Knitting lore states that if you knit your boyfriend a sweater, a breakup may be right around the corner. More often you spend hours of time creating a special garment and your man thanks you, then sticks it somewhere dark and lonely instead of wearing it with pride. KNITS MEN WANT is created with the sole purpose of helping you use your knitting chops to produce a garment any man will want to wear almost as often as his favorite t-shirt.

Bruce Weinstein's helpful tips about fiber choice, preferred fit for various shapes and masculine styling are supported by 10 patterns whose easy-to-read charts give you the ability to knit a sweater in almost any yarn you have. Sizing ranges from small to 3XL and directions are given for knitting the garments and accessories in gauges from three to six stitches per inch. Jared Flood's photographs provide great details knitters will find very helpful (not surprising as he is the founder and designer of Brooklyn Knits) and the schematics provided will make it easy to visually determine where any changes should be made to tailor the pattern to any shape needed.

The hat, socks and scarf pattern are fairly quick knits, as are the sweaters depending on your choice of yarn. I am currently making the Raglan-Sleeved Henley in a luscious alpaca blend, but the two-toned saddle shouldered Baseball Jersey also looks like a great project. I just might make the Hooded Sweatshirt for me one of these days.

There are no promises Bruce Weinstein's KNITS MEN WANT will circumvent the dreaded Boyfriend Sweater Curse, keeping your relationship healthy will likely depend on more than a wonderful sweater, but chances are if you use these tips your giftee will not only keep any sweater you make him, but wear it often instead of sticking it a drawer out of sight.

Bruce Weinstein has also co-authored many cookbooks with his partner Mark Scarbrough, the most recent of which is Vegetarian Dinner Parties published September 2014.

Book Summary

For as long as women have been knitting, they’ve been knitting garments for men—only to have men hide their lovingly created pieces in drawers and closets. Men aren’t being intentionally cruel; they’re just not comfortable in knitwear made with bright colors, itchy yarn, or flashy designs. So what’s a knitter to do? Understand the male psyche, says knitting instructor Bruce Weinstein. In Knits Men Want he presents ten hilarious essays, each based on a rule that helps women knit for men successfully. “Men Are Babies” explains why guys need to wear soft fabrics. “Men Hate Fittings” describes how to create a sweater based on one that’s in his wardrobe. Following each essay is a timeless master pattern, from socks, hats, and scarves to an array of sweaters, all in a range of sizes and most written for multiple gauges. With this book in hand, women finally have the secret to knitting garments that men will appreciate and actually wear.