Comments on: Review: More Big Girl Knits

By: Mandy

Mandy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:35:01 +0000

I just came across your review of this book. I was the technical editor for the book, and I designed the Susie Hoodie. The book is near and dear to my heart, and I’m so happy to read such an excellent review in a blog I admire! Thanks for making my night. :)

By: Anwen-with-an-'N'

Anwen-with-an-'N' — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:18:31 +0000

Ooh, thanks for the review and pics! I have this on my amazon wishlist now. I just wanted to add a quick plug for my favourite sewing book – Sewing for Plus Sizes by Barbara Deckert. It has a similar you-might-not-like-the-designs-shown-but-buy-it-for-the-inspiration-and-guidance aspect, i.e. some of the clothing is brilliant, some is fairly hideous, but there is a hell of a lot of body positivity (the ‘further reading’ section includes not just sewing related books but FA type ones also, and there is a definite ‘don’t worry about what will make you look thinner (because nothing really will) focus about what will make you look and feel glorious’ vibe) and lots and lots of really helpful advice on both design and the practical side of sewing. It is very good and I love it very very much :D

By: Liza

Liza — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:13:29 +0000

buttercup, I have recently discovered Ravelry. I have to admit, I’m highly entertained by their naughty patterns section and kind of want to make a Beanis of my very own.

By: girlgriot

girlgriot — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:13:16 +0000

I have both books and love them. Not all the patterns thrill me in their original incarnations, but I’ve been able to make alterations where needed to make them look more like me. The shaping tips are brilliant, though!

By: Lynne

Lynne — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:55:35 +0000

okay, everyone come visit me and i will teach you to crochet! or at FJ’s wedding. we can have a crochet circle at the wedding!

oh hey i suppose i need a room to sleep in for that, huh? and yes, i can bring exploding cows. FJ you have dr. lucky, right? if not, i have that, too.

ANYway you’re right, SM – if small knitting needles make you cramp up thread crochet might be too small, too. but handling the tension is… different with crochet than with knitting, so you might find the cotton isn’t so bad. also the hand motion is very different so you mght not get your knitting elbow issue or cramps. who knows. i suppose crocheting with yarn increases the chances that you’ll make something that is actually useful, beyond preventing cup rings on your tables or filling your hope chest with lacy items. since i know you have one of those.

By: Talespun

Talespun — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:35:10 +0000

Sweetmachine you are the best! I got these two books, ignorant to their existence before now, and wow I wish I had them when I was making my super bulky fabtastic RECTANGLE of an Aran sweater. Hahahah. It has already saved me from the Fair Isle was thinking about as well. The pictures in book 2 with the girl in the big shapeless horizontal line sweater is totally me!

Thank you thank you for bringing these up, and I love the younger looking designs. My hubby said as we were looking through the book, “hey those are nice… they don’t make you look like an old lady.” Huh. :D

By: poormetal

poormetal — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:06:47 +0000

Hi, I am new here and was so excited to see your review of the Big Girls Knits books. I am finally at a place where I can say “The body I have right now deserves the time and effort it takes to make a sweater” and the red hoodie has my heart. So I went out in search of the books. I hit three yarn stores in the area where I work. I thought it was very interesting that two of the stores simply did not carry them (but would order it for me) and the one that did carry it was SOLD OUT of both Big Girl Knits and More Big Girl Knits. Anyway thanks again for post I can’t wait to get my hands on the books and start knitting for myself (I am always making stuff for others, this will be my first project for me!).

By: car

car — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:42:51 +0000

Thanks, buttercup and sweetmachine!

By: sweetmachine

sweetmachine — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:32:40 +0000

Car, hats are another good way to practice technique — they’re quick and fun, but they always involve knitting in the round and increasing and decreasing in pattern. You can make them as simple or as involved as you like.

You could also try a shrug or a bolero as a halfway-to-a-sweater project.

By: buttercup

buttercup — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:17:43 +0000

Car, my second project was socks. I love knitting socks,they’re portable and as easy or complicated as you want them to be. Some people don’t. A good inbetween scarves and sweaters might be a pair of fingerless mitts, socks, or a shawl or cape. I’ve seen patterns for shawls with sleeves, that might also be a good intermediary.

I recommend the following books-
Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (hats, socks, sweaters, humor)
Knitting without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman (sweaters, socks, hats, knitting theory)
Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmerman (Pure awesomeness)
The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville
The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville
Vogue Knitting
Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman
Any of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries.

Go to the library and leaf through some. If you’re on Ravelry, you can see projects from the books done by real people with real shapes and real comments on their project pages. Hit up knittinghelp.com and you tube for videos for help, too.

Best sock knitting instruction I’ve seen online is here.
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/

Good luck! Do what you love.