Review: SWEATERS by Melanie Berg
If you are like me and appreciate simple but cleverly constructed jumper projects with that little extra, Mairlynd’s book SWEATERS will be your treasure trove. Melanie Berg, aka Mairlynd, included some of her favourite designs in the book and explained: “They all have something special – whether it’s the cut, an unusual construction, a button trick or the unique properties of a certain yarn.”
It was Melanie’s authenticity that stayed with me, after I had the pleasure recently to interview her. The book is no different. Her positive and ‘just-try-it’ approach shines through her preface, the pattern introductions and little nuggets of information, that are sprinkled throughout the book on, for example, top down construction, rustic yarns, and colour blocking. Similar to what I have seen in Japanese knitting books a lot, but not so often in Europe yet, SWEATERS is bilingual, meaning that all the content is in both German and English. (The English-only version is slated to be released in August 2025. Preorder for UK, USA and Australia.)
“Let yourself be inspired, dare to try something, and discover the joy of creating your own!”
Stylish sweaters
I made the mistake of assuming sweaters are only long-sleeved, warm and wintery garments. But Melanie proved me wrong and included a total of 13 projects in the book, featuring six jumpers, four tops, two cardigans and one poncho – all under the tagline ‘knit sweaters in style’.
The first pattern that stood out to me is the Metro Pulse top because of its colours and simplicity. When I realised one of the ITO yarns used in the sample contains 28% paper, I was even more intrigued to make it. For the stashbusting lovers out there, Melanie suggests using leftover yarns for the contrasting lines added afterwards with surface crochet.
Dubarry also took my fancy when it is described in the book as one of the quickest sweaters you will ever knit. While I am usually not a fan of mohair and this one is held triple (!!!), between the boat neck, wide body with slimmer ¾ sleeves and stripes, Dubarry really fits my style perfectly.
The one poncho of the book is called Quiet City and it just screams (pun intended) pure elegance to me. I am especially fascinated by the neck construction. Ponchos are not a staple in my wardrobe and as if Melanie could read my mind, she included a ‘poncho-wearing-manifesto’ (p.99) to give pieces a chance, which we might not usually go for.
I noted down two more patterns on my interested-to-knit list, which both feature a boat neck and I started seeing a pattern here. The first one is Peach Fuzz, the cover jumper and a personal one for Mairlynd, as it is about beating cancer and easing back into life. The second one is Snow Cloud, which, despite its name, I imagine in a gorgeous shade of green.
Urging that creative freedom
The book ends with pictures and reviews of real knitters and their finished SWEATERS projects. It feels like the Ravelry community in book format and I love that. SWEATERS is certainly not a book to teach you knitting from scratch but the projects vary in difficulty and all experience levels can find something. Melanie Berg wrote a book which urges and motivates knitters to explore the creative freedom that knitting offers. To create possibilities beyond what high-street shops provide – and possibilities created by your own hands.