Metropolitan Knits

Big city. Big style. Discover knitting that's fashionable yet timeless.

Knit for uptown or downtown with a trend-setting New York City designer. With these 20 polished, sophisticated projects, knitwear designer Melissa Wehrle has created a collection that perfectly reflects the rhythm, flavor, and drama of city life.

From a chunky cabled sweater and hat to a beautiful tunic and gossamer cardigan, Melissa's designs are beautifully shaped, expertly finished, and ready to be shown off on the street. They feature a variety of construction and finishing techniques, including knit-in pockets, tabs, button details, slip-stitch edgings, and small slits and pleats.

Projects are divided along three themes: Heart of the City- Designed for those who enjoy sleek midtown in mind. Urban Bohemia- The downtown bohemian goddess will love these looks. City Gardens- Made to inspire a sense of tranquility. These three looks balance out a complete picture of the modern woman. What more could a city knitter need?

·         Amazon: amzn.to/13L29zD

·         Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/ZMDX0h

·         Interweave: bit.ly/14AToux

Review:

This book was lovely. The projects within are a wide array of stylish designs that would be flattering to a number of body sizes and styles. With clean lines and creative patterns, this book has a ton of ideas for finishing and some unique styles that really caught my eye.  It is easy to see that this designer really knows her stuff and has crafted each piece with loving care and attention to detail. The patterns are clearly marked, letting you know how many stitches you are shooting for at the end of the row (thank goodness!) and the color pictures are simply lovely. For those who need some knitting reminders, there is an excellent how to section at the back of the book.

The Secret Garden Tank is gorgeous. The light green yarn that was used on the front portion is very mellow and soothing. When you flip it around, the back portion splits toward the bottom, revealing an ecru lacy panel. Simply divine. 

The Museum Sweater is  done in a lovely olive green with an arched pattern that is truly lovely. The turtleneck cowl look is drape like and adds an elegance to the piece that is inspirational.

For those (like me) who are more comfortable with smaller projects, the Opera Mitts and Uptown Scarf are divine. The scarf is done in a grey yarn that goes with anything and the opera gloves have a finely tuned sense of detail befitting their name.

All in all, this book has some wonderful pieces that are both classic and modern at the same time. The polish and sophistication of these designs are very chic and urban and make me itch to pick up my needles and give them a try. Great pics, good directions (written) and totals at the end of the rows make for a great and informative set of projects.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4/5

About the author:

Melissa Wehrle studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she majored in Fashion Design, and for nearly a decade worked as a knitwear designer for the fashion industry. Melissa's hand-knit designs have been featured in Interweave Knits, Knitscene, and Yarn Forward. She is also the Creative Director for One Planet Yarn and Fiber. You can find her online at neoknits.com.