Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories

This book has some beautiful patterns! The models wear them well and are in gorgeous scenery, so the pictures are stunning!! There are a number of tips included on the patterns as well. It seems very thorough, but I also found it to be a bit confusing and overwhelming. I'm a visual person so would have loved to see some step by step pictures. I'm sure that an experienced knitter would have no issue with this though. Overall, a great knitting book!

Fourteen gorgeous Scandinavian style sweaters are featured in Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories. Knitting from the top down is the easiest way to knit a sweater because, when you finish, there is nothing else to do as there are no seams to deal with. If you are an ambitious knitter with moderate skills or more experienced, this beautiful book is for you. Each pattern is illustrated with photographs that show the design of the color work and the fit of the sweater. The instructions are easy to follow but if you have questions, you can refer to the “how-to” guide at the start of the book. You’ll find a list of abbreviations there too.
There are also colorwork charts and each sweater can be made in sizes from small to extra large. The accessories that follow the sweaters are for hats, headbands, mittens and more. Using these patterns, you can work with colors on a smaller scale. I am a knitter and Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories makes me want to pick up my needles and start a new project! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rowman & Littlefield and Wenke Müller for this ARC.

This book is an English translation of many patterns from Wenke Muller's beautiful book, Islandpullover stricken: Skandinavische Top-down-Modelle mit kuschligen Accessoires – Stricken ohne Zusammennähen, that came out in spring 2020. More patterns are included in this volume than the earlier one. There are top down pullovers, with colorwork or texture designs, for men and women. Most patterns also have a counterpart matching accessory pattern featuring the same colorwork or texture designs. The patterns are clear and well organized with great photography. My favorite thing about this book are the technical instructions and numerous tip boxes on the pages. Reading it feels like learning to knit sweaters with my cool European cousin. Some American readers may take issue with the recommended yarns, which are European and may be hard to find in the US. Quick yarn searches on yarnsub.com should be sufficient to solve this problem.

In exchange for my honest review of this book, I received a free ebook copy courtesy of #netgalley and the publisher.

This beautiful book features patterns for Icelandic knits that are lovely, but seem very doable. The photographs are lovely and show off the pieces from several angles - something many knitting books lack.

Since I've shifted to knitting top-down sweaters only, I was really excited to see this new book. It's just what I was looking for and could never find. This book offers many wonderful patterns for top-down color work sweaters. The accessories are also terrific. In fact, I'm planning to try the accessories first to get a feel for the techniques before trying an entire sweater.

If you've mastered the technique of making top-down knitted sweaters, this is a resource for taking the next step and adding color work. Highly recommended.

I was able to preview "Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories" by Wenke Muller on NetGalley. This is a beautiful book. The pictures are stunning and the 27 patterns will leave you hard pressed to decide what to knit first! The patterns and charts seem very clear and there are a variety of patterns. Lots of sweater patterns, but also hats, headbands, mittens, legwarmers and socks.

I read through a few patterns. I have been knitting for 60 years so was very interested. I had a difficult time discerning exactly what the pattern was saying. I believe it is just me. The sweaters are beautiful.

A lovely top down yoked sweater book! The colorwork is charted very neatly at the end of the written patterns, which are highly detailed. Written patterns include all the sizes written at once like this: k40/42/44/46 sts. Sizing for most of these sweaters range from small to XL, each with plenty of ease. They're written concisely, clearly, and have few unusual stitches or shaping. Aside from the unique colorwork patterns, these sweaters are very simply structured.

The recommended yarns are hard to find in US markets, but experienced knitters should have no trouble finding equivalent yarn at their local shops. I love yoked sweaters as much as anyone, but few of these sweaters made me want to grab my needles.

Each sweater is beautifully photographed in nice, normal poses. No awkward modelling here!

I loved the addition of matching accessories for these sweaters. Very cute, simple, and yes, matching! If you're a tentative knitter, fear not. Matching colorwork accessories like hats, legwarmers, socks, and more to get you warmed up.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely book!! So many beautiful, but manageable patterns. I definitely bookmarked a few to try myself. The instructions are written in a way that gives me the confidence that I can create a colorwork sweater (or mittens) with relative ease.

Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories by Wenke Muller is a beautiful example of Nordic stranded yoke, top-down sweaters. Also included are accessories to match each sweater, some examples are: leg warmers, shawl, cowl, mittens, headband and plenty of hats.

The basic pattern shaping for a traditional sweater like this is simple. The increases are done on certain rows of the yoke as you work down from the neck. I have knit many sweaters of this type. A section on making fit adjustments would have been nice. There are only two models in the book, one male and one female. They both have similar straight body shapes. This means someone who is curvier will need to make some adjustments to the pattern. I usually add some short rows to the back neck to raise it. This will drop the from neckline down and the wearer will not feel choked. For someone with a bust the stranded color work is not stretchy and they may need to add short rows in the pattern section. I know these adjustments are usually done by an experienced knitter. It would have been nice, if there was a section explaining fit adjustments such as these separate from the patterns.
A new knitter will have an easy time following along and this type of sweater is great for skill building with new knitters. The schematics that accompany each pattern will help experienced knitters make the adjustments needed for a perfect fit. I also like that each sweater is accompanied by a fit rating of : slim, regular or loose fit.

The beautiful sweaters and accessories are shown in full color photography against a landscape of great beauty. This is a great starting point for sweater knitting.

photos and patterns are beautiful. I love using top down/no sewing patterns for sweaters and will probably purchase this book once it is published. thank you for the opportunity to review an advance copy

This is a book knitting patterns of top down pullovers, with colorwork or texture designs, for men and women, along with a handful of accessories. I have not let tried to knit from one, so can't speak to accuracy, but the patterns are well detailed and both the written instructions and charts look easy to follow. There are a good number of tips and notes, which I always appreciate. The one item I might criticize is the limited sizing (S to XL) which makes it not suitable for larger sizes and folks who prefer more roomy sweaters.

