The Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters

Love, love, love this book. So much so that I borrowed it first them bought it so I can have it forever! Being a new knitter and not so great with math I was getting brain boggle trying to figure out how to size a sweater, trying to get gauge and never quite making it. That is until I got this great book. Ms. Budd takes all of the guess work out and teaches us how to make a sweater to match OUR GAUGE instead of trying to fit into someone else's mold.

I found it a tad confusing at first but once you get going it all falls into place. For me it was one of those things that makes more sense when when you trust the pattern and just go one stitch at a time. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to knit a sweater that requires little or no show more sewing using their favorite size needles! show less

I have only knit up two of the patterns but they are quite accurate as long as the knitter starts with an accurate gauge swatch. The charts can be confusing, especially the one for raglan sweaters as there are multiple operations to carry out at the same time. I would recommend photocopying the desired pattern and highlighting the instructions for the desired size, it is very easy to let the eyes slip up or down from the correct number.

This is more of a pattern recipe book rather than a straight up pattern book. It has tables where you find your gauge and size you want to make, then it gives you the amount of stitches to cast on. The instructions are very bare bones. Some instructions are strange to me, like the patterns say to cast on provisionally then go back and knit the neck band after the entire sweater is done. That seems silly. Why not just knit the neck band after casting on? I am looking forward to using the formulas to make some sweaters.

I've got a goal of doing a sweater for the first time this year, and got this out of the library to get a better sense of pattern design. I found it clear and helpful, but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to actually construct a sweater to really grok how to apply the advice. I will probably put it on my list of books to own for my personal library, though.

I always feel that Ann Budd doesn't let me down. Her latest volume of "Handy Books," the Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters presents the same common sense, no nonsense, easy-to-understand reference classic as Handy Sweater Patterns and Handy Patterns. figure out your gauge, pick your sweater style and go with it. Follow the instructions to the letter to get a basic, classic sweater, or, in this book, beautiful sweaters have been designed by knitting notables to give you everything you need to create lovely garments that will be worn and treasured. I'm so grateful that my niece knew just what I'd want for this Christmas- and just what she'd like for next Christmas.

I knitted the Quince Essential Fair Isle Sweater. I enjoyed the pattern but I still have a lot to learn about making wearable garments.

basic designs in multiple sizes and guages