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Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs That Flatter Your Figure
Romance is alive and well in the sweet and sexy clothing and accessory designs you’ll find in Romantic Hand Knits . Exquisite drape married with figure-hugging silhouettes show off a woman’s curves in a most ladylike manner, creating flirtatious and flattering fits to please any knitter. Loosely based on ultra-feminine styles from fashion history, the designs in Romantic Hand Knits have an undeniably modern appeal.
• A lace camisole is lengthened and reinvented as a lovely summer slip dress
• A late-eighteenth-century corset cover inspires the design for a lacy fitted top with elbow-length sleeves
• Silk stockings favored by Elizabethan ladies of the royal court return in a sexy and fresh incarnation
With the new fibers available today, knitting guru Annie Modesitt knits up fabrics that cling delicately to a woman’s body, creating an elegant hand-tailored look. Now every woman will be able to create fitted garments that make her look as pretty, desirable, and sexy as she feels.
For knitters who want to heat things up in a whole new way, the alluring designs in Romantic Hand Knits will help them light the fires.
An interview with Annie Modesitt
What’s your philosophy on the “romantic look”?
There is a certain cultural shorthand that implies that “romantic” means lots of lace, billowy skirts, low-cut bodices, and a little more leg than usual–sexy with an extra layer. But I think that, like everything deeply personal, romance has its own specific look for each person. Romance is not so much about being desirable to another as it is about reveling in and celebrating our own hearts’ desires.
In the introduction to Romantic Hand Knits , you say that romance is about dreams and hope, and how in knitting, as in romance, much of the joy is in the dream. How has knitting brought romance into your life?
Knitting allows me to enjoy my time, my imagination and my mind more than I might without needles and yarn. When my mind is free–and powerful–the way it feels when I knit, then my soul soars a little and all of this adds a layer of joy to my life. Not to put too fine a point on it, this makes me love life, and love love , in a much deeper way, which in turn makes me more lovable. Nothing is more attractive than a quiet self confidence, which is what I get from knitting.
You say in Romantic Hand Knits that the garment that dresses the top of the body sets the tone for the rest of your ensemble–and that this is perfectly demonstrated in the piece you’ve named Ninotchka. Can you elaborate?
It’s hard to get away from the fact that the bust area–being the most important fit point on most women’s bodies and also being so near to the face–can send very strong signals. Usually we want these to be good “this is a woman in control of her life and her wardrobe,” “I can trust what this woman tells me,” or “I feel this person is sympathetic and kind.”
In Ninotchka, the well-supported bust area adds strength and stability to the design, allowing feminine details like the lace below the bust line and the thin twisted-cord shoulder straps to relax and soften, not weaken, the message this piece sends. “Here’s a woman confident in her femininity, but with a strong foundation.”
Any stories to share from the development of Romantic Hand Knits ?
One of my favorite pieces, Streetcar Named Desire, was briefly a disaster! It was worked up quite beautifully by my knitter, who then attempted to block the piece. I generally like to block and finish most of the garments, and I hardly ever wet block, but in the blocking of this piece an interesting thing occurred.
The fitted, springy little cardigan that I designed began to drape and hang in unexpected ways. The piece went from Sandra Dee to Blanche DuBois, and I couldn’t have been happier! It altered the way that I recommended caring for the piece (machine wash instead of dry clean), which, quite honestly, is how most folks want to deal with their clothing.
With the addition of a waist tie, which can be moved to different eyelet rows to create a high, low, or natural waistline, the cardigan had an entirely different aspect–a sexier, “floatier,” more intriguing look.
Is there a particular type of yarn that works best for this look? Why?
I tried very hard to use a variety of fibers that represent a wide variety of price points. I do understand that not every knitter will be able to afford the silk to make Cleopatra, but I felt it was an important, inspiring piece and had to be included in a collection of romantic silhouettes. A firm, machine-washable Egyptian cotton might be a good substitute. One of the most useful skills to develop as a knitter is the ability to substitute yarn–this skill can only be honed with experience.
This is why I suggest to new knitters that when they see a ball of yarn they like, they should get it and swatch it right away. Don’t wait for the right project to come along. If you swatch a yarn you love, you may just see that the right project’s been ...
• A lace camisole is lengthened and reinvented as a lovely summer slip dress
• A late-eighteenth-century corset cover inspires the design for a lacy fitted top with elbow-length sleeves
• Silk stockings favored by Elizabethan ladies of the royal court return in a sexy and fresh incarnation
With the new fibers available today, knitting guru Annie Modesitt knits up fabrics that cling delicately to a woman’s body, creating an elegant hand-tailored look. Now every woman will be able to create fitted garments that make her look as pretty, desirable, and sexy as she feels.
