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Sweater Workshop, sewn
This book teaches creative knitting. Sweaters are knit in one piece ― no seams! ― to the knitter's own set of measurements, enabling knitters to use even hand-spun yarns that never seem to fit a predetermined gauge. The Sweater Workshop provides an alternative for those who wish to knit sweaters of their own designs. The rewards are well-fitting, perfectly constructed seamless sweaters knit from any yarn.
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 23, 2020
Jacqueline Fee basically uses EZ's percentage system to create a raglan sweater. There are a lot of adjustments like hood, cardigan etc. But they are all based on the raglan design. I knitted the sweater sample and 3 sweaters based off this book. I'm a big Elizabeth Zimmermann fan and am quite familiar with her work. So that there is nothing new in The Sweater Workshop book in regards to EZ. However, what I did appreciate was the more in depth discussion of figuring out the measurements and the more involved explanations throughout the book. EZ is notoriously lacking in extra descriptions enough that this edition is very helpful. I purchased the original version of The Sweater Workshop at a Library sale and felt like this version was more than sufficient.
In addition, I do not agree with the measurements for going down 2 needle sizes for the ribbing. I used the same needle size for ribbing and still had to add an extra inch of stitches for the ribbing on the sleeves for children sweaters. I'm not sure if that would translate to an adult sweater or not. Jacqueline Fee does not provide anything on converting to children sweaters but I did not have any issues using the percentages. I do know EZ usually provides a few separate notes on children sweaters. So maybe that would explain my problem with the cuffs.
In addition, I do not agree with the measurements for going down 2 needle sizes for the ribbing. I used the same needle size for ribbing and still had to add an extra inch of stitches for the ribbing on the sleeves for children sweaters. I'm not sure if that would translate to an adult sweater or not. Jacqueline Fee does not provide anything on converting to children sweaters but I did not have any issues using the percentages. I do know EZ usually provides a few separate notes on children sweaters. So maybe that would explain my problem with the cuffs.
February 6, 2017
Clearly influenced by our favorite Opinionated Knitter, Elizabeth Zimmermann, this book would've given me a nice shortcut to more confident sweater design using the EZ percentage method. I like her idea of making a sampler of various techniques (introduced in the first section). And there's a short mention of dyeing wool with plants (one of these days...) Apart from that, Zimmermann's books will always have a special place on my reference shelf (more accurately: shrine), and Fee's book will roll along to another confident beginner.
July 26, 2018
What fun!
I've been knitting enough to know many of the tasks the sample called for (ribbing, increasing, etc.) but she has some nifty tips for simple tasks, so worth it, and the more complicated bits or clever notions (how simple to make a pocket after the fact!) are well worth learning.
(The structure of the book is you knit a "sweater" sample, vastly smaller than a normal sweater, containing all of the components that 95% of the sweater patterns out there might call for, so that by the time you're done you've learned to cast on, ribbing, stockinette, garter, increases, decreases, changing colours, adding pockets, stranded knitting, icords, lace edging, etc. etc. etc., but without having to spend the time on the umpteen actual sweaters it would have taken to practice this for realsies).
After the sample section are patterns/methods for constructing actual sweaters, which you will no longer be intimidated by.
Just shy of 5 stars because it's at heart a manual, and the prose is apt and to-the-point, but not 5-star quality writing (like M.F.K. Fisher on food, say).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
I've been knitting enough to know many of the tasks the sample called for (ribbing, increasing, etc.) but she has some nifty tips for simple tasks, so worth it, and the more complicated bits or clever notions (how simple to make a pocket after the fact!) are well worth learning.
(The structure of the book is you knit a "sweater" sample, vastly smaller than a normal sweater, containing all of the components that 95% of the sweater patterns out there might call for, so that by the time you're done you've learned to cast on, ribbing, stockinette, garter, increases, decreases, changing colours, adding pockets, stranded knitting, icords, lace edging, etc. etc. etc., but without having to spend the time on the umpteen actual sweaters it would have taken to practice this for realsies).
After the sample section are patterns/methods for constructing actual sweaters, which you will no longer be intimidated by.
Just shy of 5 stars because it's at heart a manual, and the prose is apt and to-the-point, but not 5-star quality writing (like M.F.K. Fisher on food, say).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
August 25, 2020
Love this book! This is really what got me into knitting. Even without ever having made anything other than cowls, my first sweater turned out great! This formula works well and is easy to riff on so even though it's a really basic pattern, you can make such a variety of beautiful sweaters!
November 23, 2024
I assisted Ms. Fee in a class she was teaching at RISD in the late ‘80s. I have probably knit 20 sweaters using her method. While her examples look dated, the formulas are timeless with a few slight modifications.
June 23, 2010
I read this book sometime in 2003, right around the time I started designing. I had looked at and passed on buying it a few times because the projects were boxy and dated looking. Eventually I read some reviews of the book and I was finally swayed to give it a shot and I'm glad I did. I'd been knitting all my life but I learned almost everything I knew from a crinkled old Mon Tricot book and a few 1970s era books of patterns. Walking through the sampler project in this book, gave me a chance to learn a bunch of new-to-me techniques and better understand sweater construction and detailing.
This book isn't really going to appeal to someone who generally likes very trendy patterns and who follow patterns to the letter, and this book doesn't have too much to offer the experienced designer with years under his or her belt (though if you come across a copy in your library, I don't think you'll regret giving it a look) but for the intermediate knitter or aspiring designer who wants to learn how to create customized knitting patterns, I think you'll find this a great resource.
This book isn't really going to appeal to someone who generally likes very trendy patterns and who follow patterns to the letter, and this book doesn't have too much to offer the experienced designer with years under his or her belt (though if you come across a copy in your library, I don't think you'll regret giving it a look) but for the intermediate knitter or aspiring designer who wants to learn how to create customized knitting patterns, I think you'll find this a great resource.
April 17, 2008
The purpose of this book is to teach you how to craft your own sweater patterns. The Sweater Sampler was allegedly designed with this in mind. If you don't have any more experienced knitters around you are going to have a heck of a time creating one of these stupid things yourself.
You should know the blurry little pictures in the margins of the Sweater Sampler pattern are meant to stand for any real good explanations of the most complicated parts of the pattern.
Good Luck...
You should know the blurry little pictures in the margins of the Sweater Sampler pattern are meant to stand for any real good explanations of the most complicated parts of the pattern.
Good Luck...
February 24, 2010
An excellent knitting book. I finished the sweater sampler some time ago and it taught me so much. Since then I've referred back to some of the insturctions on several occassions...a sign of a great reference book. I just finished going through the last part of the book last night. A must have book for every new knitter!
June 24, 2008
This is the BEST, the ESSENTIAL book for knitting in the round. Yes, the patterns are sorta dowdy and unappealing, and Ms. Fee is a persnickety, opinionated coot, but her "sweater sampler" is a boot camp that will turn you from a person who can knit into a real knitter. She's a genius.
June 18, 2010
The Sweater Sampler is a fantastic learning tool!
August 1, 2010
Teaches you how to make samples before beginning a project. Basic stitches and techniques included.
March 4, 2013
Helpful in the design process. Clear and informative.
September 11, 2015
Helpful book that assists the knitter with designing (or for me personalizing existing patterns) raglan sweater patterns.
December 18, 2009
Great workbook to enhance your skill set, comprehensive
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews