Little Red in the City

Although it’s a pattern book at heart, Little Red in the City by Ysolda Teague frequently gets recommended for its fit information. The first ¼ of the book is a section called “Tools for a Successful Sweater,” and it covers everything from swatching and choosing a size to adding a few modifications and blocking. I really loved Ysolda’s matter-of-fact way of talking about bodies and style. She explained things like how some design elements will make you appear broader and some will make you appear narrower, but she didn’t make assumptions about what shape the reader should try to create or assign value to anything. I appreciated that because it leaves room for personal style and doesn’t simply assume that an hourglass shape is the ideal.

Little_Red_in_The_City_Cover

Most of the fit information is targeted at plus-size and/or curvier knitters. The book gives suggestions about moving motifs to create the look you’re hoping for, and it also gives advice on altering the shaping through the body and sleeves to fit different figures. Although the book does touch on a lot of different kinds of modifications, it only goes into detail and gives calculations for moving the shaping up or down and changing the rate of shaping, and for adding horizontal bust darts. For the other kinds of modifications that are mentioned, the book simply gives suggestions, which is understandable because it’s a pattern book, not a book on fit. There isn’t a lot of information for petite or asymmetrical bodies.

Little_Red_in_The_City_inside

I’d recommend this one to knitters looking to adjust their sweaters for a full bust. A lot of books include calculations for horizontal bust darts, but Little Red in the City does a particularly good job at explaining how to incorporate the darts into an existing pattern.


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4 responses to “Little Red in the City”

  1. I’ve got this book. Love it – not really for the bust info – because I don’t need that 😉 but for all the other great info X

  2. I’ve got this book, and totally agree with your review that it’s target market is probably those with fuller figures and are tired of the way standard sweaters are sized for them (which, I’m told, results in armholes that are way too big and general sleeve woes).

  3. Beth

    Thanks for that review. I’ll have to add this one to my xmas wish list.
    In your search for knit pattern alterations, have you looked at the Debbie Bliss book on pattern drafting? I haven’t actually picked one up but I do remember when it came out there were raves about it. I should imagine that instructions for grading etc would include fit information.
    meanwhile, please continue to review the others in your stack so I know which to order 😀

  4. Marilyn

    What about Herzog’s recent book? Does that help more?

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