New American Knits: Classic Sportswear Patterns - Softcover

Christoffers, Amy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620330997 ISBN 13: 9781620330999

Publisher: Interweave, 2014

Synopsis

Practical and stylish pieces for daily life!

New American Knits offers garments that are casual but polished, equally appropriate whether running errands, at the office, or socializing with friends. Author Amy Christoffers takes her inspiration from the clean lines and elegant functionality of American sportswear and creates projects that have a classic nostalgic feel. In designing her fashionable modern uniform, Amy focuses on beautiful everyday sweaters, tops, and pretty accessories.

Included are sections on texture and lace and pops of colorwork to add visual and knitterly interest. Projects feature traditional, seamless, and semi-seamless construction as well as detailed finishing. New American Knits has a "country house" feel with touches of heather grays, tweeds, slubby textures, and muted tones. The book is visually elegant with a streak of casual bohemian style, much like the projects themselves.

About this title

About the Author

Amy Christoffers is a young knitwear designer whose work has appeared in Interweave Knits, KnitScene, knit.wear, and Twist Collective. She has also designed for Brooklyn Tweed and Tunney's O-Wool collections. She resides in Vermont.

Review

"I found this book to have quite a few designs I'd want to knit. I like 'sporty' knits and am very much a cardigan girl. This book has a great balance of both cardis and pullovers with a few accessories like a cowl, shawl and fingerless mitts thrown in coming to total of 20 patterns. I liked the yarn choices and the palette was nicely paired with the photo location. All of the garments would be ideal wardrobe staples and are classic enough that they can be worn for years to come. In true Interweave fashion, the charts were easy to read, the schematics clear and readable and the garments had a nice array of sizes provided." --Tanis Knits

"Her designs are timeless, and she gives such thought to every detail. I find she works with traditional motifs and shapes, but really gives them something special, so that the traditional sweater is not exactly the garment you've seen before." --Baby Cocktails

"If I could sum up in one word, okay, maybe several, I would say, This book represents what knitters want to knit. Me included. It contains wearable pieces that are classic in style, yet simply sophisticated, with a modern flare." --Dishcloth Diva

"The designs are beautiful, and would be proudly worn to work, school, or out on the town. The book has a thoughtful mix of techniques, and I am confident that almost anyone will find a project in this book they might want to make." --Kyle William

"One glance through Amy Christoffers' New American Knits: Classic Sportswear Patterns shows that she has a deep appreciation for patterns that are designed with the everyday in mind. All of the patterns in the book are simple and incredibly wearable." --All Free Knitting

"The photography is all sun-dappled and vibrant. The layout is clear, and the different pieces of information--yarn types and yardages, measurements, needles, etc.--are all set out in their own little categories. Smallish charts aside (and I have to say that no chart will ever be big enough for me), this is one of the best layouts I've seen for a pattern book in a while." --Jen the Bossy Big Sister

"The new book extends her style into the realm of classic sportswear, the kind of sweaters that you can throw on every day and look polished and put together. The photography is lovely, and the layout is clear and readable. It's a pleasure to leaf through it." --Brenda Castiel Designs

"Amy's patterns feature clean lines and are effortlessly wearable. They are the kinds of items you just want in your wardrobe. The kind that are easily incorporated into your daily life." --Very Shannon

"The easy-to-follow patterns include illustrations for garment construction and, if necessary, graphs for either pattern or colorwork." --The Detroit News

"Amy Christoffers is the design goddess of everyday chic. She captures a modern sensibility that simultaneously looks casual and pulled together--a little Katherine Hepburn, a little J.Crew. I waited excitedly for this collection to come out and it doesn't disappoint!" --Knitty.com

"The author is entranced with what she calls the 'American look': simple but sophisticated, but with a few unexpected touches. New American Knits includes 20 women's garments--cardigans, pullovers, vests, hats, wristers and more--each named for an American artist who has inspired Christoffers. A goodly number of the garments are predominantly stockinette stitch, while others feature interesting lace, colorwork and cable motifs, mixing up skill levels for wider appeal. The Rockwell hat, for instance, features a striking acorn-like motif; the Hopper cardigan is knit in dark emerald green with cleverly placed cable and lace motifs to give it extra oomph. This contemporary collection is sure to appeal to Christoffers' many fans and will certainly win her new ones." --Yarn Market News

Edition details

• Publisher: Interweave
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1620330997
• ISBN 13: 9781620330999
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128