Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters

When author Deborah Newton subtitled this volume "A Master Class for Knitters," she was right on the mark. Here's a book for knitters who already know the basics of knitting and are ready to advance to more challenging skills. While I am far from being a novice knitter, she presents techniques I did not know, and she has also given me confidence that some of the skills I learned from my grandmother are still spot on.Here's my take on "Finishing School - a master class for knitters:"PROS:1. The book itself is heavy and hardbound, but produced in such a way that it opens fully and stays open at any page you may be studying. Paper is also heavy and feels great.2. The book is packed with illustrations. Most are photographs, but there are also line drawings to simplify the technique and help you understand clearly how to proceed.3. Newton tackles sticky problems, like how to block lace without skewing or messing up your lovely pattern in other ways. Steaming and patting can go a long way! And if you ever thought to skip the hated step of knitting a gauge swatch, you'll be ashamed to do it again.4. Ever wonder how to seam your new sweater so that it comes out looking professional? You'll learn a number of techniques here, including my least favorite -- grafting. And you'll feel better knowing that seams do not necessarily need to be hidden. Whew, that's a relief.5. Newton devotes a big section to knitted edgings. You may already have seen a widely read book on knitted edges, but Newton makes it clear how to attach these fancy edgings to a garment. There's more than one way to kiss that pig.6. Another large section addresses issues like buttons and pockets, along with felting, making easy linings, and more. I still have not conquered my fear of steeks, but with these instructions I may yet.7. Newton has included workshops in most sections to help you apply the techniques you've just learned.8. Finally, there are patterns -- gorgeous patterns for scarves, sweaters, bags. There are some real knockouts here.CONS:Absolutely none, but there are caveats -- this is not a beginners knitting book. Enjoy the text and illustrations now, but shelve this book in your library until you've finally created something you need to finish!Overall:I'm delighted, and I can't wait to finish my current project to get started on some of the patterns Newton presents. I cannot imagine any seriously addicted knitter who would not enjoy this book. How about as a present for a special occasion?

First of all I knit beautifully, and I love knitting, but I am terrible at finishing. I have baby sweaters I knit when I was expecting my first child, where the knitting was completed and I never sewed them together. This child is 41. So, I bought this book after I attempted to finish a sweater vest I had knit for my husband. I learned so much about what I had been doing wrong, I screwed up my courage and followed her tips and started the side seams. The book is written in a manner that is like having the author sitting with you encouraging you on. By the time I got to the bottom of the armhole, my seam was smooth and flat. Wow, I then did the second seam, I had a bit of difference in length and because I had read the book I was able to ease it in and you can't tell there was an issue. Another review commented on the patterns as not being useful, on the contrary I found the information extremely helpful in understanding pattern construction and garment design. The author's information on understanding your pattern and not skipping things like sample swatches and schematics proved invaluable in the next garment I started. Good yarn is expensive and knitting is now a luxury, this lovely and simple to follow book took my knitting to the next level. The author Deborah Newton has my gratitude for achieving the impossible, showing me how to FINISH my beautifully knit items.

Your work is only as good as the finishing work. Sloppy, or undone finishing makes the garment unfinished and this book does a good and enjoyable part in convincing you that you only are as strong as the fishish of your garment. How will what you do now, affect the outcome of the work? Let's face it, knitting takes most people time. It's a process, for many and the difference between a flattering fit, a beautiful piece of lacework is all in the finishing. Proper button bands for sweaters, the right bind off, make the garment. This is a wonderful argument for starting and finishing strong.The end of a project begins when it's cast off the needles. Proper care, blocking and ease are often determined by the end of the work. This book changed the way I look at my projects. The finishing work is taken into account for the overall difficulty of the pattern in my mind now. How can I make a piece that stuns, rather than just a nice knit. There is a universe for nice knitting that does not need time eaten in extensive finishing, but to make a stunning piece of knitwear, you need to finish with the enthusiasm you had when you cast on. The soggy bits should not be at the end, just row repeats.More to say as I finish this book. It's taking time. I'm working on excellent finishing for each garment now. Not how much is on my needles. Also, my projects do not go to, "complete, on Ravelry, until the blocking is done from now on. My work looks polished now. I cannot suggest serious knitters own a copy of this strongly enough.Comments will be added as I work on different sections of the book.

il libero è molto bello, bellissime le illustrazioni.. ho dovuto restituire, perché non ho trovato molte informazioni utili o che non conoscevo già, e invece speravo di approfondire ed arricchire la mia esperienza con i lavori a maglia. inoltre i modelli presentati non erano assolutamente di mio gradimento, neanche uno.Penso comunque che per un assoluto principiante potrebbe essere molto utile.

