Thanks so much for having Galleries.  It's eye-opening to see how these garments fit on various sized people.  I can much more easily project myself into it, and decide if I want to knit it.  That's a valuable tool, to me.

Judy

loved, loved, loved this one in the magazine.  i very seriously considered knitting it for myself.  however, i am 5'9" and thin with broad shoulders, and a waist.  it looks lovely on the model on the cover and while i've always been self conscious about my butt, i knew the model was tall and thin with proportions general to mine, so i could probably pull it off.  it seemed to me from the get-go that this sweater would be best on a tall, thin person with a mostly straight body.  

i will not be knitting this sweater for two general reasons though.  one, i found something i love even more, and 2, i've lived in this body for 37 years now and know i look better in clothing that flatters the broad shoulders AND the waist instead of a longer, bulkier, less form-fitting jacket that will take the width of my shoulders all the way down to my butt.  

i don't think this sweater looks downright BAD on anyone in the gallery.  however, i don't think it flatters anyone either.  it looks like a comfy, cozy sweater you wear because you love it and will keep you toasty, NOT because it flatters your figure.  i think when you're knitting a garment, you really should have your purpose for the garment in mind.  

Love the galleries.  Hate the vent on this one.  Like it on Bertha best.  And agree that the bulk may not work on us bulkier types!  

I have been swatching madly for this one.  Because this bulky weight yarn is knit at a tight gauge, I'm afraid that I will die in this heavy sweater.  I could definitely see it as a coat, but I am also considering just knitting in worsted weight yarn at the recommended gauge...easily done, and the sweater will have more of a light swingy feel.  Any thoughts, anyone?

needs more room thru the hip

I would consider two rear kick pleats, similar to a tailored jacket, knit with slimmer ribbing.  Side pleats might add more width where I already have plenty, and I think the two skinnier pleats might break up the back view in a more flattering way.  The galleries, Sandi's comments, as well as the additional ideas from the readership are helpful. Your office seems like a special place to work. Sandi's delightful, humorous, and positive style of writing, and the gallery girls willingness to model knits that don't always reflect the style and fit they would wear in public in order to help us keeps me coming back for more!

Mary Lou

I love this coat sweater!!!

I have a boyish figure(rectangle) with no hips so this is great for me- flap and all. I am definitely going to knit this sweater. It is my favorite piece in the magazine!

This is the only project that my DH like in the entire magazine.  I do agree that it is bulky looking, but it is a jacket, after all.  I still wish more of the photos were straight on, and not sideways.  We are not after the flattery model look that the magazine is going for, but how it really looks on people of different shapes.  

I really liked this coat in the magazine but was disappointed that the collar was not buttoned up all the way in any of those pictures. Thank you to the Gallery Gals for showing the coat completely. I know now what the collar would look like if I followed the instructions and I don't really like it sad to say. I suspected that might be why the layout in the magazine avoided that view. I think maybe a shawl collar or a fold-over would be cozier.

When I got my copy of Knits a couple of days ago, I was so excited about the cover sweater -- the textures, the length, the back view (what happened to that in the Gallery?) that I started making plans for it to be my next major project.  Then I saw the Gallery and what seems an impossible fitting job for a less-than spectacular knitter like me.

It did look nice on Toni and Bertha, though...

Hi 'real women' and all commenters. Small but politely expressed pet peeve here.  I am 5'7, 145 pounds and look skinny because of my skinny arms and legs.  I never knew I was not 'real' until I started reading commentary on blogs like this.  Is there another way to describe what you are referring to as 'real women'?  I would appreciate it.  

Signed:

I'm real too

I really liked this sweater in the magazine.   After all the comments about the vent, I'm thinking that modifying/eliminating the bottom ribbing may be a good solution, but keep the vent.

No one has mentioned the fit of the collar, especially in back.  It looks loose to me, as if it would let all the warm air out.  I'd like to see it snug in more.  I like the look of the jacket with the collar down, but that must increase the drafty gaposis.

Whats wrong with the 70's.  I actually love the sweater and the color and the pattern maybe thats because I am from the 70's era.  My biggest cmplaint is that the models need to do something with their hair before they go posing all over the internet.  Any of the sweaters would probably look much better.  Guess its the hairstylist in me....:}

So many perspectives!  

