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celticdragonflyBook Info:
Men in Knits: Sweaters to Knit that He WILL Wear by Tara Jon Manning
c. 2003, ISBN 1-931499-23-3
List price $28.95
Obtained by Interlibrary Loan – thanks to the nice people at the Montgomery County Library, Conroe, Texas.
Main comments:
I requested this book because I’d seen pictures of the patterns on Ravelry, and then read the Ravelry description of the book. And hey, I’m thinking about wanting to make sweaters for men I know.
There’s a good introductory section discussing what men want in a sweater. Quote that is IMO exactly spot on – “The first step to ensuring a happy ending to your guy’s sweater story is to involve him in every step of the process in a fun and effortless way.” Yes, yes, yes. Also “Do you want to make a sweater he will enjoy wearing, or do you want to knit a project you will enjoy?” A good question. A nice discussion of The Dreaded Boyfriend Curse. Then there’s a section on Defining His Personal Style that was breaking men down into three categories. It’s going to be no surprise to those who know us to hear that Karl definitely did not fit in any of those three categories. But it will be helpful to knitters for more typical men, or for those who don’t get to know their recipients really well.
There’s a section on selecting the perfect color and fiber. Color theory still sounds confusing to me – I mean, I look at my darling all the time, and I’m still not sure if his skin tones are yellow-based or blue-based. A couple of people pictures here could have been REALLY helpful. Especially since it basically says he’d look good in yellow if it was one way, or in blue if it’s the other, and darn it, I like how he looks in both yellow and blue.
I like this. A discussion of laundry, and hey, if he won’t put up with handwash, go for the machine washable yarns – and she discusses how many newer wonderful non-synthetic-yet-washable yarns there are.
There’s a section on customizing fit by body shapes, which is good to see.
Anything I particularly liked:
Beautiful classy sweaters with lots of cabling and texture. Just the sort of thing I’d like to knit. And several had both mens’ and boys’ sizes.
Anything I particularly disliked:
Mens’ patterns only came in four sizes at most. I’d have liked plus sizes available.
All the patterns were knit-pieces-and-sew. Surely some of this could be done with knitting in the round or knitting in one piece, or otherwise minimal sewing. Like that classic camel vest. SURELY.
Oh, wait, I take it back. The Hyland Argyle vest is knit in the round to the armholes, and no seams. I hadn’t looked closely at that one, because I don’t like it.
Pattern info gives finished sizes only. Doesn’t say how much ease would be good, or what actual chest measurement on the person goes with that size. An ease range would really help.
Comments on photography:
Pretty good. Although many of them only have a single picture, it’s generally showing the garment clearly, nothing obscuring, no weird poses. A variety of male models, although not much variety in build. Good charts. Sweater piece diagrams are well labeled.
Projects from this book that I’m thinking of knitting:
Well, I’ll have to see if any of them would fit any of my prospective recipients. Jack’s Aran Pullover is just lovely. Bulky, though… yeah, even making it for Jamie in the boy’s size, not going to get worn in Texas. The Jack’s cardigan is also pretty. I’m going to show the Basketcase Jacket to Karl, he has some interest in jackets – but eek, bulky yarn, and this one only has 3 sizes.
Might I buy this book?
Eh. I’d want to from the pretty, but probably not. This is the sort of thing I had in mind to knit. But – the size range problem. I want these a bit bigger. I’ll check, I might be able to make sweaters from this for some of the men in my family, but certainly not all.
What I REALLY want is to grab Annie Modesitt – see my earlier review of Men who knit & the dogs who love them, with all that great stuff, wide size range, easy substituting, done in the round or with minimal sewing – and lock her up until she rewrites this book!
Men in Knits: Sweaters to Knit that He WILL Wear by Tara Jon Manning
c. 2003, ISBN 1-931499-23-3
List price $28.95
Obtained by Interlibrary Loan – thanks to the nice people at the Montgomery County Library, Conroe, Texas.
Main comments:
I requested this book because I’d seen pictures of the patterns on Ravelry, and then read the Ravelry description of the book. And hey, I’m thinking about wanting to make sweaters for men I know.
There’s a good introductory section discussing what men want in a sweater. Quote that is IMO exactly spot on – “The first step to ensuring a happy ending to your guy’s sweater story is to involve him in every step of the process in a fun and effortless way.” Yes, yes, yes. Also “Do you want to make a sweater he will enjoy wearing, or do you want to knit a project you will enjoy?” A good question. A nice discussion of The Dreaded Boyfriend Curse. Then there’s a section on Defining His Personal Style that was breaking men down into three categories. It’s going to be no surprise to those who know us to hear that Karl definitely did not fit in any of those three categories. But it will be helpful to knitters for more typical men, or for those who don’t get to know their recipients really well.
There’s a section on selecting the perfect color and fiber. Color theory still sounds confusing to me – I mean, I look at my darling all the time, and I’m still not sure if his skin tones are yellow-based or blue-based. A couple of people pictures here could have been REALLY helpful. Especially since it basically says he’d look good in yellow if it was one way, or in blue if it’s the other, and darn it, I like how he looks in both yellow and blue.
I like this. A discussion of laundry, and hey, if he won’t put up with handwash, go for the machine washable yarns – and she discusses how many newer wonderful non-synthetic-yet-washable yarns there are.
There’s a section on customizing fit by body shapes, which is good to see.
Anything I particularly liked:
Beautiful classy sweaters with lots of cabling and texture. Just the sort of thing I’d like to knit. And several had both mens’ and boys’ sizes.
Anything I particularly disliked:
Mens’ patterns only came in four sizes at most. I’d have liked plus sizes available.
All the patterns were knit-pieces-and-sew. Surely some of this could be done with knitting in the round or knitting in one piece, or otherwise minimal sewing. Like that classic camel vest. SURELY.
Oh, wait, I take it back. The Hyland Argyle vest is knit in the round to the armholes, and no seams. I hadn’t looked closely at that one, because I don’t like it.
Pattern info gives finished sizes only. Doesn’t say how much ease would be good, or what actual chest measurement on the person goes with that size. An ease range would really help.
Comments on photography:
Pretty good. Although many of them only have a single picture, it’s generally showing the garment clearly, nothing obscuring, no weird poses. A variety of male models, although not much variety in build. Good charts. Sweater piece diagrams are well labeled.
Projects from this book that I’m thinking of knitting:
Well, I’ll have to see if any of them would fit any of my prospective recipients. Jack’s Aran Pullover is just lovely. Bulky, though… yeah, even making it for Jamie in the boy’s size, not going to get worn in Texas. The Jack’s cardigan is also pretty. I’m going to show the Basketcase Jacket to Karl, he has some interest in jackets – but eek, bulky yarn, and this one only has 3 sizes.
Might I buy this book?
Eh. I’d want to from the pretty, but probably not. This is the sort of thing I had in mind to knit. But – the size range problem. I want these a bit bigger. I’ll check, I might be able to make sweaters from this for some of the men in my family, but certainly not all.
What I REALLY want is to grab Annie Modesitt – see my earlier review of Men who knit & the dogs who love them, with all that great stuff, wide size range, easy substituting, done in the round or with minimal sewing – and lock her up until she rewrites this book!
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Date: 2007-10-11 02:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-11 03:31 am (UTC)Would pictures do any good? I have various pics of him, many in my LJ photo scrapbook thingy.