Knits for Real People: Fitting and Sewing Fashion Knit Fabrics (Sewing for Real People series)

I bought this book for my mom, since she sews quite a bit & really liked it, after getting it from the library. I've studied fashion & clothing design & frequently sew as well. We both found this book to have very good, currently useful (not outdated) sewing tips, patterns, advice & instructions for modern knit fabrics, geared toward "real people", as the title states.I don't currently have the book with me, Mom ran off with it as soon as it was delivered, & I can't blame her (!), or I'd give a better idea of what's covered in it, chapter listings, etc... but, if you like to sew & want to work with the current style knit fabrics, this book is packed full of helpful information, geared towards real sized folks of various shapes & sizes. If you want a preview, see if your local library has it, or can get it for you. It's a very good book to have in your own personal sewing room reference library. I'd compare it to the ever helpful "Vogue Sewing" book, which is also fantastic.

Want some inspiration for sewing those knits, you will find it here, plus a lot of other great insight to sewing knit techniques and solving difficult sewing problems. There are a lot of pictures for ideas to change the patterns for design, and some great fitting insight too. I love seeing what is possible to sew. I easily found a few of the patterns shown in the book, on line and have already been busy sewing my own creations using those patterns. This book offers so much and is truly worth owning if you like to sew but struggle to sew with knits.

As a re-beginner ( I’ve not done any garment sewing in 50 yrs) this book has been so informative. It’s an excellent resource to learn pattern and garment fitting. I bought my copy on sale, but it’s worth three times it’s price!

I waited for the release of this book based on the other ...for Real People books but once it arrived I put it aside because the layout was too busy (for me). The photos and illustrations on many of the pages are very saturated and there can be so many on a two page spread that my eyes are drawn all over the place. I am glad I picked it back up again because there's a lot of useful information in in Knits for Real People. Yes, I wish they'd gone for a thicker book rather than one with so much on each page but, like the other ...for Real People books fit is explored on a range of actual bodies and tissue fitting is thoroughly covered. The collar and neck treatments and the embellishments are fresh and fashionable. Athletic and swim wear are adequate except for all but the avid sports person.

This contains step by step instructions perfect for the beginner that I am. It details the different types of knit material and characteristics of each. I think it would be great for even modestly experienced seamstresses who are interested in making their own knit clothing in styles that are so popular today. I am just learning so I wanted a book with details of today's combination knit fabric types and what styles work best with what type of knits. Knit fabric has different degrees of stretch and requires that to be taken into account when sewing specific styles. Exactly what I was looking for.

I have lots of sewing books and videos. Most of them contain only a few things that I find useful or interesting. I've been sewing for more than 50 years and have mastered many techniques.This is the best sewing book I have purchased, ever! It has a lot of useful information and the illustrations are effective. I do not think this is for a beginner. But, I can see myself using it to help others figure out the best way to do things, even if they are beginning or intermediate sewists.

I made many of the adjustments described and illustrated and have a beautiful knit top that fits me perfectly. Everything is easy to understand and I appreciate the tips given and the reasoning behind the various techniques. The simple pattern changes make all the difference to a comfortable fit. Now I will be able to sew stylish and age appropriate clothing for my very tall and thin granddaughter. I may wear this book out!

I suspect the print copy would rate 5 stars. However, the 3-star rating is for the Kindle version because the illustrations are so tiny and of no value. The written portion is well presented and contains valuable information, but the illustrations are necessary for clarity. Palmer/Pletsch publishes high-quality instruction for the sewing community and putting it into this format does them a disservice. Anyone who is seriously interested in sewing knits should purchase the printed copy because the Kindle version will be of no use to them. Note: Review written by Rick's wife, recipient of the Kindle version.