For knitters who want to heat things up in a whole new way, the alluring designs in Romantic Hand Knits will help them light the fires.
An interview with Annie Modesitt
What’s your philosophy on the “romantic look”?
There is a certain cultural shorthand that implies that “romantic” means lots of lace, billowy skirts, low-cut bodices, and a little more leg than usual–sexy with an extra layer. But I think that, like everything deeply personal, romance has its own specific look for each person. Romance is not so much about being desirable to another as it is about reveling in and celebrating our own hearts’ desires.
In the introduction to Romantic Hand Knits , you say that romance is about dreams and hope, and how in knitting, as in romance, much of the joy is in the dream. How has knitting brought romance into your life?
Knitting allows me to enjoy my time, my imagination and my mind more than I might without needles and yarn. When my mind is free–and powerful–the way it feels when I knit, then my soul soars a little and all of this adds a layer of joy to my life. Not to put too fine a point on it, this makes me love life, and love love , in a much deeper way, which in turn makes me more lovable. Nothing is more attractive than a quiet self confidence, which is what I get from knitting.
You say in Romantic Hand Knits that the garment that dresses the top of the body sets the tone for the rest of your ensemble–and that this is perfectly demonstrated in the piece you’ve named Ninotchka. Can you elaborate?
It’s hard to get away from the fact that the bust area–being the most important fit point on most women’s bodies and also being so near to the face–can send very strong signals. Usually we want these to be good “this is a woman in control of her life and her wardrobe,” “I can trust what this woman tells me,” or “I feel this person is sympathetic and kind.”
In Ninotchka, the well-supported bust area adds strength and stability to the design, allowing feminine details like the lace below the bust line and the thin twisted-cord shoulder straps to relax and soften, not weaken, the message this piece sends. “Here’s a woman confident in her femininity, but with a strong foundation.”
Any stories to share from the development of Romantic Hand Knits ?
One of my favorite pieces, Streetcar Named Desire, was briefly a disaster! It was worked up quite beautifully by my knitter, who then attempted to block the piece. I generally like to block and finish most of the garments, and I hardly ever wet block, but in the blocking of this piece an interesting thing occurred.
The fitted, springy little cardigan that I designed began to drape and hang in unexpected ways. The piece went from Sandra Dee to Blanche DuBois, and I couldn’t have been happier! It altered the way that I recommended caring for the piece (machine wash instead of dry clean), which, quite honestly, is how most folks want to deal with their clothing.
With the addition of a waist tie, which can be moved to different eyelet rows to create a high, low, or natural waistline, the cardigan had an entirely different aspect–a sexier, “floatier,” more intriguing look.
Is there a particular type of yarn that works best for this look? Why?
I tried very hard to use a variety of fibers that represent a wide variety of price points. I do understand that not every knitter will be able to afford the silk to make Cleopatra, but I felt it was an important, inspiring piece and had to be included in a collection of romantic silhouettes. A firm, machine-washable Egyptian cotton might be a good substitute. One of the most useful skills to develop as a knitter is the ability to substitute yarn–this skill can only be honed with experience.
This is why I suggest to new knitters that when they see a ball of yarn they like, they should get it and swatch it right away. Don’t wait for the right project to come along. If you swatch a yarn you love, you may just see that the right project’s been ...
- GenresKnittingCraftsNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2007
2 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Annie Modesitt
25 books4 followersA native of Ohio, Annie taught herself to knit at age 25 before a move from NYC to Texas. The Texas tenure didn't last, but knitting did, and upon her return to the NY area Annie began knitting for other designers and designing for major knitting magazines. Her work has appeared in Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Knitters Magazine, Cast On, Family Circle Easy Knitting, McCalls Needlework and several family oriented magazines.
Author of Confessions of a Knitting Heretic, Knitting Millinery and editor of the 2006 Accord Crochet Pattern A Day Calendar and the collection of fiber essays, Cheaper Than Therapy, Annie has contributed to many knitting books including Stich N' Bitch, Scarf Style, Wrap Style, the Vogue Knitting Book, and Weekend Knitting and Holiday Handknits. Twist & Loop (Potter Craft, 2006) and Men Who Knit And The Dogs Who Love Them (Lark, Jan 2007) Annie's the inventor of the astoundingly clever Flip Knit, a low tech, portable alternative to knitting videos.
Annie knits using the Combination Method and believes that there truly is no wrong way to knit. She lives in St Paul, MN with her husband, kids and assorted pets.
Author of Confessions of a Knitting Heretic, Knitting Millinery and editor of the 2006 Accord Crochet Pattern A Day Calendar and the collection of fiber essays, Cheaper Than Therapy, Annie has contributed to many knitting books including Stich N' Bitch, Scarf Style, Wrap Style, the Vogue Knitting Book, and Weekend Knitting and Holiday Handknits. Twist & Loop (Potter Craft, 2006) and Men Who Knit And The Dogs Who Love Them (Lark, Jan 2007) Annie's the inventor of the astoundingly clever Flip Knit, a low tech, portable alternative to knitting videos.
Annie knits using the Combination Method and believes that there truly is no wrong way to knit. She lives in St Paul, MN with her husband, kids and assorted pets.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 21, 2015
Nothing for me so only 2 stars. All for women.
December 8, 2019
I am annoyed to have to say that I did not like this book, from the cover to last hat pattern. I didn't like the design of the book itself - even the paper stock, nor the photography or styling, nor most of the patterns. I was looking for something lacy and classic, but many of the pieces here are lumpy and garish. Ugh. I did appreciate the Recommended Reading list in the back. I think maybe Me and Annie Modesitt just clash, as this is the second book I've read of hers and I didn't care for the first one either. There are, certainly, things to inspire you to go off on your own direction but I won't be knitting anything up from this book.
July 20, 2017
some interesting patterns but for the most part predictable
November 27, 2008
I couldn't help but admire the way this book was put together, the photographs were vividly bright and I loved all the colors. This book is very hip and I thought that the way it was set up on the pages was refreshing. I found several of the patterns quite fetching and wanted to start knitting right away, but I'm going to save this book for future reference until I have enough yarn/time. The only thing that I found annoying was the way the knitted items were modeled. While I thought that most of the photographs in this book were astounding, some I thought needed just a tad bit more clothing, either over or under, if you get my drift. While I thought that this book did an excellent job of being throughly modern and hip, I felt like I was reading a teen fashion magazine with the immodesty of some of the models. Still, I would probably recommend this book, only adding a caution to not stare too closely at some of the designs.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
January 7, 2016
Not normally one for lace or any feminine styling, I found myself intrigued by a few patterns in this book. Did my Ravelry thing and marked as "favourite" those with which I will keep a "romantic hope".
Some beautiful patterns and a good description of how to knit for fit, and to maximize drape and bias to create visual illusion. Some lovely embroidery work captured.
"In knitting, as in romance, much of the hope is in the dream."
Some beautiful patterns and a good description of how to knit for fit, and to maximize drape and bias to create visual illusion. Some lovely embroidery work captured.
"In knitting, as in romance, much of the hope is in the dream."
September 16, 2013
I wouldn't make many of these patterns, but my daughter liked a few of the 'lacy' see through patterns so it might be that I'm not the audience for these types of clothes.
I'll be working up a two sweaters for holiday gifts (for my daughter, of course). So far the wool is affordable and easy to find on yarn.com so I'd say that most sweaters will cost about 40$ in small/medium.
2 and half stars
I'll be working up a two sweaters for holiday gifts (for my daughter, of course). So far the wool is affordable and easy to find on yarn.com so I'd say that most sweaters will cost about 40$ in small/medium.
2 and half stars
May 29, 2008
I was surprised to find very little here that I'd knit, since I love fitted pieces with fiddly details. I guess a lot of things here are set up for the braver souls among us. I was happy to see that the patterns are generously sized.
April 30, 2016
I just had to buy this book after seeing it at the library. The patterns are fitted and fun. Each one of these is named after a movie. It makes it more fun because I love the old movies. The patterns are romantic but the are also classy, sexy. Patterns include sweaters, skirts, dresses and hats.
knitting-crochet
July 10, 2013I bought this book because one of skirts was perfect to blend with another pattern for a wedding dress. There are so many great patterns and ideas. I had incorporated many design ideas in other projects . I'm happy I got this book.
December 27, 2007
This book is worth it for the hat patterns alone!
February 12, 2008
Unique patterns, but, somehow, I'm not motivated to knit any of them....
April 2, 2008
Love it!
May 14, 2008
I loved the pictures of romantic clothes ~ hope this motivates me to knit ~
August 13, 2008
The designs in Romantic Hand Knits are so gorgeous that I flip through it weekly, even though I have yet to knit anything in it.
February 18, 2015
I would love to just go through and knit every one of these.
July 21, 2009
Pretty girlie stuff.
Read
May 12, 2025I guess my style is not "Romantic". I wouldn't knit any of these patterns.
February 7, 2010
Annie has such different techniques of knitting - very interesting. May make a project from this book someday.
July 19, 2010
What I learned? I need more time to knit. :)
October 5, 2016
It is so pretty and so girly. I really want to knit the hat pattern and the sweaters.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews