Rating: 
Summary: Some of the best explanations of knitting techniques
Review: Clearly explained, clearly depicted knitting techniques and a helpful method for learning them make this book a winner. The author is passionate about this foolproof way to knit a customizable sweater to fit absolutely anyone.
As a previous reviewer said, the point of the book is for the knitter to customize his/her own sweater. So, although the designs at the back of the book are not very attractive to someone with a more contemporary fashion sense, the lessons outlined at the beginning of the book are invaluable.
Rating: 
Summary: Sweaters for a new generation!
Review: I am part of the new generation of knitters so I had never seen the famous Sweater Workshop, only heard about it. So, when it was reprinted, I bought a copy immediately.
First reaction: Wow
Jacqueline Fee has created an incredible, complex-yet-simple system for creating seamless sweaters from the bottom up. All you need is your yarn and some basic math skills to make one-of-a-kind creations that you are sure to love since you designed them.
First though, is the sampler. It's sort of like sweater boot camp. Everything you could need to make a basic sweater. Yes, it's true, it does look rather silly but what fun! I hung mine up on my wall for inspiration.
With the sampler done, you're ready to start knitting your own sweater. This is whrer the fun begins.
Advice to newly designing knitters is sprinkled throughout the book and is greatly appreciated. We learn how to make perfect k1 twisted, p1 ribbing in the round, how many stitches should be in various sleeve styles and learn the glories of the reversable knitted belt. Then there is a whole section on making your sweater unique, by playing with color, using music to make a striping sequence (!) or using yarns that were not meant for knitter. A wealth of information and a great bibliography to back it up.
Fee has a chatty, outspoken writing style that is easy and enjoyable to read. She had plenty of knitting opinions that may open up new options. (I too am an English-style knitter who doesn't mind purling!) Naturally, I don't agree with absolutely everything (I am very fond of my interchangable tip knitting needle set) but it is refreshing to hear new opinions.
Not all of the designs pictured in the book appealed to me personally but what does it matter since we will be customizing our own? This and the fact that I am a big spiral-binding fan are the only reservations I have about this book. Other than that, a wonderful book for knitters!
So, if you have ever had any thought of knitting your own sweaters or if you have some yarn you bought on sale but can't find a pattern for, I hope you will try this book.
Rating:
Summary: Almost anyone can learn from this book.
Review: I avoided getting this book for a while because I really do not wear the boxy style sweaters shown in this book. Even when I leafed through the book, I did not see a sweater I wanted to sit down and invest the time to make.
I have to say that I'm really glad I took the time to read the reviews for this book. The fact is, this book is not meant to be a book of patterns to follow, it is a book that teaches you the skills to make whatever darn sweater your heart desires. The point is to learn to make a seamless sweater embellished as you please, in the shape you desire.
As is mentioned in most of the reviews, there is a sampler to be done which is well worth the time, for countless reasons. You'll learn various techniques you can apply both to your own designs or to other patterns you find.
The book is well written and time tested.
Rating:
Summary: A great design it yourself book
Review: I have been knitting for several years,,, taking lots of classes in all sorts of techniques, going to conferences , etc...
IF there were only 2 books you could buy, I would purchase this book and the large VOGUE resource book.
you could be set for knitting ( sweaters that is) for your entire knitting life,,,no kidding,,
I have really become rather smitten with this new needleart process,, tho I have been a seamstress for many years.
Also, FYI,,,you CAN buy the spiral bound edition on amazon,,( just in case that mattered to you,,it does to me!)
That said, I have also purchased far to many(!) books on kntting patterns,,,many will be be sold now,
(magazines can provide current design inspirtation,)
I wish I had this book from the beginning! It would clearly have saved me a LOT of dollars searching out patterns that FIT everyone I knit for from infant/toddler to husband.
The author respectfully gives credit where credit is due,,and that is to the late Elizabeth Zimmerman and her unique math formula for creating a sweater that FITS anyone!
