Is he sweater-worthy? According to Judith Durant, no man deserves a sweater until the relationship involves long-term commitment. It’s just too risky to put all that time and effort and love into a knitted garment for a man who might be long gone by the time the sweater actually looks like a sweater.
But knitters do want to make soft, warm things for the people they love — new boyfriends included. So what is the proper project for the it’s-been-four-dates-and-we’re-having-a-great-time guy? The Dinner Date Scarf, customized with the colors of his favorite sports team, doesn’t scare him with thoughts of commitment but does give him something warm he’ll be happy to wear to football games.
Simple, shaped projects should be saved for more serious, exclusive relationships. Mittens, socks, and hats are all perfect for that semi-committed phase — they require a little more time and effort but can be quickly dropped if things don’t work out after all. Only when the ring is in hand should work begin on the merino/cotton blend Half-Zip Pullover, a classic, not-too-heavy sweater he will wear for years.
Knit items are excellent gifts for men; they just have to be given at the appropriate time. Durant not only warns stitchers about appropriate project-to-relationship ratios, she offers 22 of the smartest patterns available for men’s clothing and accessories.
| Introduction |
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[ The Burger and a Movie] |
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[ He Made Me Dinner (and It Was Good)] |
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[ Let's Go Away for the Weekend] |
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Judith Durant is the editor of the best-selling One-Skein Wonders series, which currently includes seven volumes; the author of Cable Left, Cable Right, Increase, Decrease, and Knit One, Bead Too; and the co-author of Knitting Know-How. Durant has been knitting for more than 50 years and has been writing and editing for more than 30 years. She currently lives in Lowell, Massachusetts.
