Ysolda Teague‘s new book, Little Red in the City, will change the way you think about knitting garments for the rest of your life. Ysolda, a young designer based out of Scotland, has been working on this book for quite some time and the effort she put into the book shines through on every page.
The information she covers about pattern altering and sizing is impressive in it’s scope and clarity. I can not think of a knitter who doesn’t need this book in their knitting library. This hefty tome goes in-depth on bust shaping, choosing the correct size and doing everything you can to guarantee that a finished project will fit the way you desire.
Presented in a down-to-earth tone, Ysolda does a fantastic job of addressing the potentially sticky issues of women’s body shapes and sizing. The abundant illustrations are filled with side notes and kernels of information.
In the first part of the book, Ysolda also covers how to select substitute yarns and all the factors to account for when changing yarns. As someone who assists people in substituting yarns everyday, I thought this section was particularly well done. If more people paid attention to this information, there would be fewer people disappointed when their project doesn’t turn out as they hoped.
Techniques are well-illustrated and sometimes a few different methods for completing each technique are presented.
The range of sizes included for the six patterns is impressive and encompasses a lot of sizing information. The patterns are presented in a style reminiscent of a fill-in-the-blanks worksheets, with the numbers supplied by a chart. Each pattern has design notes and tidbits on fitting the piece.
Hand-written notes show how the math is figured for altering sizes or areas.
The patterns themselves are all knit-worthy, my top two being the vest above (Angostura) and the hooded jacket below (Melia).
Best of all, in addition to all the information covered, each hard copy of the book comes with a code to download the e-book version for free, making it possible to access the information on pretty much any mobile device you have handy. The patterns can be printed out individually and the numbers filled out without having to make copies from the book.
We have ONE signed copy of Little Red in the City to give away. Leave us a comment below telling us what you struggle most with when making sweaters and we’ll randomly choose a winner. Comments will close Thursday July 21 at noon, Central.
I struggle with choosing the right size to make.
I struggle mostly with sizing sweaters that I knit. I have a grandchild whose sweaters seem too big and a grandchild who is tall and sweater patterns need to be altered. I also need help with yarn substitution. This book sounds like it would answer both my problems.
Jane
Hi Ewes,
I struggle with sleeves and shoulders. A lot of them just seem to add too much bulk, which is the last thing I need. Being a plus size myself, I think Ysolda’s book would be particularly useful to me. And I really like the hand-done look about the book itself!
Hilary
this looks like a book that I can follow. Sweaters are still challenging and this book seems to give good visuals.
I’ ve been knitting for a long time but only started knitting sweaters and shapely items this past year…but now I’m really hooked!! I’m still learning about yarn selection and sizing and this seems to be a great book to learn from.
I struggle most with the location of my intended recipients, who all live out of state! Measurements don’t ‘measure up,’ if you know what I mean, and even though I carefully check and re-check all of the measurements given to me, still garment fit is hit and miss. Some have been perfect, others…not so much.
I’m very new to sweater knitting and struggle with not getting overwhelmed by everything. But I’m also a larger woman and would LOVE to have the information about sizing.
Sleeves are my biggest problem. I keep making raglans so I don’t have to sew in the sleeves. One sweater even turned into a vest.
Adjusting for larger sizes, especially in the bust!
I’ve never ventured into knitting sweaters; hooded blankets have been my biggest challenge. After reading this book review I think I’ll have to purchase this book and start knitting garments. Thank you for the recommendation!
I have tried my hardest to knit garments that fit (but I know if it doesn’t fit me I have 2 daughters). I would love to have more confidence on who I am making the sweater for so I could tell them a head of time they are definitely getting it!
I am tall so I always need to add extra to the length. The proportions for the fit are what I worry about. This book has a lot of explanation and diagrams.
The closest I’ve come to knitting a sweater is a small cardi for a baby. I’ve never attempted to make a sweater for myself, but I have a queue filled with sweaters that I dream about making. The entire process fills me with dread considering it is a chore to find store bought shirts that honestly fit me. I am notorious for substituting yarns and not quite getting what I want out of it no matter what project it is. From your description of the book it sounds like this would be very helpful. (Not to mention I adore several of Ysolde’s patterns.
My biggest problem is that if a pattern is sized right for my bust, it won’t fit my hips, and vice versa. I’d love to learn how to adapt patterns for that.
