Vogue Knitting: American Collection

by Vogue Knitting (Editor)

“Designs by today’s most talented American designers.”— Publishers Weekly. “From ten of this country’s best knitwear designers...four or five patterns [each]... along with an essay on their careers and how they entered the field of knitwear design...patterns have been reworked to include yarns available now. Good selection.”— Library Journal. “Fabulous collection.”— Vogue Knitting International.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Vogue Knitting is SoHo Publishing's flagship title. Launched over twenty-five years ago, VK has set the bar for knitting, working with the biggest and most talented names in fashion today, including Michael Kors and Anna Sui. Led by Editor Trisha Malcolm, VK is published quarterly.

Reviews

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting pattern book from Malcolm, this has the usual Vogue good pix, clear instructions, some interesting designs, and clever construction techniques. Also thoughtfully offers yarn options, something all pattern books ought to, but don't always, do.

Good stuff, as are most Vogue books, but they also tend to not offer much in the way of size ranges, alas. This one isn't bad in that respect, but although I liked several patterns rather a lot, I was unable to actively consider making them up due to limited pattern ranges, hence my lowish rating. I'm willing to try and update a pattern a couple of sizes, but when it's listed as 42" for the largest size and I want a 54".... (I prefer things very loose)! The general run of pattern sizes here is about 42" for the largest, although several are meant to be oversized and made-up measurements were ~50", so they might work for some folks' inclinations.

Worth a good look.

[Minnesinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a baby cardi pattern ("Baby Sweater on Two Needles") by Elizabeth Zimmermann, the Grand Dame of knitting. It also contains another Zimmermann classic, The Tomten Jacket, which is still wildly popular worldwide some 30+ years after this book was first published.

Zimmermann introduced knitting to America and is singlehandedly responsible for popularizing nationwide, though Vogue should receive some credit for contacting her and publishing her patterns when she was still relatively unknown. Zimmermann is also famous for the "EPS" formula ("Elizabeth's Percentage System") she devised by which one can use any yarn (within reason) to knit any pattern. Amazing woman.

As a footnote, Zimmermann's daughter Meg Swanson has followed in her mother's footsteps and is also a celebrated designer in the U.S.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Requested for the February Baby Sweater pattern... which is awesome and definitely worth doing more than once. What a perfect pattern!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the patterns that Elizabeth Zimmerman contributed to the book.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing for me.