
With sweater knitting, fit is everything. If something is showing that you’re not crazy about, you will be uncomfortable. If the neckline hits your collarbone in the wrong place you’re going to feel all schlumpy. Conversely, you get it all right and you’re going to feel like the queen of the world. The way your clothes fit can completely alter the way you think, it alters your mood, it changes your outlook on your whole day. Take it step further to when that piece of clothing that makes you feel amazing is something that you just made with your own two hands? Beyond priceless. The first step is tailoring, choosing clothes that move smoothly over your body- nothing tight but no tents either. Whether you’re big or small too much extra fabric disguises nothing. The second step, understanding what really works, on you.


Amy brings every bit of the person that she is in real life to the Fit to Flatter book (STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, April 2, 2013). There are knitting patterns of course, a whopping 21 sweaters every one of which is what I call a “real life”, wear-it-all-day-every-day, wardrobe staple kind of sweater, which is exactly the kind of thing I love, but that’s the sugar coating. What this book really is, is the girlfriend you take when you go shopping. The one who’s not afraid to say…. Hmmm maybe not those jeans, try these instead… Amy begins the book by inviting you to really understand yourself- what do you like, what don’t you like when you look in the mirror. What do you really see when you’re looking in the mirror and you let go of all the numbers and vague fruit references? Once you can really objectively look at what you’ve got you can play it up. Amy uses the next 4 chapters to break it down, how to play to your strengths, and mitigate a weakness that brings you down.


Except this is knitting and we’re not stuck taking things as they are off the rack. And so there is my favorite chapter, #6: Modifications. If you’re anything like me you’re inevitably drawn to at least 1 sweater in one of the chapters that is not for “your type”, there is no reason it can’t become something that will work for you. This is the chapter that will teach you to own your knitting. It covers: Waist shaping, body and sleeve length adjustments, neckline adjustments, bust darts should you need them (and whether or not you do) and sleeve tailoring (bicep measurements, armholes and sleeve caps). The price of admission is worth it for this chapter alone. No designer can write a pattern tailored to every single body type… No designer should have to, after all we’re people too. I look in the mirror and worry about my unusually long torso, I get anxious about the girth of my biceps… and my hips… and… Never mind. Forget all about thinking like that. We’ve got Amy. She’s going to help us all get over those numbers on the tape measure, on the scale, on the tag in our clothes and focus on what works.

Know what else? Amy and STC have a copy of the Knit to Flatter book for me to give away. Leave a comment below~ In the spirit of the book I think we should all share a positive thought about a piece of clothing we love, because of how it makes us feel (doesn’t have to be knitting related). Contest will run today (4/22/13) through Sunday (4/28/13 end of day) and randomly select 1 person to be announced next Monday. Sound good? Can’t wait to read what you all have to say~
And don’t miss any stops on the blog tour, see what others are saying here:
Monday, April 15: Rock and Purl – Ruth Garcia-Alcantud
Tuesday, April 16: Mind of Winter – Julia Trice
Wednesday, April 17: Mary Jane Mucklestone
Thursday, April 18: Moth Heaven – Julia Farwell-Clay
Saturday, April 20: Knitting At Large – Julie Matthews
Sunday, April 21: ADD Knitter
Monday, April 22: Savory Knitting – Amy Christoffers (you are here!)
Tuesday, April 23: Carole Knits
Last but definitely not least: Baby Cocktails – Thea Colman