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Knit So Fine: Designs with Skinny Yarn
Educating knitters about fine yarns, this information-packed book features more than 20 stylish and contemporary projects to knit with lightweight yarns. Knitters will learn what fine yarns are, the many advantages of knitting with them, plus tips and techniques to make the knitting process even more enjoyable. Perfect for all skill levels, the projects in this guidebook show that garments knitted with thin yarns not only fit more precisely, but are more flattering to the figure and feel better against the skin. They also offer more versatility for fashion elements such as ruching, ruffles, gauzy layers, and drape. Crafters will find stylish and contemporary patterns, including a drapy silk top, a supple zippered cable hoodie, a bamboo skirt with stunning drape, a bohus-inspired pullover, a wrap dress, a ruffled scarf, and much more.
- GenresKnittingCraftsNonfiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 17, 2021
Convinced me...
... I AM one of those knitters who tend to shy away from “skinny” yarn for most projects. Having knit shawls and smaller projects such as socks, fingerless mitts, hats, baby projects, etc, with lace weight to sport weight yarn, I am perfectly aware this shyness is TOTALLY IRRATIONAL.
One of MY primary reasons for avoiding skinny yarn for sweater & larger projects has been COST. But, recently I have been knitting my own winter hat design for sale at a local gift shop - in SuperBulky “big box name brand” yarn and have begun to recognize just how *expensive* “fat” yarn is... PER YARD & “by mileage.” It is, in terms of PROJECT SIZE, very expensive per yard, including waiting for lowest sale price WITH my craft store employee discount on top of that!
Reading through the math and rational justification for buying more expensive SKINNY yarn (larger “put ups” of MORE yards per purchase), it changed my PERSPECTIVE.
YES, it WILL take longer to finish any project with thinner yarn. BUT the overall results will be more satisfying on multiple levels IF one does their swatch homework before jumping in. This book makes a STRONG case in these regards!
HOWEVER, there are multiple TRICKS to make sure one doesn’t RUSH THROUGH *OR* become “bored/distracted” before completion. Several I’ve employed for years to avoid “perpetual unfinished projects”... of EVERY size, in any kind of yarn:
* Have more than one project going: 3-5 is ideal for most crafters - not just yarn based if you are multicraftual (bead/jewelry, quilting, sewing crafts, embroidery, whatever)
* Projects in progress ideally have a variety of complexity, required attention, reasonable completion expectations, joy-level, etc
* ALWAYS set a timer when you sit down to craft
* When you first sit down to craft, set timer for 15-30 minutes AND WORK ON PROJECT YOU ARE *LEAST* EXCITED ABOUT FIRST - when timer goes off, REWARD yourself with the project you MOST want to spend time with for the duration of your crafting session
This way, you are always making progress and COMPLETING projects - sewing those buttons on, weaving in ends, connecting those squares, just knitting another few inches on that “never ending” project, etc, BUT only for a short time EVERY time you sit down to craft. It is AMAZING how much can be done in just 15 mins... sometimes that is enough to renew the JOY in a project & you will WANT to work on it longer!
* SET SMALL GOALS for every project EVERY TIME you pick it up: so many inches or stitch pattern repeats, just the cuffs today; increase the goals if you feel inspired, or put it away & switch to a different project when you met your goal on that project = WIN, WIN
* STOP when you are feeling aggravated, uninspired, angry/tense and CHANGE to something else: you are more likely to make more errors and your ATTITUDE toward the project can change in unhelpful ways otherwise. We craft for ENJOYMENT; if you aren’t enjoying it RIGHT NOW, do something different!
* SMALL projects that can be completed quickly should always be in your crafting “bag” to maintain enthusiasm
* COMPLEX/NEW SKILL/LONG TERM projects that require a bit more attention and focus should always be in your crafting “bag” to stretch and grow - limit time with them as necessary
* BRAINLESS projects that require little or no attention/focus should always be in crafting “bag” to maintain sanity and satisfaction; something you can do while listening to an audiobook, video, in the car, in the waiting room, crafting with other people, etc
* GIFT/DONATION projects should also be in ones crafting bag to feed your SOUL and SPIRIT: baby, critter, holiday, special occasion GIFT projects for specific people, organizations and simply to GIVE as you please
Knitting and crocheting with SKINNY yarn can fill that COMPLEX/NEW SKILL/LONG TERM void. Over time, you may find you PREFER these types of projects... because you’ve overcome the irrational objections to them. Most crafters are ALWAYS going to knit or sew another stitch! Crafting is as much a PROCESS experience as it is a PRODUCT experience.
If you are a PRODUCT-focused crafter, as I am, CREATE “product points” WITHIN larger projects to carry you through. So many inches a session, a minimum of so much time a session, so many pattern repeats, one square per session... whatever gets you to completed projects WITHOUT loosing interest or enjoyment or having “unfinished orphan” projects languishing in the back of your closet or under your bed.
Happy crafting always!
... I AM one of those knitters who tend to shy away from “skinny” yarn for most projects. Having knit shawls and smaller projects such as socks, fingerless mitts, hats, baby projects, etc, with lace weight to sport weight yarn, I am perfectly aware this shyness is TOTALLY IRRATIONAL.