Why didnt I get it when I already own most of the E. Zimmerman books? It is quite simply because this author CLEARLY explains the method, ( to the point of creating a full page for one to work out the "math") and goes much futher into measuring,,, sleeve type, width, and truly makes this whole process far easier for those of us that do not like or are intimidted by the "math".
I get it! I REALLY DO! This system ,once explained as simply as this author did,, is SO understandable, ( to a non "math" person like me!) that it hardly makes sense anymore to create sweaters any other way (why re-invent the wheel??)
Fit is not the only thing discussed in this book,,numerous options are laid out for one to create their own sweater ,,,,do you want a sweater with a V neck and picot lace edging? OR,,,,,maybe a more tailored cardigan for the sweetheart in your life?
Anything goes! I read that someone critiqued this and said these were out of date " boxy " styles,,,
if that is the opinion taken, they have missed the entire point of the book!
,
I now look at many patterns and say,,,I CAN DO THAT(!!!) and I dont have to be locked into their 5 st per inch guage ,,,I can and will use whatever I like!
I can and will make it the length I like,,have the finish I like,,etc
I have studied the top- down method of knitting and while there is great merit in doing a poncho or a little girl's skirt this way, I personally find it more difficult to think pattern ( other than stockinete) vs this method.
for me,,, THIS WAY is far easier to work in any pattern or even attempt colorwork,, I would hands down choose in the bottom up method,,
if I do the bottom up method I have the pattern clearly understood BEFORE I get to the part where I will be decreasing and doing much shaping, so I have a better handle on it,it just works well for me.
I get to pick the guage I want,, a pattern I would like to work,,,and I go from there,,currently I am knitting a sweater that has a seed stitch hem with side vents ( vs the "traditional" ribbing,) it looks great!
Even for a relatively "new" knitter,,,I WISH that I had seen this book sooner. What it took for me to see this was a class in designing your own sweater for me to see this book.
Any knitter, new to the process, or well seasoned,, will benefit greatly from this book,,,
funny thing tho,,,,I have been to several knitting conventions where many new books are sold, by many authors,,,,and I have NOT seen this book at all,, What I DO see is book after book that simply does basic sweaters over and over again with some added updates to bring it up to the current trend,,YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT ANY MORE BOOKS!!! (just go to the library for any inspiration you might need,,,,save yourself a lot of $$$$$$
An added bonus to this book ( as if it needs any,) is the very first project, TUBE,socks knit( in any size infant to Paul Bunyan size) For those that make socks,,you know it elimiates the heel etc,, and, is SUPER EASY for babies and kids!
,
just WISH I had this book right from the get go,,,,
New knitters,,, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR,,,, and at least check this book out from the library and see for yourself just HOW much you can learn from one book!
The knitting world is now at your feet,,no matter WHAT age you are, or WHAT kind of taste you have,,,,,you need NOT buy new book after new book EVER again for sweater making,,,,unless you CHOOSE to do a sweater that is not a seamless sweater and like sewing up a garment.It does not bother me to do so, but,,I LIKE the look of a well made one piece seamless garment. Classy and classic,,,,,
I have become a " knitting purist" and because I have sewn for many years ,,as I see it, the single largest benefit to knitting is the ability to make a completley seamless garment,,
I learned more in this book than in 3 years of knitting classes.
Rating:
Summary: Great for even a new Knitter
Review: I originally purchased this book as a reference tool, but then found out that "no one is excused from making the sampler", so I cast-on. I have learned SO much with this little sampler that I HIGHLY recommend it for all other new knitters (or skilled knitters for that matter!). If you know how to do a basic cast-on/bind-off and the knit/purl stitches - you are ready for this book to learn everything else you need to know to make well shaped sweaters. And, once the sampler is complete - you have a reference to the stitches you performed to help you decide which would be appropriate in later use. I'd give this book 10 stars, but since only 5 are allowed..
