The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns
Book Review of Ann Budd's Indispensable Guide for Knitters
Apr 16, 2009
There is a wide variety of knitting pattern books available in every library and book shop. Many are the work of one designer and contain designs relating to a particular theme, such as nature, or lace knitting.
Ann Budd’s book, however, is the opposite of a designer book; it provides knitting patterns, but is non-prescriptive. The freedom is with the reader and is only limited by the yarn available and the imagination of the knitter.
The premise of the book is simple; knit a tension square (see working your swatch) and calculate how many stitches you have per inch. Then decide what size sweater you like, and what size you want to make and the rest is worked out for you.
Size Range
All of the patterns are calculated in a huge range of sizes, from a 26” chest for a child up to 54” for a large adult. These are actual sweater measurements, so you can decide how tight or loose you want the finished garment to be.
Sweater Types
The patterns are offered in six basic sweater types. The Drop Shoulder and Modified Drop Shoulder patterns have the simplest shaping and the “boxiest” shape, suitable for looser fitting garments. By contrast the Set-in Sleeve is very tailored and neat. The Saddle Shoulder has a piece extending up from the sleeve which fits between the front and back shoulders, allowing for decorative detail to be extended to the neck.
Both the Raglan and Seamless Yoke patterns are designed in the round, the former has decreases in diagonal lines at the top of the sleeves, whereas the seamless yoke decreases more evenly, giving a rounder, soft shape to the garment.
Design Help and Ideas
As well as giving the basic patterns, the book also gives a rough guide to the amount of yarn needed, but it should be remembered that these are estimates and can vary considerably according to the yarn used.
Other ideas are also given, including an illustrated glossary and suggestions for different types of necklines and collars.
Level of Skill Needed.
This is not a book for absolute beginners. It is suggested that a knitter has completed at least one item, following a conventional pattern, before working from this book. However, all other knitters will find this book to be very useful and continue to knit from it as their skills and abilities increase.
Not Just for Knitters
It is also possible to use Ann Budd’s patterns with crochet stitches. This works best with relatively short stiches, such as double crochet (US single crochet), but it is possible to use taller stitches in the most simply shaped patterns.
Limitations
The nature of the patterns means that they do not produce highly fitted garments. The shape is relatively straight and loose. However, a knitter with a little experience would easily be able to add a little tailoring. Simply work out the position of the waist and gently decrease from the bottom, then increase again after the waist point.
The book works best when used in conjunction with a stitch directory. There are many of these available, such as the harmony guides and there is a wide range of stitch patterns available online.
This is a great book for any knitter to have in their library, and will be very much used.
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