Knitters Handy Book Of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd

Knitter's Handy Book Of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges by Ann Budd
Both a pattern book and a reference book, The Knitter's Handy Book Of Sweater Patterns has been created for knitters who want standard sweater patterns in a variety of sizes and gauges, as well as those who want a template from which to develop their own design ideas.
This sequel to the phenomenal bestseller The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, presents easy-to-follow charted instructions for eighteen sweaters, three in each of the six most popular sweater constructions: drop shoulder, modified drop shoulder, set-in sleeve, saddle shoulder, raglan, and seamless yoke. Each style is provided in fifteen sizes (in two-inch graduations) from a 26-inch chest circumference for a two-year-old child to a 54-inch chest circumference for a large adult. Each size is further divided into six possible gauges: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 stitches per inch. If you're counting, that's 75 options for each of the six styles, or 450 patterns in all (all with yarn yardage estimates). Add the cardigan and neckline variations, and you've got more than 1,000 patterns! Even more variations are possible by adding different neck finishes, edgings, waist shapings, and color or stitch patterns.
Detailed diagrams for finished dimensions are included, along with a glossary of techniques and a chapter on design considerations. If knitting sweaters is your passion, look no further-this book is your definitive resource.
A note from Ann Budd, Author of The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: This is not your standard sweater pattern book, though you?ll find detailed instructions for eighteen designs. Nor is this a design book, though it will guide you through creating the sweater of your choice in the yarn of your choice. This book offers instructions for the six most common sweater constructions? drop shoulder, modified drop shoulder, set-in sleeve, saddle shoulder, raglan, and seamless yoke.
Each style is provided in fifteen sizes, in 2" (5-cm) increments from a 26" (66 cm) chest circumference appropriate for a child to a 54" (137 cm) chest circumference appropriate for a large adult. And each size is given in five possible gauges?3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 stitches per inch. That?s a whopping 75 options for each of the six styles, or 450 patterns in all! Add the cardigan versions and you?ve got 900 possibilities, without counting neckline, edging, color, and stitch pattern variations.
The six sweater styles in this book differ in the way that the sleeves join the body. The first four styles are made by knitting the sweater pieces separately?one back, one or two front(s), and two sleeves. In general, the pieces are knitted back and forth in rows (though some designers have methods for working them in the round). The other two styles are worked in the round from the bottom up. The body is worked as a tube from the lower edge to the armholes, the sleeves are also worked as tubes to the armhole, the sleeves and body are joined, and the yoke is worked in a single piece to the neck.
The simplest style, the drop shoulder, consists of a rectangle for the front, another rectangle for the back, and two trapezoids for the sleeves. There is no armhole shaping and the tops of the sleeves are sewn directly onto the side edges above the marked armhole positions.
The modified drop-shoulder style uses rudimentary shaping to eliminate some excess width at the upper body above the armholes. Stitches are bound off at the base of each armhole on the front and back to form notches that accommodate the upper sleeves.
Set-in sleeve sweaters have the most tailored fit. Both the upper body and the tops of the sleeves are shaped to eliminate excess fabric at the armholes. On a well-fitting set-in-sleeve sweater, the armholes fall directly in line with the shoulder bone without pulling or puckering.
The saddle shoulder sweater in this book is closely related to the set-in-sleeve style (though other sweater styles can also have saddles). The difference between the two lies in the saddle,? an extension of the sleeve top, from the armhole to the neck.
The raglan style in this book is worked in the round. For the in-the-round method, the body and sleeves are each worked as tubes from the lower edge to the armholes, then joined for the yoke, which is also worked in the round to the neck. The yoke is shaped by decreases worked along four diagonal lines (two each on the front and back) that extend from armhole to neck.
Seamless yoke sweaters are worked in the round, as the raglan style, but the yoke is shaped by decreases that are placed evenly around the circumference of the yoke.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Drop-Shoulder Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Modified Drop-Shoulder Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Set-In Sleeve Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Saddle-Shoulder Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Raglan Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Seamless Yoke Sweaters
Child Sizes
Adult Sizes
Copy Cats
Expanding Your Options
Glossary
Abbreviations
Yarn Sources
Index
ISBN: 9781931499439
224 pages spiral-bound hardcover, 7 X 9 ¼ inches
Publisher: Interweave Press, September 2004