Books about Flatter from Amazon.com

At last, a book of crochet patterns devoted entirely to the plus-size woman!

Plus-size gals are a group that seems to be neglected in the plethora of crochet books on the market. The author, Margaret Hubert, has often been approached at trade shows and through her classes by women in this size category, begging her to design patterns that would fit them. A plus-size crocheter cannot simply take a smaller pattern and increase the number of stitches or rows to get a garment that fits and flatters. There are lots of proportion considerations when designing patterns for larger sizes.

Plus Size Crochet has 20 crocheted garments and accessories for plus-size women. The projects are stylish and flattering for various large figure types. There are also hints and tips to help the crocheter accommodate her special needs.

• Only crochet book for plus-size women
• Similar to the books in our popular ?Hooked? series: easy to use with lay-flat wire-o binding, stitch detail photos, project specs at a glance
• Includes crochet basics section with step-by-step photos

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Price: $12.09 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Romance is alive and well in the sweet and sexy clothing and accessory designs you’ll find in Romantic Hand Knits. Exquisite drape married with figure-hugging silhouettes show off a woman’s curves in a most ladylike manner, creating flirtatious and flattering fits to please any knitter. Loosely based on ultra-feminine styles from fashion history, the designs in Romantic Hand Knits have an undeniably modern appeal.

• A lace camisole is lengthened and reinvented as a lovely summer slip dress
• A late-eighteenth-century corset cover inspires the design for a lacy fitted top with elbow-length sleeves
• Silk stockings favored by Elizabethan ladies of the royal court return in a sexy and fresh incarnation

With the new fibers available today, knitting guru Annie Modesitt knits up fabrics that cling delicately to a woman’s body, creating an elegant hand-tailored look. Now every woman will be able to create fitted garments that make her look as pretty, desirable, and sexy as she feels.

For knitters who want to heat things up in a whole new way, the alluring designs in Romantic Hand Knits will help them light the fires.

An interview with Annie Modesitt

What’s your philosophy on the “romantic look”?

There is a certain cultural shorthand that implies that “romantic” means lots of lace, billowy skirts, low-cut bodices, and a little more leg than usual–sexy with an extra layer. But I think that, like everything deeply personal, romance has its own specific look for each person. Romance is not so much about being desirable to another as it is about reveling in and celebrating our own hearts’ desires.

In the introduction to Romantic Hand Knits, you say that romance is about dreams and hope, and how in knitting, as in romance, much of the joy is in the dream. How has knitting brought romance into your life?

Knitting allows me to enjoy my time, my imagination and my mind more than I might without needles and yarn. When my mind is free–and powerful–the way it feels when I knit, then my soul soars a little and all of this adds a layer of joy to my life. Not to put too fine a point on it, this makes me love life, and love love, in a much deeper way, which in turn makes me more lovable. Nothing is more attractive than a quiet self confidence, which is what I get from knitting.

You say in Romantic Hand Knits that the garment that dresses the top of the body sets the tone for the rest of your ensemble–and that this is perfectly demonstrated in the piece you’ve named Ninotchka. Can you elaborate?

It’s hard to get away from the fact that the bust area–being the most important fit point on most women’s bodies and also being so near to the face–can send very strong signals. Usually we want these to be good signals: “this is a woman in control of her life and her wardrobe,” “I can trust what this woman tells me,” or “I feel this person is sympathetic and kind.”

In Ninotchka, the well-supported bust area adds strength and stability to the design, allowing feminine details like the lace below the bust line and the thin twisted-cord shoulder straps to relax and soften, not weaken, the message this piece sends. “Here’s a woman confident in her femininity, but with a strong foundation.”

Any stories to share from the development of Romantic Hand Knits?

One of my favorite pieces, Streetcar Named Desire, was briefly a disaster! It was worked up quite beautifully by my knitter, who then attempted to block the piece. I generally like to block and finish most of the garments, and I hardly ever wet block, but in the blocking of this piece an interesting thing occurred. 

The fitted, springy little cardigan that I designed began to drape and hang in unexpected ways. The piece went from Sandra Dee to Blanche DuBois, and I couldn’t have been happier! It altered the way that I recommended caring for the piece (machine wash instead of dry clean), which, quite honestly, is how most folks want to deal with their clothing.

With the addition of a waist tie, which can be moved to different eyelet rows to create a high, low, or natural waistline, the cardigan had an entirely different aspect–a sexier, “floatier,” more intriguing look.

Is there a particular type of yarn that works best for this look? Why?

I tried very hard to use a variety of fibers that represent a wide variety of price points. I do understand that not every knitter will be able to afford the silk to make Cleopatra, but I felt it was an important, inspiring piece and had to be included in a collection of romantic silhouettes. A firm, machine-washable Egyptian cotton might be a good substitute. One of the most useful skills to develop as a knitter is the ability to substitute yarn–this skill can only be honed with experience. 