This is such a cozy-looking garment.  I agree that the shaping is not quite right for everyone, but it's so close.  Although imperfect, I like the coat on all the models; I actually *don't* like it on Bertha.  This seems like a very practical, warm sweater EXCEPT for the back vent.  No better way to let in the cool air!  I'd reshape the coat so that it wasn't so boxy.  Who looks good with a rectangular silhouette besides professional models, anyway?  I'd make it more A-line in shape, or add gores.  Being someone that likes cozy, warm knitwear, the side vents would make me aggravated because I'd again lose body heat.

I hesitate to comment as the last couple I've made are so negative and I'd like to say something good.  I love the IDEA of the galleries and I will comment only because it may help with the next set of gallery shoots! This is the first sweater in the current issue that I actually like. That having been said, I cannot see the design--the color is too dark. I like the way Debbie is wearing it with the open collar. I would eliminate the kick pleat; it detracts from the lines. So, if I could actually see it, remove the kick pleat, and make it loose enough to look roomy and not so fitted; I'd get the pattern.

Yeah !! this si the very thing I would want to make for myself . Thansk for such a classic beauty to make It will be a staple in my wordrobe. thanks again for the gallery . deladyBex

Thank you! for showing this sweater in the Gallery.  I've been interested in this one since the previews were available.  I think it will be a bit shorter for me, perhaps with side vents, as one or two others suggested.  The back vent would always be open on me, not a pretty effect.   I like and need tops to be long - I'm only 5'2" but my torso is very long, and I have a bust. But  this length would give an unsightly bubble at my backside.  I think leaving off one pattern repeat would make it a good, usable sweater for me.  I frogged my CPH, so the gorgeous yarn I used will be just right for this; I've already swatched this afternoon, and I will choose a size that will accomodate the slight gauge difference and give me the right amount of ease.  Thanks again!  (I actually love the rich chocolate brown chosen for this model, but mine will be "spruce."  :)

Perhaps those complaining about needing a lighter picture could just add brightness in their monitor  - the pictures  looked plenty light to me.  For a closeup of stitches - see the magazine!

So much of how well a sweater (or any garment) looks really depends on a person's body type.  That's why these Galleries are so great--after a while you get a sense for the models' proportions, and how you compare, and can better judge the sweaters as a result.  For my body type, this style is actually great, and I'm tempted to make it.  But I agree it's not so flattering on most of the real-life models (looks great on Erin though).  C'est la vie.  I also agree that making the photos lighter would be a help.  Good suggestion!

I agree with Anna on the vent (especially its conventional use in other jackets).  What I find most problematic about this sweater is the ribbing on the bottom of the sweater.  On all sweaters, but especially on long ones, this kind of bottom ribbing is what pulls in the sweater and creates an unflattering silhouette.  The drawing-in caused by the ribbing also causes the vent to hang open, even on the super-skinny Bertha.  Unless your sweater ends at your waist, this ribbing is going to distort the line of the sweater on your body.  The cure? Leave it off!  Edge the garment in garter stitch, seed stitch, or some other unribbed stitch.

Other than the ribbing, which is easily fixed, I think this is a lovely sweater and think it would flatter a wide variety of body types (if made in the correct size for the body in question, of course!).

Back vents and side vents pull, no matter what, because no one is straight up and down llike the sweater body!

Vents are supposed to pulll, when the body is in any kind of moverment, that is what they are there for!

The function of most vents is  for sitting ease, so the garment doesn't pull overmuch, but this sweater is extra long, and the vents are a conventional length, so they can't do much good in that department.

Design-wise, vents break up a broad backside sweep of garment, and fool the eye a little to stop seeing the expanse of the full rear, which none of us care for, usually.  Because the sweater is long, and fully textured, I.d say keep the back vent, maybe even lengthen it a bit, let it do it's design job of breaking up the "dreaded expanse", and don't worry that it pulls somewhat--it is supposed to!

This is an elastic, knitted garment.  It won't hang like wool crepe!

Anna

I just read the side vents post---that is brilliant! That would be one way to keep the longer length--which I happen to like were it not for the butt-hugging aspect of it or that awful kick pleat giving anyone a frame for a good kick. LOL

this would be pretty in an "at-the-hip" length as most of us would be pulling on that kick pleat for dear life (not a good focal point of the backside) in the present longer length. Again, the galleries are very educational.

