She Had Me At The Cables....

Yep - I bought Men in Knits by Tara Jon Manning for only one reason - this:

I've been in cable withdrawal for some time now and that cardigan looks like just the ticket to bring me out of my doldrums. It's the cardi version of the cover sweater:

I'll be using the Pakucho Cotton I picked up awhile back from Elann:

And I'll be starting as soon as I finish another something or other. (Probably the tree skirt!) The cotton will make it thick & heavy - just what I'm wanting. :)

As for the rest of the book, I enjoyed browsing through it. There are sections in the front to help you decide what style of sweater/vest would be preferred by the male recipient which I thought  was very well done. Corporate, Active/Casual, etc. Also charts on getting the perfect fit (so the sweater will actually be worn) and matching the pattern with certain body types. Tall/short, heavy/slim, short neck/long neck, etc.

The patterns are classic and adaptable:

This one would be great for all my Araucania Nature Cotton....another sweater for me, of course!:

I really do think I'll be using more than one pattern from this collection. (There are more lovely cables included!) I still hold out hope that my boys will grow out of their "T-shirt & Hoodie" phase and want something handmade by Mom again. (When they were little I could stick 'em in anything I made. Ahhhhh...those days of total control! Mwhahahahaha!)

In the meantime I'll use a couple of these patterns for myself and dream. ::wink:::

I'd forgotten I'd ordered a subscription to this magazine:

But I'm glad I did! That cover necklace is something I've been thinking about...and I believe I have just the beads AND the time this weekend to do it!

Comments

[Deneen]

Did you see the new Sculpey Lite they now have advertised? Also Fimo Soft? I still haven't started the clay work-January (I said this last year about the wheel and it's still parked in the same place untouched)

[Margaret]

What gorgeous sweaters!

You made me laugh with what you said about the boys wearing anything you made when they were little! Ain't that the truth? I used to sew quite a bit for my children when they were little, then they grew up and got picky. ROFL

Have a great day everyone!

[Jan]

Those cable sweaters are gorgeous Bron.

I used to make lots of sweaters for my son when he was little too and he loved and wore everything I made him til he was about 14. He's an adult now (just turned 26) and says he's just not a sweater guy but he likes hand-knitted socks. He moved into his own basement apartment in June and gets up for work at 6 in the morning and he says it's freezing in the mornings lately.

I suggested setting the timer on the oven for say 5, and leaving the oven door open to warm up his place. Alas, the timer doesn't work, so maybe ;) he might like a sweater.

[Kristen]

I could get away with sewing and knitting for them when they were little; but neither one wears sweaters anymore.
Sorry for the double comment last time- typepad seems to be eating my comments and then I try reposting.

[Wanda]

Hmm, I wish I knew how much you liked that book. I had it, but gave it away. The book didn't do much for me, but I'm not a huge cable lover and M wasn't too enthralled with it for any projects for him.