Also, I never can figure out how much ease to account for in any given pattern.
I struggle the most with yarn substitution. I always want to find the most affordable yarn and that it rarely the one that the patterns suggest.
I struggle with fit. Whether it’s a baby sweater or one for myself, no matter how careful I try to be about gauge, I’m never happy with the fit. I have 2 tall grandchildren, one roly poly one, and narrow shoulders myself. It would be nice to know how to adjust patterns so that I could be really proud of what I knit.
I struggle with shaping, especially around the armholes, especially when I alter a sleeve length from 3/4 to full length. My arms are fuller around the top, and I like a sleeve that doesn’t CLING to my upper arm. I’m thinking (hoping) this book will be able to help me!
thanks so much!!
Sleeves, sleeves, sleeves. It never seems to fail that everything will be going smoothly and then I attach the sleeves and the armhole is too tight or it bunches too much. So frustrating…
I looked at this book at a show this weekend and loved the look of it but didn’t buy it as it was too heavy to carry around. Being a big busted girl, this sounds like just the book I need.
I need this book…my most common issue is sizing. I have a small frame and pattern sizes often just aren’t a good fit for me. I find pattern adjustment to be intimidating, but I’d like to be more confident with it.
I’m petite. I struggle with finding patterns that come in an xs or size 0 and always find myself attempting to make adjustments so that the sweater actually fits my frame. I’m also sort of a knitting do it yourself-er. I love the challenge of making the yarn work for me. I’ve been watching Ysolda’s blog for months and waiting for this book. Hooray!!!!
Most patterns are designed for a smaller chest size than is required fir me personally. Therefore, the pattern has to be adjusted to produce a correct fit. It appears that “Little Red in the City” would develop a better understanding of the process ad well as learning an effective method. It is also a challenge to connect the sections when one is creating a sweater. Mastering these skills would create more time for knitting.
I struggle with knitting flattering styles for my body shape.
I’m crap at figuring out what looks right on me and how to get it so. Either they’re too short, or too long, or too bulky, or sack-like. Would love to have this book.
I struggle with the adjustments I need to make to the pattern to make sure a sweater fits perfectly–so this book sounds perfect for me!
I struggle with sizing. I have broad shoulders, muscular upper arms and a small bust. So if I choose a size that works for my bust, the shoulders aren’t wide enough and the sleeves are tight. If I choose a size that works for my shoulders, it might be good on my upper arms, but will probably be too big for my bust.
I really struggle with waist-shaping while still accommodating for my longer torso. The math gets confusing with no guidance. :) Any tips from Ysolda’s book would be amazing!
Which size to knit! I’m never sure.
Having a weird shaped body, I’m never quite sure how to shape or not shape, for that matter, my sweaters when knitting them. That’s why I have a lot of yarn intended for sweaters, but is reluctant to cast them on.
Finding ways to make a sweater fit and flatter me is such a painful experience.
Like many others, sleeves! They are always too long or too tight or bunch under the arms. I swear the main reason I put off seaming is because I know the sleeves are going to be a disaster.
I always end up having to adapt the pattern to the gauge of whatever yarn I have in mind to make the sweater out of. I never end up using the recommended yarn or even the recommended yarn weight. For the most part I can find a size that translates to my gauge but often I end up basically redoing the pattern entirely with the printed pattern as more of a style guide than actual instructions to follow.
Thanks to the Knitmore Girls couture button band tutorial, I can now make an awesome looking buttonband with ribbon backing. Even though I haven’t made many sweaters for myself yet, I get lots of compliments on my finishing and now have one friend who pays me to do all the finishing on her sweaters. However…I am still searching for the perfect buttonhole technique to go with my professional looking buttonband.
Also, some sweater styles seem to have too much bulk in the underarms…ick! I’d love to know why that happens and how to avoid it.
Oh, and bust darts! I want to know how to make bust darts! The only “shaping” I’ve tried so far has been created by decreasing and increasing down the side.
I struggle with bust shaping (I’m a UK 12 across my shoulders and a UK 16 across my chest, with a UK 14 waist, and anything nipped in under the bust never has a deep enough bust section) and armhole size (I don’t have big arms, but armholes are often too tight).
I definitely struggle with choosing the proper size for my big bust!
I just love this book! I haven’t ordered it yet, so winning it would be so cool!
