BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman

I was just looking at desertrat's (sorry - that
doesn't seem like a nice way to address you!) post
about Elizabeth Zimmerman's surprise sweater and
thought I'd see who else is reading/has read her.
I'm a new knitter (again) and am loving reading
her books. I am too chicken to try any of her stuff
yet, but I enjoy her writing so much.

Is it a bad sign to be reading knitting patterns as
before-bed reading, instead of fiction?

Oh I don't think it's a bad sign at all. To me reading is reading it's good for you and no matter what you are reading it helps to keep your mind active <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I have not yet tried the surprise sweater (it is on my to do list). I have been reading her "opinionated knitter" and it is fantastic.

I don't have any Elizabeth Zimmerman, but I am knitting a sweater by her daughter, Meg Swanson. Oh boy, it's a doozie; I've already had to alter/simplify the pattern in some major ways just to get started. But it's turning out beautifully, and her very relaxed directions are so freeing!

I love to look at patterns, catalogs, magazines. I don't usually take them to bed with me, but I often pretend to watch TV while dreaming up my next project . . . .

Hi I just wanted to say that I am knitting The Surprise Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I was quite lost at first but am doing ok for now. I hope that I can finish it without too much of a problem. I have been trying to get the pattern for ages and finally got it the other day and left my tatting to start it. I also purchased the adult surprise sweater and her top down sweater pattern I love top down sweaters.

Am I silly to ask "what's the surprise?" With me,
it would probably be getting about 1/2 way in and
realizing I have no idea how to do the next step!

Here's a funny EZ thing -- I was knitting a hat while
reading EZ (well, not at the same time!). She is
always encouraging you to knit loosely, knit loosely.
So when I finished my hat, I had knitted more and
more loosely -- subconsciously -- and the hat
is now 26" around! I'm felting it...

Well we have all done this at one time or another, well I have anyway. Hope it turns out, the felting thing.

The surprise is what you finish knitting doesn't look like it would turn into anything let alone a beautiful baby sweater. Yes I did finish it and everyone I have showed it to just loves it.

YEAH Knitpick <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am waiting for The Opinionated Knitter to come in the post so thanks for that review Eva, I'm looking forward to it! I read Mrs Zimmermann's books all the time but the best thing of all for me is the Sasha doll connection (Wool Gathering Issue 64) - I find if you use a UK DK which knits at 22 stitches to 10 CM on 4 mm knitting needles in stocking stitch it works on 3.5 mm knitting needles for most of the Sasha patterns. That Sasha bonnet took HOURS of knitting and unpicking before I finally figured it out though!