This is a beautifully-illustrated book with a variety of top-down yoke sweater knitting patterns. In addition to the sweaters, the author also includes patterns for a variety of accessories that could stand alone or be coordinated with the pullovers. If you wanted to get your feet wet rather than starting with a sweater, one of the accessories would be a good place to start. All of the sweaters come in four sizes ( S, M, L , XL), and she also includes information on various levels of ease, which she calls fits. This allows the knitter to vary the fit of the garment from fitted to loose. There is information with pictures on the various increases and decreases used when making this type of sweater. The book is very well organized. I love the table of contents that allows me to go through the basics and then choose a project. Her charts are also easy to read and follow. I am an experienced knitter who has knit top-down yoke sweaters in the past, and I would enjoy working the projects in this book.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of TOP-DOWN COLORWORK KNIT SWEATERS AND ACCESSORIES (27 Patterns for Women and Men) by Wenke Müller in exchange for an honest review. This book begins with explanations of the techniques used in stranded colorwork and in top-down sweaters. The sweater patterns mostly feature decorative yokes and can be considered unisex. There are sock and leg-warmer patterns using some of colorwork designs. The patterns also include single-color and stranded colorwork hats. My favorite design is the hat on the cover. All but a few of the patterns look like they are very warm and suited for really cold weather.

#TopDownColorworkKnitSweatersandAccessories #NetGalley

Just in time for the knitting revolution of 2020 we have a new top down knitting book. The author has created a modern look for a classic style. This book contains 14 sweater patterns knitted in soft natural colors and 14 hats, scarves and accessories. The patterns are easy enough for a beginner and attractive enough for the experienced knitter.

Even if you never knit any of the patterns this book would be worth the cost for the excellent technique instructions offered in the first section!

The designs are generally bold graphics, and with only one exception, seem appropriate for sweaters for men or women.

It includes a bonus section on accessories to match the sweaters, which are worth knitting in their own right.

Another bonus is the addition of a chunky sweater with a simple cable detail and a short -sleeve sweater with a nupp and lace detail.

This is a perfect book to buy for yourself, for a year full of knitting ideas; or to buy for a knitting friend. There truly is something for everyone in the title. Well done!

--Modern Icelandic Circular Yoke Sweaters for Women and Men--

I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.

As everyone has different tastes in clothing, more than any review, a look at the project photos whether on a book review/selling site or Ravelry or the author's or publishers' website, will most often provide you with the crucial information you want to know: "Will I like the patterns in this book?"

In my eyes, I see modern, carefully orchestrated circular yoke patterns that are both elegant and casual. Sweaters (and hats and headbands) that you could wear everyday. The colour schemes would look appropriate in the frigid weather of the North...and yet, of course, as the knitter you have the freedom to change the colours to whatever you want.

So, if you found photos of the clothing in this book, and you liked what you saw, I can tell you that the book is well designed, has written instructions and charts for the colourwork, and also instructions on how to do all the stitches and techniques that are required to make the projects.

In short, a well thought out knitting pattern book.

My initial impression when opening this book was one ooooooooh and ahhhhhhhh after the other. The photography is stunning and the perfect backdrop for knit items. Projects range from the simple to the complex, including patterned and textured yoke pullovers and matching accessories. Color choices reflect the natural settings in with the hand knit are pictured. #NetGalley

My latest knitting obsession is colourwork. The sweater patterns in this book are gorgeous! I’m not sure which to start with. And a nice bonus are the patterns for the accessories that go with the sweaters. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys colourwork knitting or for those who would like to try it for the first time. The smaller accessories are a great place to start.

I loved the brief and to the point introduction in the book. Taking on your first sweater is by no means an easy feat, and every sweater after that can bring with it its own set of challenges. I’ve found that with other pattern books, there can either be too much information, or not enough. This seemed like a good amount.

One of the things that drew me to this book in particular was that all the sweaters are knitted from the top down. I’ve tried others and haven’t had much success. As a knitter, I really dislike having to sew pieces together at the end, so top down sweaters are the best, and in my opinion, great for beginners.

Another huge draw of this book was that the sweaters within it are unisex. As a male, I’ve struggled to find a book of patterns with great designs catered to both men and women. I’ve tried to increase for a more masculine fit, but have yet to make a sweater that fits me. It was thoughtful that the author took this into consideration while writing this book.

Although at times in the book, the information can be overwhelming, there are other times when it isn’t, and that the author is concise and to the point.

The increases and decreases section were perfectly described. I LOVE the author’s reminder when it comes to increasing, “I’ve left the front door open” and “I’ll be right back” as ways to remember the left and right increases. I learned a lot of my knitting with phrases like this so appreciated this.

One thing I wished for more of, was diagrams and images in the book. There were some good diagrams in the magic loop section, but that appeared to me all. It would have been great to see diagrams like that throughout the book.

The author includes a please note headline and tip, within each pattern which was really helpful.

The addition of hats felt like a bonus to me! I’ve made a lot of hats since I started to knit, and have a ton of patterns saved up but I really liked that these accessories matched the sweaters in the book.

All round, great book with a ton of useful information. I just wish there were more diagrams.

The designs are stunning.
Love the details in the pattern and how easy to follow they are.
The photos are beautiful and inspiring for a new project.
Was really amazed, that at the end, the author also included the accessories. Hats, mittens, scarf, leg warmers and so on.
Definitely recommend it.