For as long as women have been knitting, they have been knitting garments for men (oftentimes with the maddening result that the men don't want to wear what they make). Bruce Weinstein swears that men aren't intentionally (or unintentionally) running a passive aggressive campaign against the women in their lives. And it's not that men don't want to wear handknits in general. It's simply a matter of understanding what men really want and then knitting accordingly. For starters, skip the fancy sitchwork. If the stitch name has the word 'popcorn' or 'butterfly' in it, forget it. And don't bother with yarns that make men sweat (even if it's cashmere). And when it comes to colour, forgo the rainbow and think dark or neutral - except maybe, sometimes, with permission, if you're making socks. "Unwinding Men" is a collection of 10 humorous (and enlightening!) essays and 10 master knitting patterns for men's garments. These 10 patterns, which include variations and tips for customisation, are all any knitter needs to keep the men in her life happily clad in handknits for their entire lives. Each essay focuses on a fact about men that women need to know in order to understand their guys and be able to knit successfully for them. For example, Rule number 8 (Men are Babies) explains why men won't wear anything even the least bit itchy. And Rule number 7 (Men Hate Fittings) gives tips for how to create a sweater based on the size and style of one already in his wardrobe. Each essay is then followed by a timeless pattern, from socks, hats and scarves to an array of sweater styles that men will be happy to receive and will actually wear. Each pattern in this collection includes a broad range of sizes and most are also written for multiple gauges so they can be knitted in various weights of yarn; this allows the knitter to use the same pattern as a basis for all of the men in her life, from son to husband to grandfather.