CogKnition

Book Review: Never Knit Your Man a Sweater

July 25th, 2007 | View Comments

Cover of Never Knit Your Man a Sweater

Author: Judith Durant
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Rating: 4 Skeins
Buy Never Knit Your Man a Sweater on Amazon.com

I don’t know about y’all, but I am a big, BIG believer in the boyfriend sweater curse. Thank goodness for this book. Especially because this book is not only chock-full of projects for boyfriends, but also friends, fathers, and brothers.

The cover of the book declares that it contains “22 handsome projects for every level of commitment,” which is completely true. What it fails to mention is that it also contains projects for every level of knitter. Just starting out with either man or knitting? Go with the Check Him Out Coasters or the Burger and a Movie Scarf. Ready for the next step? Try the He Met My Parents Vest (apparently vests are not sweaters) or maybe even the Bells Are Ringing Cardigan. There is no “how to knit” section, but the necessary techniques are explained in the back. Complicated cable patterns are given in both written and chart form.

Many of the projects are variations on timeless classics. Beginning knitters in particular might find this to a valuable collection of pattern essentials: basic socks, hats, mittens and sweaters. A few of the sweaters would look more at home on Fred Rogers than say, Freddie Prinze, Jr., but most of the patterns could be knit for a man of any age.

Pick of the Projects:

Dinner Date Scarf with Stripes Dinner Date Scarf with Stripes. This is a basic, beginner-friendly scarf with an eye-catching stripe combination. The scarf is knit lengthwise from sport-weight yarn, doubled over and then seamed for extra warmth.

Weekend Ski Hat Let’s Go Away for the Weekend Ski Hat. I think this is my favorite project in the whole book. The hat is knit using the mosaic technique from fingering-weight yarn. I just love the way the main motif, the brim motif, and the braided edging look together. Forget the boyfriend, I might just make one for myself!

He's Moving In Pullover He’s Moving In Half-Zip Pullover. Despite the title of the book, moving in together is apparently occasion enough to knit your man a sweater. It’s hard to see from the thumbnail, but the twisted rib pattern gives the pullover a really nice texture. This would be a great sweater for lounging around the house in after he’s done carrying boxes.

All in all, there are 3 scarf patterns, 3 hat patterns, 3 sock patterns, 3 mitten/glove patterns, 3 vests, and 3 sweaters, plus a few odds and ends to bring the total to 22 patterns for the man in your life.

Buy Never Knit Your Man a Sweater on Amazon.com

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CogKnition posted this on July 25th, 2007 @ 9:44pm in Book Reviews | Permalink to "Never Knit Your Man a Sweater"

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