Book rec: Big Girl Knits
Oct. 14th, 2006 01:59 pmI bought a copy of Big Girl Knits from Amazon.com earlier this week. I've had my eye on it ever since it came out, and this seemed like a good time to give in and order it. I needed a Spanish/English dictionary that wasn't older than I am, and I hate paying shipping when I can spend the money on another book instead.
(I highly recommend the Pocket Oxford Spanish Dictionary, by the way, even if "pocket" is a questionable description for a book weighing nearly 2 kilos. It comes complete with a section on common abbreviations in text messaging.)
...Knitting book, right. What sold me on this is that it's honest. They say right up front that the patterns aren't ones to make you look thin. They're patterns to make you look good. It goes on to give a crash course in measuring yourself, what sort of clothes looks good on different body types, what not to wear, and how to modify patterns to fit. There's a difference between knowing how to knit shortrows and where to use them, and the explanation of how to use them to make clothing fit is enough to make me glad I bought the book.
As for the patterns themselves, there are a few I really like, several that I like but can't see myself wearing, and a few that I do not understand the purpose of. Yoga pants? That's what Target is for. I'd guess that someone whose fashion sense runs more feminine than mine would find more patterns she'd want to knit.
On the knitting front, I have very little to show for the last two weeks. I've been occupied with the first stages of remodeling my bedroom (read: packing) and with a sick dog. A lap blanket that enjoys batting balls of yarn around is not conducive to getting anything done. The packing is finally finished(ish) and the dog is mostly back to his hyper self. Pictures next week once the latest square actually resembles a square.
(I highly recommend the Pocket Oxford Spanish Dictionary, by the way, even if "pocket" is a questionable description for a book weighing nearly 2 kilos. It comes complete with a section on common abbreviations in text messaging.)
...Knitting book, right. What sold me on this is that it's honest. They say right up front that the patterns aren't ones to make you look thin. They're patterns to make you look good. It goes on to give a crash course in measuring yourself, what sort of clothes looks good on different body types, what not to wear, and how to modify patterns to fit. There's a difference between knowing how to knit shortrows and where to use them, and the explanation of how to use them to make clothing fit is enough to make me glad I bought the book.
As for the patterns themselves, there are a few I really like, several that I like but can't see myself wearing, and a few that I do not understand the purpose of. Yoga pants? That's what Target is for. I'd guess that someone whose fashion sense runs more feminine than mine would find more patterns she'd want to knit.
On the knitting front, I have very little to show for the last two weeks. I've been occupied with the first stages of remodeling my bedroom (read: packing) and with a sick dog. A lap blanket that enjoys batting balls of yarn around is not conducive to getting anything done. The packing is finally finished(ish) and the dog is mostly back to his hyper self. Pictures next week once the latest square actually resembles a square.