Most of what's in this book is what I already know from decades of knitting and after having made about every mistake a person could when finishing a garment. I was surprised to find some of the techniques I use here as some knitting books make finishing a garment more complex than knitting one.I think the advice to plan finishing before starting to knit is important as too many patterns I've seen written in a way that leaves you without instructions for finishing properly, or with awkward bits that you have to work around. One knitting book I have even shows finished sweaters with closings that look like afterthoughts, making all the work put into a sweater pointless. This book shows how to avoid the 'loving hands at home' look and go for the 'custom made' look instead.The patterns in the book are beautiful and a nice bonus I wasn't expecting.

I have been knitting since I was a wee child (yes really!) Taught by a grandmother who insisted that I master all the crafts of the home maker's arts (therefore darning, sewing, crochet, knitting etc, etc, etc) I thought that after 50+ yrs of knitting that I was proficient and an expert in this craft. How wrong I was! This book taught me things that I never knew, has given my work a finish of such professionalism that I am now knitting to order for others, who are not family or friends! WOW! Yep! I started a new career in my 60's!!! and all due to this wonderful book. If you love knitting, then buy this book - it's an absolute eye opener!!!

... ist dieses Buch.Derzeit werden haufenweise Bücher auf den Markt gebracht, die sich dem Thema "Seamless Knitting" widmen. Da freue ich mich umso mehr über ein Buch, in welchem man Techniken erlernen kann, die genau das ungeliebte Zusammennähen und Zusammenstricken erleichtern.Die Autorin ist geradezu begeistert, ein Strickstück fertigzustellen, so kann man ihm doch den letzten feinen Schliff geben - oder auch nicht, wenn man es nicht "ordentlich" macht oder vielleicht einfach nicht kann. Mit sehr viel Liebe beschreibt sie die einzelnen Tricks und Tipps, diese kann man auch direkt an 8 Modellen ausprobieren und in sog. Workshops erlernen und vertiefen. Nicht alle Modelle gefallen mir, aber die beiden Schals sind ganz hübsch, auch die die Jacke vom Cover (Rückcover) ist was besonderes. Es gibt auch 2 schöne Lace-Tuniken. Die Kindermodelle finde ich nicht ganz so gelungen, ich würde sie nicht so gern für meine Kinder stricken, aber das ist ja Geschmackssache und darum geht es in dem Buch ja auch eigentlich nicht.Die Autorin designt seit Jahrzehnten für die Vogue Knitting, und das spiegelt sich auch in den Modellen wieder.Auch wenn es einem vielleicht überflüssig erscheinen mag, mir hat das Kapitel über die Maschenprobe noch neue Aspekte vermittelt (und ich stricke auch schon seit 25 Jahren), zudem fand ich den Tip der Autorin, mit einem Ärmel zu beginnen, statt mit Vorder- oder Rückteil, sehr nützlich. Sie benutzt diesen als nochmalige Maschenprobe.Interessant sind auch die Ausführungen zum Thema "Spannen". Vieles war mir neu... und eigentlich benutze ich auch nur eine Methode, meine Strickstücke zu spannen. Doch nach welchen Kriterien wählt man eigentlich aus? Art des Strickstücks? Material? Hier kann ich noch viel lernen.Weitere Kapitel befassen sich mit Säumen, Blenden, Kragen etc., dem Einnähen von Reißverschlüssen und Knöpfen. Auch ein Kapitel zum Thema Taschen ist integriert.Gute Englischkenntnisse sind Voraussetzung, um dieses Buch wirklich nutzen zu können, aber allen, die davor keine Angst haben, kann ich das Buch nur empfehlen.Darüber hinaus ist es toll aufgemacht (Hardcover mit Schutzumschlag), wunderschöne Fotos, ansprechende Gestaltung. Ein Lesevergnügen!

Une mine de précieux renseignements dans cet ouvrage d'une très grande clarté qui donne envie de multiplier les projets créatifs. A acquérir absolument.