Sally Melville

The master of fashion done simply and well

Mother-Daughter Knits

After decades of teaching, designing, and writing about knitting, Sally Melville knows how to customize knitting patterns to fit a wide variety of body types perfectly. With a little planning and subtle alterations, you can make a garment that is just right for you! In Mother-Daughter Knits, Sally shares this knowledge for the first time.

Together with her daughter, fellow knitwear designer Caddy Melville Ledbetter, Sally demystifies the process of picking the right pattern and modifying it to your body’s advantage. With fascinating insight, practical advice, and patterns for both classic and avant-garde tastes, Mother-Daughter Knits just might be the most useful guide a knitter could have. Whether you’re a beginning or experienced knitter, young or mature, an hourglass or a triangle, Sally and Caddy have you covered!

Having a new Sally Melville Book to page through is like being at a pajama party with a trusted friend: fun, comforting, and energizing all at the same time.  This time, Sally has brought her daughter, Caddy, to the knitting party as co-author and esigner, andtheir resulting book is full of fresh and flattering designs from two different design perspetives, plus a lot of great information on just how and where to change a pattern to fit you properly.  Mother-Daughter Knits is a delight that had me reaching for my needles and digging through my yarn stash more than once.

Amy R. Singer, author of Big Girl Knits and More Big Girl Knits

The Knitting Experience - Book 1: The Knit Stitch

I thought long and hard about what books belonged in a section dedicated to getting all aspiring knitters off to a great start -- they needed to be clear on techniques, but not at the expense of design and, well, excitement. Sally Melville's books are at the top of the stack in every category I could think of - they are simply an unbeatable way to discover the joy of knitting.

I did not believe that a book devoted to only the knit stitch could be anything other than something for plodders (and I don't know any knitters who are plodders!) -- was I ever wrong. The Knit Stitch is not only a sparkling clear introduction to the techniques and approaches of basic knitting, it is one of the most exciting design collections on the planet. You will find scarves, wraps, sweaters, jackets, purses, evening wear and more in styles that are the perfect marriage of classic lines and eye-catching surprises. These are garments and accessories that will not wind up in the back of anyone's drawer -- the sort of clothing men, women and children of all ages and builds will pick out to wear every chance they get. And all of them are constructed using only the knit stitch and basic technique! It's hard to believe that anyone could combine beginning instruction with cutting edge style, but Sally Melville did.

If you have never knit before, this is the book for you. If you, like me, have been knitting for years and years, this book will open your eyes and inspire your hands with it's approach to design and garment structure. It has become one of my own most-often-looked-at knitting volumes -- I'm confident you'll love it, too.

The Knitting Experience - Book 2 - The Purl Stitch

Having mastered the knit stitch and filled your closets with delicious clothing and accessories, you will want to move on to discover the delights of the purl stitch. As Sally shows us, once you add purling to your knitting repertoire, the design possibilities blossom in all directions. Just when you're wondering where you are going to put your next beautiful knit jacket, Sally gives us a second book filled with even more jaw-droppingly wonderful clothing than in the first book. Here are knit dresses, jackets, socks, sweaters and vests in styles ranging from whimsical to work day practical to gracefully elegant -- trust me, you'll want to wear them all.