The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Author: Alanna Okun

Publisher: Macmillan + ORM

Published: 2018-03-20

Total Pages: 175

ISBN-13: 125009562X

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The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater is a memoir about life truths learned through crafting. People who craft know things. They know how to transform piles of yarn into sweaters and scarves. They know that some items, like woolen bikini tops, are better left unknit. They know that making a hat for a newborn baby isn’t just about crafting something small but appreciating the beginnings of life, which sometimes helps make peace with the endings. They know that if you knit your boyfriend a sweater, your relationship will most likely be over before the last stitch. Alanna Okun knows that crafting keeps her anxiety at bay. She knows that no one will ever be as good a knitting teacher as her beloved grandmother. And she knows that even when we can’t control anything else, we can at least control the sticks, string, and fabric right in front of us. Okun lays herself bare and takes readers into the parts of themselves they often keep hidden. Yet at the same time she finds humor in the daily indignities all crafters must face (like when you catch the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and can’t possibly finish the second in a pair). Okun has written a book that will speak to anyone who has said to themselves, or to everyone within earshot, “I made that.”


Doggie Knits

Doggie Knits

Author: Corinne Niessner

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13: 1402730691

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What dog lover wouldn't be delighted with a magnificent hand-knitted sweater for Fido--and what knitter wouldn't be proud to create it? Dog sweaters can be made with leftovers from larger projects, and completed in the same time it takes to knit a hat, scarf, or mittens. There are eight basic patterns with variations, plus instructions for sizing up or down, three patterns for hard-to-fit breeds (Pugs, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds), four accessories (a snood, a hat, a kerchief, and a collar), and three home projects (a bed, a blanket, and a toy). Photos of pooches wearing the finished sweaters, plus start-to-finish instructions (including how to measure the dog) ensure a stylish look and a perfect fit.


Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters

Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters

Author: Ann Budd

Publisher: Interweave

Published: 2012-08-21

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 1596684836

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Fiber and yarn enthusiasts nationwide will celebrate Ann Budd's latest addition to The Knitter's Handy Book series. Answering to a growing interest in knitting sweaters from the top down and knitting seamless sweaters that require little finishing, this handy book offers instructions for knitting five basic sweater types: circular yoke, raglan, modified-drop shoulder, set-in sleeve, and saddle shoulder. Patterns are offered in multiple sizes and yarn gauges and for a broad age group. Following the basics for each of the five sweater types are three diverse patterns from top designers that illustrate some of the many ways that instructions can be used as springboards for creative expression, including color, texture, and shaping variations. Also included for intermediate to advanced knitters are personal design touches, detailed charts, clear instruction, and quick tips to expand knitting possibilities and maintain creative originality. A key reference for knitters of all skill levels, this is the new essential knitting resource on your bookshelf.


One-Piece Knits

One-Piece Knits

Author: Margaret Hubert

Publisher: Creative Publishing international

Published: 2018-05-29

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 163159639X

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Knit your sweaters in one piece—from the top down, from cuff to cuff, or from back to front—for the whole family, with minimal seaming required! Written by renowned knitting author and expert Margaret Hubert, One-Piece Knits offers charted patterns sized from toddler to adult and in multiple gauges for classic pullovers and cardigans in four styles: top-down (both raglan and yoke), side-over (from one sleeve edge to the other), and back-to-front (from back waist to front waist, then picking up stitches at the shoulders to knit the sleeves). Additional patterns for each style feature alternate stitches, simple colorwork, and neckline and sleeve variations. A helpful resources section offers guidance on basic techniques. With one-piece knits, you can knit classic sweaters for the whole family—from every direction!


No Sheep for You

No Sheep for You

Author: Amy Singer

Publisher: Interweave

Published: 2007-04-01

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781596680128

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Yarns made from plant fibers, modern synthetics, and silk take the spotlight in this collection of 21 classic knitting patterns for socks, scarves, hats, bags, vests, sweaters, and even a luxurious bathrobe. Some knitters are discouraged by the thought of baggy hemp sweaters and droopy cotton socks when they consider vegetable fibers, but this authoritative, fun, and light-hearted guide promises that, while wool has no equal when it comes to elasticity and warmth, the right tricks and techniques produce non-wool fashions that fit well, wear well, and hang beautifully. Knitters are taught to knit swatches to study the behavior of a yarn, to choose an appropriate pattern, and to master techniques for reinforcing stitches and inserting knit-ins of springier yarn to keep cotton, silk, and other fibers from sagging. Key information about durability, weight, pilling, and special handling is provided for acrylic, bamboo, cotton, hemp, Ingeo, linen, lycra, nylon, polyester, rayon, silk, soy, Tencel, and viscose yarns, and a chapter of helpful tips advises on needles to use (and avoid), how to start new balls and weave in ends, how to work intarsia and Fair Isle patterns, smart ways to control the cost of materials, and the right methods for washing, drying, and blocking the finished pieces.


Sweater Quest

Sweater Quest

Author: Adrienne Martini

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2010-03-23

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 1416597662

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"I knit so I don’t kill people" —bumper sticker spotted at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival For Adrienne Martini, and countless others, knitting is the linchpin of sanity. As a working mother of two, Martini wanted a challenge that would make her feel in charge. So she decided to make the Holy Grail of sweaters—her own Mary Tudor, whose mind-numbingly gorgeous pattern is so complicated to knit that its mere mention can hush a roomful of experienced knitters. Created by reclusive designer Alice Starmore, the Mary Tudor can be found only in a rare, out-of-print book of Fair Isle–style patterns, Tudor Roses, and requires a discontinued, irreplaceable yarn. The sweater, Martini explains, "is a knitter’s Mount Everest, our curse, and our compulsion. I want one more than I can begin to tell you." And so she took on the challenge: one year, two needles, and countless knits and purls to conquer Mary Tudor while also taking care of her two kids, two cats, two jobs, and (thankfully) one husband—without unraveling in the process. Along the way, Adrienne investigates the tangled origins of the coveted pattern, inquires into the nature of artistic creation, and details her quest to buy supplies on the knitting black market. As she tries not to pull out her hair along with rows gone wrong, Martini gets guidance from some knitterati, who offer invaluable inspiration as she conquers her fear of Fair Isle. A wooly Julie and Julia, this epic yarn celebrates the profound joys of creating—and aspiring to—remarkable achievements.


Knit One, Bead Too

Knit One, Bead Too

Author: Judith Durant

Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

Published: 2012-07-06

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 1603426566

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Give your knitting a touch of sparkle! Judith Durant shows you how to add beads to any knitting pattern using five easy-to-learn techniques. It’s simple, fun, and can be done right on your knitting needles. With step-by-step instructions for each technique, as well as 16 original patterns, you’ll be turning simple bags and wearables into stunning special-occasion creations in no time. From eye-catching knit caps to surprisingly intricate socks, you’ll be inspired to explore the endless possibilities of beaded knitting.


Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders®

Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders®

Author: Judith Durant

Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

Published: 2012-11-19

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1603420053

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A little luxury goes a long way! Discover the treasures you can knit from single skeins of the expensive yarns you dream about. More than 100 patterns include elegant wraps and scarves, cuddly baby blankets, evening bags, and dozens of other projects destined to become cherished heirlooms. Indulge yourself with a small sampling of creamy cashmere, lustrous alpaca, seductive silk, exotic soy, or organic linen. The softest fibers make the greatest treasures, even in small doses.