My main sweater challenges include yarn substitution and sizing…swatching has not been all that successful for me. I continue to make sweaters, but the finished project is always a bit of a surprise! Sometimes a good surprise, sometimes not… I would love to have more understanding of the factors and adjustments that could affect my sweater outcomes.
I’m a very tight knitter so I nearly never get gauge or have to go up at least 0.5mm in needles.
And I’m really bad at sewing in sleeves but love jumpers who are sewn!
I often find that sweaters end up being a bit looser than expected in spots, this would be a great reference. Also, it is so frustrating when sweaters have no shaping built in.
I struggle with seaming the sleeves to the body. I don’t enjoy it, but I want it to look as professional as possible.
I struggle the most with actually finishing! I always get distracted with wanting to cast on new shiny projects with new gorgeous yarn!
I always struggle with tension, my garments end up way too big for me.
Listened to Ysolda talk about swatting on a podvast. I must do better!
Sand
My swatches lie! Obviously I knit completely differently flat than in the round. :-)
I also have a problem getting set-in sleeves to fit correctly, so I gravitate towards seamless patterns. But that’s so limiting.
I have avoided making sweaters so far. The reason being big hips, bigger waist, small bust, long waisted and long arms. I also struggle with gauge even when using the suggested yarn. This book sounds like it might help me work around my issues.
Sizing/guage, particularly if I’m not using the recommended yarn
I struggle with sweaters in general. But sizing is the hardest for me!
Like others, having mixed proportions makes sizing tricky on sweaters. I’ve made a few Ysolda patterns, her styles and directions are lovely. This book looks great!
I have a hard time with sizing, especially around the bust. I guess I’m just funny shaped!!
I struggle with sizing. I inevitable make something too big or too small. I have a hard time substituting yarn and that often compounds the fit problem. This book looks amazing and I love Ysolda’s taste and patterns. I would love to get this signed book. Thanks!
Honestly, that Ysolda is such a super talented girl! What a great book. I’d have to say my biggest struggle is always narrowing down my options – the possibilities and choices can be overwhelming sometimes! ;)
I would love to win this book. I think Ysolda’s patterns are spectacular. I would really like to knit a sweater that I just love, and that fits me well. This book looks amazing!
I struggle with tapes-that-lie. I can only assume that I seem to have faulty measuring devices. I can design-to-fit for anyone else perfectly (did it professionally for a few years), but when designing/knitting for myself–bah! Mental Block? yup
sizing!
At last! Patterns where I’ll be able to make garments in bigger sizes!
The book looks fantastic – if I don’t win i think I need to buy a copy anyway.
Brilliant!
I struggle with getting gauge and then figuring out what size to make when i get close to gauge.
This book looks beautiful!
I struggle with fitting my high waist in a flattering way. The smallest part of my torso is always at the bottom of my ribcage – now that I am done having kids, I no longer want to be asked if I am pregnant.
I struggle with getting jumpers long enough – knowing where to add the length… and also getting the bust and waist shaping correct for my body.
I struggle most with the fit of sweaters. Im
Not hour glass or square. I’ve got curves and a short waist. This book could change my knitting life!
I struggle with everything: I’ve yet to make a sweater of any sort (cardigan or pull over) that wasn’t wonky to the max. I need lots of help. Lots. Would love to win this!
I struggle with wrist pain. I get so excited about the process that I sometimes over-do and have to lay off the needles for a while.
I struggle with fit, blending 2 sizes into one usually. I have a hard time knowing where to customize and where to let the pattern and blocking do their job!
I have trouble figuring out how long to make the garment and sleeves. I often get the sleeves especially too long. Thanks for the chance to win an awesome book.
I seem to struggle with the arms the most. Set-in sleeves always seem to make me a bit nervous. I seem to do it but then end up ripping it out several times before giving up and just accepting it. This book looks lovely with it handwriting like details.
I have a hard time finding time to knit a sweater, and finishing in time for the colder seasons.
I am a thinnish mature woman but do struggle with fitting My fairly flat chest and muffin top The mature body with the young mind.
the shaping and short rows are my nemesis! i knit all the way up to them, and then put it aside for a day with more brain space!
This sounds stupid I know, but I have problems with gauge. My gauge in the garment is rarely the same as my gauge in the swatch. So I’ve taken to measuring my gauge after the first inch or two of garment, just to check! It’s sometimes time consuming, but at least my sweaters fit now.