[.ca] Handknit Skirts: From Tricoter (ISBN 1564778355)

Great skirts!:
Love the book. Skirts are lovely & there's a wonderful variety. As always the women from Tricoter have done a terrific job of style, color and technique. My one quarrel, and it's a serious one, is that the skirts in general are sized to fit only up to a 40" hip. There's perhaps one that is larger. If you are plus size ior even slightly larger than medium size, this book is not for you.

The slightly oversized shape and full-page facing color photos of each finished skirt are particularly inviting features, here.:
Lovely knits from Tricoter are back and this collection of skirts offers a range of styles from dressy to casual: some 16 designs knitted in the round, so they're seamless and easy to produce. The emphasis on changing needle sizes rather than increasing or decreasing lends especially well to novice knitters, making HANDKNIT SKIRTS an excellent pick for any general knitting collection. The slightly oversized shape and full-page facing color photos of each finished skirt are particularly inviting features, here. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Great approach:
As usual, Hiatt and Ward have done a great job. This skirt book does more to describe fit, how to choose pattern and yarn to flatter and details of construction than any skirt reference I have seen in 30 years. They bring their considerable experience in designing and helping real women (not size 4 youngsters) to create and successfully wear a unique garment in their discussions in this book. There is a style to fit anyone's taste and lots of information to allow substitution of yarns that will inevitably go out of production in the next years. Worth the purchase; will be consulted often.

Finally, a book dedicated to knitted skirts - and all of them could be worn:
I enjoy making skirts - their construction is basic, and they're much easier to fit than slacks or pants -yes, I'm referring to sewing here, but it applies to knitted skirts as well. Most sewing classes start by making a skirt -it's about time that carried over into knittng. Once someone can knit a scarf or a hat, they have the skills to make a skirt (in my opinion). So, I was very excited to see a book that was full of (dedicated to) knitted skirts. FINALLY, inspiration for knitted skirts! OK, I'll take a moment to talk about the actual book/binding -yes, it's a hardcover, but poorly bound in my opinion. And the size is awkward (tall and slim -just over 11 1/2" tall, but only 6 1/2" wide) -I'm supposing they wanted to immitate a pencil skirt -at least that's the impression I'm left with -can't think of any other reason to make this book that size -awkward, but I won't take off any points for that.... because... INSIDE this awkwardly sized/bound book, there are 16 Beautiful Knitted Skirts ! For instance, there's "Katerina" -a darling child sized (2 to 6 years) skirt that's a very quick knit. And, there's "Bella" -which includes some beading, and in their words "creates the gentle flared silhouette with the beads themselves" -I agree. There's "Naomi", with it's "bold use of color and crisp, geometric lines", and "Felicity", with it's "sophisticated" and "slim" look. There's "Madeline", the "basic ribbed skirt" that reminds me of the traditional knitted skirt, and is classy, with "visual interest as well". And, there's "Paloma" -if I had to choose a favorite (now that's hard, because I'm drawn to at least 10 of these styles)... but, if I had to choose just one, this would be it! "Paloma" was one of those 'thinking ouside the box' creations that "evolved as it was knit" -the "wrong" side actually became the "right side", and the tails that were left from the yarn changes actually became a feature (a lovely eye-catching feature) -and became a vertical fringe down one side of the front of the skirt. Well, I was going to end there, but had to include another favorite (I have many, but I'll stop with this one) -"Elaine". The "Elaine" skirt has a "touch of black net peeking out at the hemline", but even more beautiful is it's flared shaping at the bottom, that is set apart by a row of "mother-of-pearl buttons with seed-beading". I love using button-art on projects, and it is a wonderful detail on this skirt. In fact, this ("Elaine") is the one that is pictured on the front of the book. OK, I have to talk about yarn. I find that for most knitting pattern books, the yarn that is given is usually unavailable by the time the book is published (or I purchase it), or if I can find the yarn, it's usually outside my budget. So, altho they do give the details of the yarns that were used (and they may still be readily available), they are also generous with their gauge information, for example "A yarn or combination of yarns that, when held tog as one, knits to 19 sts over 4" in St st on size 7 needle". THAT is the information that I want to know - give me enough gauge information so that I can find a suitable substitute -and I feel they do that -which, in my opinion, makes these patterns TIMELESS. ALSO, with the sizes given, none of these skirts would fit me -is that a problem? Emphatically, NO! The construction of these skirts is basic and most shaping is done with changing needle size... SO, Basic/Simple pattern/construction + Good Gauge information = any size you want, with any yarn that you like (within limits, we want to wear these beautiful skirts). Again, skirt construction (whether sewing, knitting, crocheting...) - skirt construction is basic and simple, and easily adjusted for fit - more so than any other garment (in my opinion). These skirts are eye-catching. They are also skirts that will be worn - yes all of them -all of them could be worn, and would look beautiful, and timeless. No 'over the top' skirts here. And there is not one that is too plain... Now, that's not an easy task, but they did it, and bravo for that ! Yes, I am very pleased that I purchased this book - I'll even forgive the awkward sizing of the book, and it's poor construction -because it's full of diamonds... Finally, a book dedicated to knitted skirts -and all of them could be worn, and would look classy and/or beautiful... Yes, I'm very pleased, and although I like each and every skirt in this book, I do leave room that some might not find every skirt to their liking, but I would be quite surprised if they did not like most.

A wonderful pattern book:
I love this book. I have loved their two previous books on sweaters and shawls. I have alwready made a skirt out of one of the patterns. Quick and easy for all knitting levels.