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For most new knitters, finishing a sweater is like the Holy Grail of knitting. With so many measurements and pieces—not to mention the seaming—to worry about, it seems like the impossible dream. In fact, many knitters spend years knitting simple scarves and hats before they finally build up the courage to give it a try. But knitting a sweater doesn’t have to be a long, arduous, nerve-wracking process—as designer Doreen L. Marquart shows in her latest book, Saturday Style: Casual Knits for Weekend Wear.
Saturday Style is a collection of 16 sweater designs that look a whole lot more complicated than they really are. There are simple shells using colorful yarn or easy stitch patterns to create visual interest. There are top-down and bottom-up cardigans that require minimal finishing. There are designs that are worked from side to side or in simple rectangles, using eye-catching yarns and clever striping patterns.
Newer knitters will want to start with an easy summer shell, like the Lazy Days Tee (most of which is knit in the round), or the simple top-down Swing in Style Cardigan. The patterns are all quite simple and straightforward, with illustrations to help you out.
Then, as you build up your sweater-knitting confidence, you’ll be eager to dive in to one of the slightly more advanced patterns—like the Scalloped-Edge Tunic or the cozy Cabled in Comfort.
While most of the patterns in Saturday Style are appropriate for the advanced beginner, though, the clever techniques will keep more experienced knitters interested, too. You’ll flip through the pages, fascinated by Marquart’s brilliant use of patterns and textures to create designs that will make you think, I’ve got to try that! Still, the easy patterns make the perfect weekend knit—just the thing to help you relax and unwind after another hectic week.
Best of all: the finished pieces are incredibly wearable. They aren’t the frumpy sweaters that your grandma used to knit. They’re cute, casual designs that will look absolutely perfect when paired with your favorite jeans. They’re colorful and easy-going, stylish and (mostly) flattering. In fact, there are only a couple of designs in the book that I couldn’t see myself wearing over and over again—and that’s just because I’m not a big fan of the knitted T-shirt. The others have me dying to dig into my stash to find that perfect yarn.
So whether you’re a relatively new knitter who’s thinking about taking that all-important step up from scarves and hats—or an advanced knitter who’s looking for a collection of stylish designs that are deceptively simple to knit—you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for in Saturday Style.