Rating:
Summary: Must-have for sweater knitters, beginner and otherwise
Review: I'm a new knitter and had made a few sweaters in patterns from various sources - this book (almost) makes we want to throw every other book and magazine away. The sweater I made with Fee's instructions (and I admit - shamefaced - that I didn't do the sampler first) came out with a finished look and a great fit, which can't be said of my previous attempts (though they're wearable and I love them). Best of all, I acquired more skills and insight with this one sweater than I did in all my previous knitting. I will continue to peruse other books and mags, but just for ideas for variations to apply to Fee's basic instructions.
:-) But first I'm going to do the sampler!!NOTE TO PUBLISHERS: Can you see we're all annoyed when you don't make books available in spiral-bound format?? Sure, we seem to buy them anyway ... but you're not doing yourselves any favor by forcing craftspeople to struggle with books that don't open flat. Ditto for cookbooks. (A spiral-bound format for this book was supposedly published, but just try to find one!)
Rating:
Summary: Must-have for sweater knitters, beginner and otherwise
Review: I'm a new knitter and had made a few sweaters in patterns from various sources - this book (almost) makes we want to throw every other book and magazine away. The sweater I made with Fee's instructions (and I admit - shamefaced - that I didn't do the sampler first) came out with a finished look and a great fit, which can't be said of my previous attempts (though they're wearable and I love them). Best of all, I acquired more skills and insight with this one sweater than I did in all my previous knitting. I will continue to peruse other books and mags, but just for ideas for variations to apply to Fee's basic instructions.
:-) But first I'm going to do the sampler!! NOTE TO PUBLISHERS: Can you see we're all annoyed when you don't make books available in spiral-bound format?? Sure, we seem to buy them anyway ... but you're not doing yourselves any favor by forcing craftspeople to struggle with books that don't open flat. Ditto for cookbooks. (A spiral-bound format for this book was supposedly published, but just try to find one!)
Rating:
Summary: If you knit, you need this book
Review: I've knitted for years. But I found this book really useful for the following reasons: 1. The sweater "sampler" is a fun project to learn decreases, increases, the effect of types of ribbings on shape, how to do edgings and more--all in one handy reference project. When it's finished, it looks like a fish that mated with a windsock but that makes it fun to mystify your friends. Hang it proudly where people can see and exclaim over it. 2. You can knit any sweater you like--cardigan, pullover, raglan, using a percentage system that Jackie Fee explains (based on the original by Eliz. Zimmermann.) 3. You can knit anything in any yarn in any gauge and size you want. So this is a great thing for designers and those who spin their own yarns. I can't think of anyone who knits who wouldn't benefit from this book. It should be a "must" in your knitting library. I hoarded my copy and was really glad to see this back in print because now I can share it with my friends who want to learn. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rating:
Summary: The ONLY Sweater Book!
Review: This book is great! I had never knitted a sweater before (all the pieces were too scary), but this book made it easy. The sampler is a great learning experience . . . do it! Plus, I don't have to be intimidated by all those pieces, since the sweater is basically worked as one piece. This is by far the best sweater book out there.
Rating:
Summary: Want to learn to knit? Want to knit better? This helps!
Review: This handy book employs the EZ Percentage System, developed by Elizabeth Zimmerman. With a chest measurement and your gauge, you can make nearly any style sweater. But what is even better in The Sweater Workshop is the wonderfully wacky Knitting Sampler. This object, when finished, looks like a windsock or a fish and contains all the types of knitting operations you are likely to encounter when making a sweater, such as various ribbings, belt and cords, decreases, increases, color, cable and lace. The sampler is a very fun project that teaches you the basics you need to know to make nearly anything knitted. After you knit it, you can hang it up (be prepared for many "What the heck is THAT!" questions) and use the sampler as a visual reference for the techniques you may be using. Thankfully, The Sweater Workshop is back in print, so if you want to learn to knit or improve your skills, you are in luck.
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