Runway Knits: 30 Fashion-Forward Designs (Hardcover)

by Berta Karapetyan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For more than two decades, New York City fashion maven Berta Karapetyan has been creating gorgeous high-end knit-wear, designing awe-inspiring sweaters, and working as a technical knitwear developer for the likes or more than two decades, New York City fashion maven Berta Karapetyan has been creating gorgeous high-end knit-wear, designing awe-inspiring sweaters, and working as a technical knitwear developer for the likes of Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein, as well as Banana Republic and Gap. Now, after founding the highly successful and inventive yarn company Karabella Yarns, Berta focuses her keen designer’s eye on the sophisticated knitting patterns revealed here in Runway Knits.

From ruffled sweaters to fur-trimmed scarves and serious jackets, there’s something for everyone in this stunning collection of thirty designs. The book is divided into four sections: spirited, featuring bold and adventurous outfits that demand attention; playful, which includes lively and eye-catching items of all kinds; demure, designs for the modest girls or those who just like to play coy; and driven, outfits for career-minded women.

Packed with plenty of lavish color photographs as well as clear techniques and construction methods for creating thirty must-have designs, Runway Knits is sure to inspire any level of knitter—novice, intermediate, or expert.

From ruffled sweaters to fur-trimmed scarves and serious jackets, there’s something for everyone in this stunning collection of thirty designs. The book is divided into four sections: spirited, featuring bold and adventurous outfits that demand attention; playful, which includes lively and eye-catching items of all kinds; demure, designs for the modest girls or those who just like to play coy; and driven, outfits for career-minded women.

Packed with plenty of lavish color photographs as well as clear techniques and construction methods for creating thirty must-have designs, Runway Knits is sure to inspire any level of knitter—novice, intermediate, or expert.

About the Author
Berta Karapetyan founded The Karabella Company in 1993. It quickly became a coveted resource among New York’s top designers for developing knit collections. Clientele includes Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Banana Republic, and Gap. Berta later launched Karabella Yarns in New York City, a wholesale yarn division that has rapidly become one of the most innovative yarn companies today.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft (April 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307339688
• ISBN-13: 978-0307339683
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,155 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but beware of errors, June 22, 2007

By	Berta Thomas "knitting fiend" (Boise, ID USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Photography is stunning, most of the designs gorgeous, with a few looking dated to my taste.I was very exited about this book when I bought it, and immideatly started to knit the Seafoam top for my daughter.I am an expiriensed knitter, and I found author's instruction unclear and misleading -she tells you to slip the first stitch while working the edges of V-neck shaping. Then, when you are picking up stitches for the ruffle around the neck edge, you are to knit into front and back of the edge stitches. The total number of stitches to be picked up not given, and it would not be crucial if she would tell you that to achieve nessary ruffle fullness you need to pick up not from the slipped stitches(half number of rows worked), but from every row.I wasted an entire evening figuring this out. This is the first and last of Berta Karapetian designs I am going to knit.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantabulous Knitting Book!, June 30, 2007

By	E. Cooper "eater of books" (transient, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Berta Karapetyan has written a fabulous book. It is not a book for the beginning knitter, especially considering there is little to no technique or how-to section. That being said, advanced knitters with a penchant for knitting beautiful garments should definitely try out this book. There is an excellent selection of shrugs and cardigans (and I'm not a shrug kind of girl) and some elegant, beautiful scarves, some with matching hats. The construction of the garments is elegant and innovative as well. The directions are well-written and she includes a yarn substitution guide for those with different yarn taste or a limited budget. I recommend this book for all knitters who want to create lovely garments.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I really like this book, April 22, 2007

By	S. Orr "gsd" (CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

written by Berta Karapetyan, She grew up in Moscow Russia and has been knitting since she was 12. Her family owns the Karabella yarn co. If you have ever knit with Karabella you know what wonderful yarn this is. All the designs in the book use Karabella yarns, maybe that's why they look so wonderful. Or maybe it's the great photography. Or maybe its the beautiful models. Whatever it is this is a very pretty book. One of thoes books that you just have to bring home with you so you can look at it over and over again.
The book has 30 designs ranging in skill level from fairly easy to more advanced. If you are a beginner you will need a reference book becuse there are no basic knitting tips in this book. which I love because I don't need that information and I'd rather they use the pages for more patterns. Each pattern has several pages of information. so, I'm guessing at this point that her instructions are thorough. I won't know for sure untill I try one, but at first glance they look good.
My favorites, the ones I will probably knit first are: The leaf Panelled sweater. ( pg 72)I LOVE this. It's a tank that has a leaf stitch running up the front and along the edges. Love it. I also really like the Cabled Cardigan ( pg 87) very pretty. Other favorites Seashell shrug pg 47, v-neck from page 82, silky turtleneck, the soldier sweater is unusual but I think I like it and the A line jacket is a maybe not loving the enourmous buttons.
Only complaint I have is that there are not alot of size variations. Most patterns have 3 so if you don't fit in thoes sizes you will need to do some alterations.