This is why I suggest to new knitters that when they see a ball of yarn they like, they should get it and swatch it right away. Don’t wait for the right project to come along. If you swatch a yarn you love, you may just see that the right project’s been in front of you all along–perhaps in this book–just waiting for you to see the true beauty in the fabric knit from your new skein.

Whenever possible I tried to use machine-washable yarns–especially for the skirts! I know that the idea of a hand knit skirt can be daunting–we’re all worried about the stretchy butt-pouch–but knit fabric is resilient and generally bounces back to its original drape. Machine washing a skirt ensures that it will return to its original silhouette. 

Is there a philosophy or attitude that each book shares? How is this book different from your other books?

If there’s one philosophy that all of my books share, it’s that we all have a bit of genius–of brilliance–in each of us, and if we choose to show it through our knitting, so much the better! We’re all individuals, so we may do things in unusual or nonstandard ways, but that doesn’t make us any less legitimate when we’re knitting (or cooking or sailing).

This book is different in that it focuses specifically on clothes for women, and clothes that are intended to be flattering and a little body-conscious at that. My heart is most definitely in this book, which has been in me for a long time. I’m so happy to see it out and looking so beautiful!

Do you have a favorite pattern in Romantic Hand Knits, or one that has a special meaning to you?

I would have to say the cover skirt is very special to me. I’ve shown that photo to many knitters, and I’ve heard some women say, “I’d make that skirt, if I had that butt!” 

I really want folks to understand that it’s not so much about having a tiny butt, or the “perfect” butt, as much as it’s about liking the butt you have. There are a lot of ways to get to this Zen place, but if you have the greatest looking figure in the world and you’re not liking it, you may as well wear a sack. 

Likewise, if you have a less than perfect shape, but you love all the amazing things your body can do and have a fondness for your shape, you’ll look good in an amazing number of things. Confidence is a terrific butt-lift. Plus, the skirt is designed to help trick the eye into seeing the derriere in the most flattering light . . ..
Price: $16.39 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Short-waisted? Wearing a low-slung belt the color of your pants or skirts lengthens your waist like magic.
Chunky calves? Avoid capri pants and mid-calf skirts like the plague.
Poochy belly? A V-neck top will bring the eye up in the most flattering way, as long as it doesn't cling.
And hundreds more tips keyed to your figure and how to make it look its best!

Finally, the real secret for looking thinner without dieting or exercise! It's all about what you wear. In this book, women will learn how to analyze their figure strengths and weaknesses and play up their good features while minimizing their weaknesses. They'll find out how to choose the colors that flatter them most and find the clothes that will look great on them as well as avoiding clothes that will look awful. Shopping for clothes will never be a dreaded chore again!.
Price: $12.14 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A step-by-step, day-by-day instruction manual for firming up and slimming down everyone's biggest trouble spot in just five days! Almost everyone would love to have a flatter stomach-and now everyone can. Diet and exercise guru Monica Grenfell gives readers the real skinny on why their stomachs are bulging. From bloating to poor posture, she identifies the most common reasons for less-than-perfect tummies and then offers solutions in this easy-to-follow program, giving readers the low-down on which foods to eat and when, along with exercises to tone the stomach. With photographs of the exercises, along with a 5-day menu plan that includes recipes,this is a fail-safe program that will give readers the real results they want-a flatter stomach in just five days!.
Price: $5.02 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Over half the women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or larger, yet commercial patterns seldom come in plus sizes. Designer patterns are rarely available above a size 12. At the same time, it's often hard for women who wear larger sizes to buy attractive clothes, so many sew their own. Sewing for Plus Sizes is the first book to help home sewers who wear size 14 or larger make and adapt patterns and develop techniques for adapting designs for larger sizes. Designed to meet the needs of the basic sewer, Sewing for Plus Sizes guides the reader through such important steps as selecting designs, colors, and fabrics that will enhance their plus-size figures. It also shows how to adjust commercial patterns to fit unique dimensions and accommodate figure variations common to larger women. The author (herself a plus-size woman) writes in an upbeat, conversational tone that is as supportive as it is instructive. Stylish fashion photos of plus-size models wearing attractive clothing provide inspiration. Plus-size women will find this book a unique and invaluable resource..
Price: $10.72 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $8.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $13.57 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Frank Sepe's Abs-Olutely Perfect Plan for a Flatter Stomach answers all the questions you want to know about building abs. You not only get the perfect eating, cardio and ab plan, but you also get full-body workout plans to take your physique to the next level, with full-color photos illustrating all of the ab and workout exercises.

The abdominal program presented here by world-renowned fitness expert and ESPN2-Cold Pizza host Frank Sepe will clear up all of that confusion and misinformation and will finally help you reach your goal of a smaller waistline and a ripped midsection. Everything and anything you want to know about abs and how to achieve them is in this book..
Price: $15.76 [Notify me when price goes down.]