This is a book all about knitting for boys. It is a collection of classic designs with a modern edge here and a whimsical touch there. The designs are geared for those knitting for boys ages four to twelve, a charming spot between baby and teenager, but the extras in this book make it a must-have for anyone who knits for children. The goal of this collection is to blow our little men away with designs that are created just for them.
Every child is unique and has his own style and preferences, and the various designs and options in this book give you plenty of ways to create knits your boys will want to wear. The projects range from sweaters to caps to accessories like suspenders and a belt. They are stylish and modern, boyish but grown up enough for pre-teens. Color choices range from happy brights to bold neutrals. These color options, matched with a fresh take on cables and colorwork, set a new timeless standard on what boys will really want to wear. Beginning knitters will find plenty of projects to choose from to get their feet wet, but knitters at all experience levels will find entertainment and challenge among the variety of projects and options. Follow the four basic steps below to customize knits just right for the boys in your life.
The one problem with knitting for children is how quickly they grow out of your knits. It’s a challenge to make knits that will fit for two to three seasons while looking good in each. This book features a “Grow-with-Me” theme to make your knits wearable for more than one year, and includes a reference section that discusses children’s growth patterns. I then use that growth-pattern information to present practical strategies for project planning to help you ensure your child gets more wear out of each knitted garment. This section walks knitters through a little necessary math to make adjustments in patterns and explains how schematics are to be interpreted. The accompanying Growwith-Me section of patterns includes designs with features that have already made sleeve and hem length adjustable in a variety of ways.
Whether it’s cabling or simply a combination of knits and purls, texture adds intrigue and depth. One of my sons is particularly tactile and his favorite thing about my knitting projects is touching them. He loves the feel of his cabled sweater. The Touch-Me Texture designs are also for the classically inclined—textural knits are unendingly stylish. These designs also grow up very well; knitters will be tempted to size them up for an older child (or, ahem, themselves) or perhaps to make daddy a matching sweater.
My oldest son loves colors, patterns, and any combination thereof. The designs in the Color Collection are adventurous and range from cute to quirky. They include stranded colorwork, intarsia motifs that are playful yet grown up enough for tweens, striping, and tastefully contrasting cuffs and hems.
The Grow-with-Me Sizing and Styling reference section in the front of the book provides many options for sizing customization. It also includes the necessary reference tools to make substantive changes to a design like adding a textural stitch pattern or colorwork, or adding any of several pocket styles or a hood. Not only do boys love to be knitted for, but there is an infinite number of ways to make a project perfect for its recipient. I hate hearing from knitters that their boys “will not wear anything they knit.” With some attention to detail, this can be overcome.