One of MY primary reasons for avoiding skinny yarn for sweater & larger projects has been COST. But, recently I have been knitting my own winter hat design for sale at a local gift shop - in SuperBulky “big box name brand” yarn and have begun to recognize just how *expensive* “fat” yarn is... PER YARD & “by mileage.” It is, in terms of PROJECT SIZE, very expensive per yard, including waiting for lowest sale price WITH my craft store employee discount on top of that!
Reading through the math and rational justification for buying more expensive SKINNY yarn (larger “put ups” of MORE yards per purchase), it changed my PERSPECTIVE.
YES, it WILL take longer to finish any project with thinner yarn. BUT the overall results will be more satisfying on multiple levels IF one does their swatch homework before jumping in. This book makes a STRONG case in these regards!
HOWEVER, there are multiple TRICKS to make sure one doesn’t RUSH THROUGH *OR* become “bored/distracted” before completion. Several I’ve employed for years to avoid “perpetual unfinished projects”... of EVERY size, in any kind of yarn:
* Have more than one project going: 3-5 is ideal for most crafters - not just yarn based if you are multicraftual (bead/jewelry, quilting, sewing crafts, embroidery, whatever)
* Projects in progress ideally have a variety of complexity, required attention, reasonable completion expectations, joy-level, etc
* ALWAYS set a timer when you sit down to craft
* When you first sit down to craft, set timer for 15-30 minutes AND WORK ON PROJECT YOU ARE *LEAST* EXCITED ABOUT FIRST - when timer goes off, REWARD yourself with the project you MOST want to spend time with for the duration of your crafting session
This way, you are always making progress and COMPLETING projects - sewing those buttons on, weaving in ends, connecting those squares, just knitting another few inches on that “never ending” project, etc, BUT only for a short time EVERY time you sit down to craft. It is AMAZING how much can be done in just 15 mins... sometimes that is enough to renew the JOY in a project & you will WANT to work on it longer!
* SET SMALL GOALS for every project EVERY TIME you pick it up: so many inches or stitch pattern repeats, just the cuffs today; increase the goals if you feel inspired, or put it away & switch to a different project when you met your goal on that project = WIN, WIN
* STOP when you are feeling aggravated, uninspired, angry/tense and CHANGE to something else: you are more likely to make more errors and your ATTITUDE toward the project can change in unhelpful ways otherwise. We craft for ENJOYMENT; if you aren’t enjoying it RIGHT NOW, do something different!
* SMALL projects that can be completed quickly should always be in your crafting “bag” to maintain enthusiasm
* COMPLEX/NEW SKILL/LONG TERM projects that require a bit more attention and focus should always be in your crafting “bag” to stretch and grow - limit time with them as necessary
* BRAINLESS projects that require little or no attention/focus should always be in crafting “bag” to maintain sanity and satisfaction; something you can do while listening to an audiobook, video, in the car, in the waiting room, crafting with other people, etc
* GIFT/DONATION projects should also be in ones crafting bag to feed your SOUL and SPIRIT: baby, critter, holiday, special occasion GIFT projects for specific people, organizations and simply to GIVE as you please
Knitting and crocheting with SKINNY yarn can fill that COMPLEX/NEW SKILL/LONG TERM void. Over time, you may find you PREFER these types of projects... because you’ve overcome the irrational objections to them. Most crafters are ALWAYS going to knit or sew another stitch! Crafting is as much a PROCESS experience as it is a PRODUCT experience.
If you are a PRODUCT-focused crafter, as I am, CREATE “product points” WITHIN larger projects to carry you through. So many inches a session, a minimum of so much time a session, so many pattern repeats, one square per session... whatever gets you to completed projects WITHOUT loosing interest or enjoyment or having “unfinished orphan” projects languishing in the back of your closet or under your bed.
Happy crafting always!
November 24, 2011
Actually 3 and a half stars, this large softcover has some very nice patterns in limited sizes, but well-described and many quite pretty; unfortunately all utilize the charting method for cables and laces, which made most of the patterns I liked (there *were* many) unworkable for me. Charts completely befuddle me... and I suspect I'm not alone in that. Pattern instructions *used* to offer BOTH forms of design in each pattern, of a chart AND the actual stitch-by-stitch instructions, why can't they still do this?? Is it laziness on the part of the designers? I know it takes a great deal more care and work to write up a pattern that illustrates the stitches precisely stitch-by-stitch, especially in complex designs, but surely I can't be the only person in the knitting world (and crochet too) that can't abide charts?
May 5, 2013
Really pretty patterns, though most are too advanced for me. This book is really sweater-heavy, though, and I was looking for something smaller to make with leftover sock yarn... besides more socks.
Want to read
December 27, 2008This book has three patterns that look really interesting
zip front hoodie
lace stole
bamboo skirt
zip front hoodie
lace stole
bamboo skirt
April 14, 2015
Some very nice patterns, clear instructions. Not sure I'm ready for these yet.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews