Fitted Knits: 25 Designs for the Fashionable Knitter

by Stefanie Japel

Customize handknits to fit and flatter your figure Whether you're tall or short, curvy or slender, you deserve clothes that fit you perfectly. Fitted Knits gives you patterns that create well-fitted garments designed to accentuate your positives. You simply knit to your measurements, easily adjusting the pattern so it's tailored to your unique shape. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to add shaping details that ensure a perfect fit for your figure. There is something here to keep you knitting happily the whole year through, from lightweight summer tanks and tees to shrugs, wraps and cardigans perfect for those transitional times, and, of course, warm and cozy sweaters, vests and coats to get you through the cold months. Inside Fitted Knits you'll No more boxy, shapeless sweaters for you! Pick up your needles today and knit to fit.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Fashion, Art

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2007

Reviews

[Matthew Gatheringwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of ugly sweaters in the world, but you won't find any in this stylish book. Stefanie Japel (of glampyre.com) has designed 25 shapely garments for knitters who love the unique way that a knitted garment can move with the body. Here are sculptural sweaters that both hug and drape the figure, instead of uninspired rectangles that bunch under arms or sag over bottoms.

Shaping is often scary for new knitters, but these patterns are rated by difficulty and there are several that I'd suggest, perhaps not as a first project, but as an early project for the kind of new knitter that is interested just as much in an attractive product as she is in a comforting process.

I'd give the garment photographs a B+. There doesn't appear to be any photo trickery here. (With a fitted garment, who needs a clothes-pin at the small of the back?) We see a full garment and several detail shots for each pattern, but even with multiple shots, we don't always see the full front and back of the garment. One pattern (the tweed jacket and skirt set) is photographed with light from above and behind the dark-clad model. We see a great silhouette, but few details.

For new and intermediate knitters especially, this book is probably not going to be enough for you to successfully complete your pattern. The sections on calculating fit and finishing are cursory and the various knitting stitches and techniques are not illustrated. It will be helpful to have your favorite knitting reference guide handy.

Although this is a new book, it has already generated an extensive errata, which is dutifully kept by the author on her Website. (This, by the way, is one of the reasons I don't recommend knitting a pattern from a new book.)

[Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet Stefanie at a trade show recently, as she promoted this book and showed the original projects. AMAZING! I immediately added this book to my must-have list and started dreaming of projects, fiber, and fun.

Stefanie, also known online as "Glampyre," doesn't disappoint. The patterns cover a wide range of easier and more difficult projects, and while all fashion-forward, they aren't so trendy that they'll be passe before they make it off your needles.

Highly recommended.

[Deodand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a heterosexual girl crush on Stephanie Japel. So does everyone else who reads her website or knits her designs, because she's smart and cool and good looking and nice.

I was so happy for her when I heard she got a book - she deserved it. She deserves to write another book! These designs are a long shot from the lumpy old sweater-with-a-moose your grandma gave you for Christmas.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I mostly read knitting books for ideas and pictures, I found a lot of inspiration from the well-tailored pieces in this book. The one day I thought I might make one of the patterns, however, I was a little out of luck. This may be known to many, but a good collection of circular needles are a must to work your way through Japel's pieces. I contemplated working one of her patterns flat with the needles I had on hand (why does no one deliver), but realized I might as well design my own piece from scratch.

Japel's introduction will be helpful for people who have been a little intimidated by the thought of modifying a pattern to better suit them.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's hard to find knit patterns for things I'd actually wear. The author has created some wonderful patterns for garments I'd actually want to wear. The instructions could be clearer in some instances, but the fact that the garments are all easily sizeable more than makes up for it. The best part is that she makes a point of choosing affordable yarns so that your knit project doesn't cost you three times what buying the sweater would have.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to own this book. The patterns look nice, but there's very little "fitting" for a book called FITTED KNITS. Most of these are fitted because they are stretchy. they have negative ease. I was expecting how to get tailored, custom fits but it's just.. negative ease!
Even in the author photo she's not wearing a fitted knit.
It's not a BAD book of patterns. There's plenty I want to knit and I think it's a fair range of styles. But it loses points for a misleading title.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of Japel's patterns (I have browsed through other books going 'all of this sucks except this ONE patter, oh wait it's by STephanie Japel, that's why it's pretty'). They are (for once) actually fashionable as the title says. I want to make every one of these, and am looking forward to my skill level getting up to it. Very worthwhile, a possible purchase.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for years. The sweaters I've made are still being worn. These designs are pretty timeless.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were three or four patterns I would gladly knit and wear in this volume. Others, IMO, are beginning to look dated. Still, a fun set of patterns—I like her approach.

[ISpeakYarn]

I have knitted many of these patterns, I love everything Stefanie Japel designs.

[Goldenrod · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would come back for the drop stitch lace tank on p. 27.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice pictures.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I only found three patterns that I wanted to knit, I really liked the overall feel of this book. The pages and the way that the knitted items were formatted was very appealing. I loved the lace designs that were incorporated through the pattern instructions, just giving it a professional and also feminine feel. The patterns, for the most part, were pretty ingenious, I liked how they used different stitch patterns in their sweaters, putting a block of funky or stylish stitch pattern that made the stockinette look more regal and refined. Even if you don't find anything that you would like to knit in this book, you'd still get a lot just by leafing through the pages and looking at the gorgeous designs.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The front picture is probably the best pattern in the book, there are 24 total projects broken up into different types of clothing.

Tubes, tanks and tees.
Shrugs, cardigans and wraps.
Sweaters, vests and coats.
Dress-up clothes (jacket and skirt set and a dress).

Mostly easy to intermediate level patterns, but there are a lot of yarn needed for certain projects (i.e. dress takes 10 to 13 skeins of Cascade yarn pima silk cotton blend yarn which will set you back at least 100$). I'm a bit of a cheap (but soft) yarn knitter and I keep to smaller projects so I only made the Drop-Stitch lace tank (5-6 balls of cascade yarns pima tencel/cotton blend yarn in 4.5mm straight needles and 3.75mm circ needle) which knitted up great, and stick to your size because it is very stretchy knit.

144 pages and soft cover large format book
2 stars

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really unique designs. Fairly easy to follow patterns for an advanced beginner (Ie: if you're beyond making a scarf). There is a list of corrections, as is common in knitting patterns, that you may have to hunt for. (I've requested a link from the author and will post it asap.)

The corrections seemed to have disappeared into the unknown. I have since tried other patterns and find that Ms. Japel's patterns have errors (almost all pattern books do). My issue is that you CANNOT find corrections to her patterns without scrolling through pages and pages of Ravelry user details and even then you may not come up with anything. I have tried to contact the author directly with no luck. It seems like the author has made no effort in providing a way for buyers of her books a way to easily correct these problems.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favourite knitting book with patterns in my all time favourite style of knitting - top down. I very rarely find sweater patterns in knitting books that are stylish. Often, sweaters are bulky, boxy, and unflattering. Plus, as a person with a long torso, I can never find patterns that fit lengthwise. My prayers were answered with Fitted Knits. Not only are Stefanie Japel's designs stylish, but the opening chapter clearly outlines how to customize any sweater pattern to fit your own body. Long torso? No problem! The instructions clearly break down the design of a pattern and tell you how to make perfect (and easy) alterations.

I have made one sweater from this book and have earmarked 4 others that I would like to make. This is a keeper!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a knitter, which means I'm also a knitting book fiend. This one feels like the book I've been waiting for. I'm a fan of the author's patterns in general, with exception to when she gets a little to mod for me. There are some patterns in this book that I wouldn't bother with (I'm not a fan of chunky yarn), but all the rest I can't wait to cast on for. (That's knitter-talk for "start new project".)

[Evelyn]

You know how you look at all those knitting magazines, and you think how it's amazing that you can spend so much time on something and it can turn out so hideous. The patterns in this book are actually really cute, and there's a really great explanation of how to fit patterns to your measurements. I'm using a pattern from this book to knit my first sweater. So excited!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love knitting books that are more than just 'here is a pattern. Follow it.' This book encourages you to alter the pattern to fit you and only you. And, it shows you how. It also gives great insight on how to design your own patterns and alter other patterns besides just the ones in this book. Wonderful reading.

[thistle]

And sometimes I read knitting books from the public library, which is good because I would not really want to have bought this one. I'm interested in two of the patterns, and I may yet try them; it's good to know via Ravelry that both tend to be overlarge and to require more yarn than the patterns say. (If I knit either pattern, perhaps my habit of knitting a bit tightly will be useful.)

[Lost_Clown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It has many great patterns. I have the yarn and the plans to complete 90% of the patterns in the book. I'm very picky about knitting books and found this to be wonderful. There are things for everyone in this book.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I wasn't all that impressed with this book. I think the "for the Fashionable Knitter" led me to believe the styles would be more modern than they actually are.

[yoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is a nice book and I really adore top-down construction, nothing really *spoke* to me. Part of this is because my new stance on knitted pieces is: I want this to be something unique and not something I could buy off the rack. Also, miles of mindless stockinette are out.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being someone who usually only uses vintage patterns collected from thrift stores, this is one of the few modern books I would consider adding to my collection. Japel solves the raglan fitting problem quite neatly and easily.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I bought this and actually returned it. I NEVER return books. The title is incredibly misleading. I thought it would be about knits that, you know, fit. Lots of blousy, unflattering designs.

[BookMouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie has some interesting patterns. I've always loved seeing her designs on her blog (glampyre.com), but while the patterns in her book have some really cool details, overall, they're just not my taste.

[D1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided my first sweater pattern. It's very simple now that I've done more research, but is great for knitters who are interested in making the leap. It's easy to customize patterns from here.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far I've knit the back-to-school U neck vest and also the textured tunic with side slits. although many of the styles share similar qualities they are for the most part, fabulous because they're not intended for stick thin runway models. the designs allow for real curves. highly recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've knit two patterns from this book, the shrug and the puff sleeved cardigan. It's got a lovely selection of patterns and clearly explains how to adjust for different body types. Highly recommended!