One of Americas most ingenious and creative knitters presents 23 patterns in this beloved classic of knitting lore. Elizabeth Zimmermanns bestselling guide includes Aran sweaters; mittens; socks; and patterns for other items that can be followed by intermediate to advanced knitters or adapted into original works.This commemorative hardcover edition celebrates the centenary of Elizabeth Zimmermanns birth and the 50th anniversary of the founding of her company. Its new features include color photos of the finished patterns; many of them reknit using contemporary yarns; as well as a frontispiece by Andrew Wyeth; a preface by the authors daughter; an introduction by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee; instructions for the February Lady Sweater; and other bonus items.
#521339 in eBooks 2012-08-07 2012-08-07File Name: B008TSC0SU
Review
180 of 183 people found the following review helpful. Fully Fashioned PatternsBy paisleyapronKnitting the Perfect Fit covers basic information related to full-fashioned increases and decreases in knitting patterns. "Fully fashioned" means the shaping is not done at the edge of the knitting. but worked in a few stitches from the edge. The book includes 19 knitting patterns categorized according to how they would flatter a certain body type (strangely. most of them supposedly flatter all the types.) Interspersed among the patterns are "Designer Workshop" sections:Chapter 1 explains how a "fully fashioned" garment is knit. gives illustrated instructions of simple decreases and increases. explains directional slants. how to read knitting charts. and makes garment suggestions related to body types.Chapter 2 includes color photos of multiple examples of increases and decreases.Chapter 3 gives full instructions on how to add decorative stitches in the fully fashioned increase/decrease.Chapter 4 details ways that cleverly placed increases and decreases can flatter the figure. Also included is a shell/camisole pattern with detailed instructions on adapting the pattern for bust size. General knitting. finishing. and sweater construction techniques are illustrated at the end of the chapter.Pros: the information provided is solid and informative. especially for those knitters who are unfamiliar with how full-fashioned increases and decreases are worked and applied. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with gauge measurement. The patterns are well-written. clearly illustrated. and the charts are easy to read. The information on shaping and illusion for figure flattery is excellent.Cons: The title. premise. and descriptions of the book are misleading. After repeatedly being told in the text that. "You. too. can be a designer!" the reader would find that this book does not help accomplish this. Nowhere in the book is a shaping formula provided. If I wanted to find out how to apply the increases and decreases to my own design. this book informs me how to knit them. but not how to determine my rate of decreases over rows from bust to waist or increases from waist to hip. More importantly. aside from the one shell pattern in Chapter 4. there is no information about customizing and adjusting the patterns included to particular body measurements. and therefore no way to help the knitter make the patterns fit like the book declares.To fill in this huge gap. the reader would have to search out other sources: Amy Herzogs Fit to Flatter series at [...] would be very useful or perhaps the books Knitwear Design Workshop by Shirley Paden or Sweater Design by Maggie Righetti. If knitting top-down and seamlessly. both Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard and Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel have sections on customizing patterns.Overall. if you like the patterns included in the book and dont have information on increases and decreases elsewhere. this book will be useful to you.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Great Resource for Fitting Your Garments PerfectlyBy Fairbanks Reader - Bonnie BrodyI took a class from Melissa Leapman at Stitches South and was very impressed with her knowledge and ability to communicate. This book demonstrates her abilities at teaching knitters how to better fit their projects to the sizes they want.The topics covered are the basics - decreases and increases; utilizing charts; the language of knitting; ways to make stockinette garments look extraordinary; designer details. and ways to flatter your figure.There are several patterns I like. My favorites are Marie which is a pullover figure flatterer in a nice shade of periwinkle using worsted weight yarn. I also like Marilyns Crossover Top. Some of the other patterns also call out to me.What is special about this book. however. is not the patterns. Buy it for a resource. You will be taught so many things about how to fit your garments that you never knew before. Thank you Melissa for this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Knitting The Perfect FitBy CustomerI still need YouTube to show me how to make all the stitches shown in this book. The book has a very nice feel to the touch as though waterproof. I would not ever make any of the projects in this book.It may be they are all too young for me. but they look like 1950s styles to me.
