Rating: 
Summary: Vintage yet modern
Review: As an advanced beginner-intermediate knitter, I found some of these patterns- and their small needle sizes - intimidating at first. You might need a reference book or an experience knitter to guide you through if you're still a beginner-intermediate knitter. But the patterns are gorgeous. And to all the people who complained about the too-modernized patterns, I must point out that we ladies today don't wear the same undergarments that the ladies of yore used to wear. In other words, we don't have 18" waists because we're not wearing girdles and corsets (at least I'm not!)
Rating:
Summary: Actually, maybe a little too modern, but beautiful & useful
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: For small women only
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to part II
Review: Beautiful layout and styling, and some of the designs are gorgeous, but they (as other reviewers point out,) have been seriously de-glammed by attempts to make them looser fitting and more "contempory." Yesterknits.com, the supplier of these patterns, is an amazing resource, and I would love to see a follow-up where the 'vintage' spirit is more closely embraced!! For those looking for the discontinued yarns featured, try ebay. For it's flaws, still a fav. of mine - inspiring if not perfect itself.
Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to part II
Review: Beautiful layout and styling, and some of the designs are gorgeous, but they (as other reviewers point out,) have been seriously de-glammed by attempts to make them looser fitting and more "contempory." Yesterknits.com, the supplier of these patterns, is an amazing resource, and I would love to see a follow-up where the 'vintage' spirit is more closely embraced!! For those looking for the discontinued yarns featured, try ebay. For it's flaws, still a fav. of mine - inspiring if not perfect itself.
Rating: 
Summary: eye candy
Review: I bought this book when it first came out and a year down the line i still haven't made anything out of it. It is beautiful to look at and well presented. The reseach on vintage knitting makes interesting reading. But the sweaters themselves are nothing special. For one they are all knitted with pricey Rowan and Jaeger yarns. I considered knitting the silk ribbed camisole but the yarn used costs over [$$] a ball! I searched for a similar gauge,got bored, put the book back in the bookcase and forgot about it. What makes you salivate at first is the fact that the designs are knitted up in pretty colours and worn by young atractive models in modern settings. Beyond the 'cuteness' factor, there's not much substance. I gave up buying 'eye candy' knitting books after this one. My advice to knitters in search of something trendy and challenging is: Invest in a good reference book with all the techniques (like Vogue ultimate knitting book)...keep an eye out for the more forward looking knitting magazines like Interweave knits or Vogue knitting which regularly will have 1 or 2 'must have' sweater have and look on the internet at the great knitting sites like knitty.com or Lana Grossa. You will save yourself both money and disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: can't wait to cast on!
Review: I just loved most of the designs in this book - they take their inspiration from the past, but look very up to date because they're such classics. I'll have to do some resizing because I definitely wear a bigger size than they include in the patterns. But the pictures are just luscious, with wonderful color combinations. I had read about the missing color charts, but since I'm not big on color work I'm not too bothered. I'll definitely be making a few of the sweaters in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage inspired, but not vintage-looking
Review: I know these designs are vintage inspired because I have a collection of some World War II era knitting books. Many of the designs in this book look like my vintage models. And, most of the vintage patterns are for smaller women (even the patterns for mature women top out at around 40".) And that's the fault with this book, too. The patterns only go up to 38". Some of the designs are very pretty--a ribbed sweater like a 20's design, for example. But the colors used are harsh and unsubtle. The colorways in the Fairisles left me cold. Unless you get a chance to leaf through this book, and decide you adore the designs (you may well love them) then I'd pass on this knitting book.
Rating:
Summary: a narrow (& I do mean narrow) audience; a discontinued yarn
Review: 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.
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