beautifully illustrated knitting projects for jackets, sweaters and wraps. Complete with charts and diagrams, each project is thoroughly 'user friendly', offering step-by-step instructions that will enable even the novice beginner to produce quality garment. These classic designs draw their inspiration from the fashions of the 1940s through the 1960s and cover garments for both men and women, adapted for modern physiques and life-styles. An outstanding, 138-page compilation of knitting projects, "Vintage Knits" is wholeheartedly recommended for personal and community library needlecraft instructional reference collections.

I love the patterns in this book, but they run too tight through the chest for most of my family. The instructions are clear, well written. Nice, but I wouldn't recommend the patterns for anyone who is above a B cup. They pull at the armholes and they simply don't go large enough.

I was surprised and disappointed to find that instructions for all the women's sweaters in this book top out at what is labeled an XL but which fits only a 40" bust, comparable to a size 14 dress or a medium t-shirt, and which is a measurement I haven't been able to claim since the eighth grade. I don't buy the usual excuse, that people were smaller in the past, for tiny-sizing vintage patterns: my grandmother, born in 1889, and my mother, born in 1923, were both 5'11" with figures proportionate to that height, just like me born in 1951. So unless you are a small woman or are knitting for a kid, this is not the book for you.

If you are into vintage knitted clothing you'll absolutely love this book! I've found it to be full of patterns I want to make. It isn't often that I get a book, open it up, and want everything. Not just sort of want, urn for. They are BEAUTIFUL!

For my accounts so far there are only a couple of pit-falls to this book. 1. Some of the patterns are VERY complicated and not easy to understand. Trial and error seems to be the only way to find out if you are doing it correctly. 2. Even checking the gauge it seems like some of the patterns might be slightly off on how much yarn (as in length) is needed (especially if you buy a kit of yarn for a pattern from say knitpicks). Even with the downfalls, the book is wonderful for advanced knitters.

This book is lovely to look at. I haven't knitted up anything yet so I cannot comment on how well written are the pattern. But as far as I can see, the book is a good keep if you are a Rowan-style fashion fan. It is nice even just to look at it without knitting anything (just yet). With all the big designer names, it can't be wrong. One more good thing about this pattern book is that, the FO are shown by real modern time models. It might come to a surprise to you, but there are many pattern books out there just put the original picture from the original pattern. Very difficult to imagine how it is like on real modern time body.

I am a fan of Kaffe Fassett's designs for knitting, needlepoint, and knitted clothing offered by Peruvian Connection. I saw a beautiful knitted long coat with multicolor leaves in the design that had appeared in a vintage Rowan booklet designed by Kaffe Fassett. The coat is featured in this book but the pattern is not offered! I specifically wanted that pattern, because I would love to make that coat. I have looked for the original booklet on Amazon, ebay, etc. and that one issue is not available. So the beautiful pictures are a tease and only a few basic designs are offered. The patterns offered are nice, but I was very disappointed that the one I loved most was not available. This is more of a book about Rowan and their history than a pattern book, but it is inspirational.