Thanks!

I, too do not like the back vent, if it were overlapped a little more, you could still have the ease of movement without the unattractive gap. I also noticed that it looks as if the front bands are not even-although the only place you can see this really is on the first model-then on Bertha it looks a little scrunched in the front as if it is pinned-maybe it was just a button-hole, button alignment problem? Being a tall but..........endowed gal, I would probably not opt for this much texture for myself as I would look like a tank in it!

I agree with many of the comments.  Photos are too dark to see detail well. I too love the windowpane pattern and KellyA's idea to shorten it and make it a jacket.  

This wasn't a top I was thinking of making from the magazine  (purely from a monetary standpoint... that's a lot of skeins to buy) and while it still isn't something I plan to make, I think that this could use some of the same treatments as the Weekend Sweater by Veronik Avery (I think it was her sweater) with side vents instead of the back.  It would be a relatively easy change to make, and would allow the wearer a fair amount of freedom of movement.

Oh, darn it.  I really liked this on the cover, but it has no follow-through on real-sized people.  I don't even like it on Bertha!  I must have just liked the cover model.

I'm going to make this one, I just love the textured pattern and think it will be a nice jacket for fall.

I thought this was the sweater that I wanted to make when I saw it in the magazine, but after viewing today's two galleries, I might opt for the sidelines top instead. It looked so flattering on all of the models.

This is a great look on Erin!  Love the collar, love the windowpane pattern.  I'm not tall and thin and I live on the West Coast so I'm not a fan of a long, buttoned-up sweater.  I'd ditch the buttons, the vent and about 2 or three rows of window panes for a jacket-length fit.  Note that, even on hipless Bertha, the vent still gaps just a bit.  

Ok I do not like even a little pulling on the buttons. It detracts from the overall look of the sweater. I loved it on Erin who is gorgeous anyway. Personally I could see enough detail in the pics and like the window pane pattern. I like it better on real models and love the vent but would like a little shorter sleeves on everyone.

The lighting looks fine on my monitor.  And I love the stitch pattern - a lot!  But I agree with the other comments that this sweater looks better on tall, thin body types.

The lighting seems fine on my monitor. I love the stitch pattern - a lot!  But I agree with the comments that this looks better on tall, thin body types.

I must be missing something.  Although the sweater is characterized as too big on Debbie and Stefanie, I think it is  a good fit one both of them.  After all, it is a coat and should skim the hips not grab them.  The vent in the back should definitely be eliminated as the gap, even on those with almost 6" ease, is not flattering.

That kick pleat makes every single model look like she has a tail.

I made a coat very similar to this in the early 80's. Same stitch. I wore it as a camping sweater, it was great! Very warm.

Poorly lit photos--it's hard to see what this really looks like.  

I agree with Marily.  I do not like the vent in the back.  Otherwise it's pretty and looks especially nice on Sandi.

Weeell <wincing>l....I love this on the model in the magazine.  IMO, only unrealistically slender individuals can handle over-the-hips sweaters, especially a yummy textured one like this.  I adore the color and pattern of it!

It looks okay on some of the "real" ladies--but I'd never make this for myself, not in a gazillion years.

I love this coat, however,  I would close or eliminate the vent in the back.

If the coat did not have the kick pleat in back, I think it would look fine on all models, some an little "finer" than others.

Can't really see the stitch detail because of the dark color chosen for the garment.   But putting this aside, I think this is a beautiful garment.    Lose the kick pleat and it will be perfect.

I agree - too busy for its bulkiness.

I actually like it on Bertha the best.  I think all would need to increase in the hips as the split in the back spreads to wide on everyone.  I would prefer to see if stay more closely overlapped.  And for a coat, I prefer looseness...

Not a fan of this one, though I really like the collar. I find the pattern too busy when used all over like this and something about it looks a little too 70's. Kat's coloring works great for this deep brown, but it's a lot of dark for most people, especially since it doesn't show much of what color you might be wearing underneath. Finally, I'm a shortie--at just under 5'2"--and the long-waisted cuts that are in right now just aren't very kind to us unless we happen to be rail-thin. Even then maybe not.

I have one comment on the Windowpane Coat pictures...... They are too dark. You cannot see the stitch detail.  Whoever is in charge of photos needs to put them into a photo editor and lighten them up so viewers can see them....