Glam Knits: 25 + Designs for Luxe Yarns

by Stefanie Japel

Provides detailed patterns and step-by-step instructions for twenty-five creative projects, all made from such luxury yarns as silks, angoras, and cashmeres, representing a variety of stylish and glamorous articles, including camisoles, dresses, skirts, blouses, and more, accompanied by helpful tips on knitting techniques. Original.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Retro sensual styled knitting patterns with artsy photos that don't really help with the actual construction of the garment. Someone had fun taking retro photos of the cute knitted clothing. This is not for a beginner although most of these patterns are very easy, but there isn't a great explication for the stitches so I would recommend that you buy this after you're mastered the basics.

Silk Cami - racer back tank top with a lacy bottom pattern, 24 sts on 10cm2 on 4mm circular needles/double pointed needles
Bamboo Tunic - tank top style long line simple knit tunic with a draw string decoration on the bottom, 20sts on 10cm2 on 4.5mm circular needles
Zigzag lace wraparound - Vest with lacy pattern, 14.5sts on 10cm2 in lace pattern on 5.5mm (need 3.5mm needles as well)
Boho Blouse - cap sleeved knitted in the round with simple pattern, 12 sts on 10cm2 on 6.5 Circular needles in bust sizes 32, 36, 44.5 and 53.5inches or 81, 91, 113, 136cm
Bell-Sleeved Scoop-Neck Top - soft deep scoop neeck with short sleeves sweater, 16sts on 10cm2 on 5.5mm (but need 4.5mm and 6.5mm needles too)
Lace Panel Tunic - lacy leaf long sleeve round neck sweater, 22 sts on 10cm2 on 4.5mm (need 3.75mm needle too)
Fitted Deep-ribbed cardigan - tight fit 3/4 sleeve with rib pattern, 20 sts on 10cm2 on 5mm (need 4mm needles)
Romantic Bell-sleeved Cardi - elbow length sleeve fitted (tight) with round neck, 24 sts on 10cm2 on 3.75mm (need 2.75mm straight and 5mm circular needles)
Silk Skirt - matching skirt to 'Silk Cami' pattern, same gauge
Lace Mini-dress - see though pattern with peterpan collar and elbow length sleeves, 20.5sts on 10cm2 in eyelet pattern on 5mm needles (need 4mm and 5mm straight needles, 4mm 29in and 5mm 29in circular needles)
Deep U-Neck Tunic Dress - short sleeve (cap) with deep V neck, 22 sts on 10cm2 on 4.5mm 32in or 40in circ needle (need 3.75mm 40in circ needle)
Gold Metallic Dress - dress on the cover with 3/4 sleeves, round neck and above knee, 21 sts on 10cm2 on 4mm 32in or 40in circ needles (need 5mm 32in or 40in circ needles)
Lacy Dolman - Bat wing full sleeved lacy pattern, 11 sts on 10cm2 in lace ladder pattern on 6.5mm straight needles (need 4mm 29in circular needle)
Textured Circle Shrug - tonal color yarn in this elbow length sleeves, 18 sts x 26 rows on 10cm2 on 5mm 29in (need 4mm 40in circ needle)
Kimono Wrap - open front with short sleeve coat, 11 sts x 13 rows on 10cm2 in lace pattern on 10mm 40in or 60in circular needle (need 10mm straight needles too)
Double-Breasted Cardigan - chunky coat with long sleeves, 18sts x 31 rows on 10cm2 on 4.5mm 40in circ needle and 18sts x 34rows on 10cm2 on 4.5mm 40in circular needle (need 3.75mm 40in or 60in circular needle)
Trapeze Jacket - chunky yarn elbow length sleeve coat, 8.5sts x 15.5 rows on 10cm2 in st st on 9mm 32in or 40in circular needle
Texturized Tweed Coat - long sleeve coat, 18 sts x 28rows on 10cm2 on 5mm 40in AND 16in circular needles
Puff-Sleeved Hoodie - hooded long sleeve button front closure, 19sts x 27 rows on 10cm2 in st st on 5mm straight needles (need 4.5mm straight needles)
Full Length Toggle Coat - ugly long sleeve chunky yearn coat, 9.5sts x 11 rows on 10cm2 in st st with 9mm 29in circ needle (un-stretched), 7.25 x 12 rows on 10cm2 in st st stretched out
Short and Sweet Coat - large round neckline with 3/4 sleeve with button front and lace decoration, 7.5sts x 11 rows on 10cm2 in st st on 10mm 40in circ needle
Fur Collar - 8sts on 10cm2 in garter st on 8mm straight needles
Lacy Accent Scarf - 31sts x 20 rows on 10cm2 in lace pattern on 4mm straight needles
Lace Sleeves - 13 sts x 14 rows on 10cm in foaming waves pattern on 8mm straight needles (need 6mm double pointed needles too)
Openwork Handbag - 11 sts x 13.5 rows on 10cm2 in lace pattern on 8mm straight needles
Netted clutch 0 12 sts x 20 rows on 10cm2 in net stitch on 5mm straight needles

144 pages on paperback large format
2 stars

[Leanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pretty projects in here but the only one I used was "Lace Panel Tunic".... which turned out to be a total nightmare! The publisher printed the wrong pattern so I had to frog it several times before I googled for errata.
If you want to knit this particular pattern, visit Ravelry to see the comments from Stephanie Japel herself as well as the correct pattern- she also answers questions you have on the patterns in the book.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited about this book. I guess I expected more.
although there are some great yarns used in the patterns the patterns were for the most part rather lack luster. the models and the photos seemed to be the most glam part.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing for me.

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting and innovating designs in this book. I bought it because I liked the look of a shrug and a hoodie, but when I checked out real life versions on Ravelry, people had clearly struggled to make the patterns work in real life. The hoodie, for example, looks great, but several people said it has too shallow a hood to go on a real head.

So, you obviously need to be a skilled knitter to make these patterns work, so that you can spot any potential hazards and adjust the patterns to suit you. This means it's a book to go on the shelf for interest and inspiration, but not one to invest time & money in the patterns.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really amazing patterns in this book, but I didn't find any that I was so in love with I wanted to knit. I felt like the models in the knitted clothes could have been posed better, it didn't seem very natural. I thought the book was trying too hard to be cool by having suggestively posed models who were sometimes scantily dressed. The book was trying to mix high fashion and knitted apparel, but I'm not really sure if they succeeded. I might recommend.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...

[Deodand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a true "liked it". The designs don't blow me down the way Fitted Knits did. The focus here is luxury yarn, which is fine, but I see a lot of projects that are worsted weight and over, which are out for a person with my considerable shoulders (and bust, and booty etc. etc.). I do like to flip through this now and then for reading's sake but I only see one project I'm going to do. I'm still glad to support Japel though - I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I scanned this at B&N and decided it just wasn't my style. There were one or two that may have worked, but I'll wait to check it out from the library.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute things (Stephanie Japel is the best) that I will definitely go back to when my skill level is enough. Wisted on ravelry.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heart Stefanie Japel designs.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written instructions for creating beautiful garments. This works well with her Fit your Knits video tutorials,found at Craftsy.com.

[Marjanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some fun stuff here. I wish I knew how to knit better.