Review: Traditional Knitting

The Complete Book of Traditional Knitting
Rae Compton
Dover Publications

This is a republication of the Complete Book of Traditional Knits from 1983 with the original list of suppliers removed.
It begins with a good introduction to the history of knitting explaining the four other techniques often confused with knitting: stitches made with a single needle, knotless netting (i.e. nalbinding), sprang, and embroidery.
The rest of the book is divided into different regions and their knitting traditions: Shetland and Fair Isle, Britain, Aran (Ireland), Iceland and The Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Central Europe and Northern Lace. Each chapter looks into the different patterns and techniques which form a part of each of these traditions.
At the end of the book each tradition is represented by a pattern - mostly sweaters. As the book was first published in 1983 it does have quite an outdated look about it. Especially, the pictures in the middle do bring you back to the 80s.
But the content is not outdated and makes for very fascinating reading on the whole. I for one can't wait to get stuck into making some Fair Isle sweaters for my husband and myself. Lovely warm ones protecting us against wind and weather when we are outside working.

Reviewed by Eddie

Review: Ethnic Knitting Exploration

Ethnic Knitting Exploration: Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland
Donna Druchunas
Nomad Press

Reviewed by Kate Walker
Ethnic Knitting Exploration is a thorough introduction to knitting design. As with many pattern books, it includes the very basics, such as yarn weights and needle sizes, but it progresses quickly, and takes the reader through a step-by-step process of designing their own pattern. Along the way, Druchunas offers tips for sizing, choosing the right yarn weight and keeping consistent gauge.

There are different ways to plan your patterns, including a visual plan, detailed planning worksheets and a step-by-step list of written instructions. The focus of the book is on knitting sweaters, and there is a good introduction to the different shapes of sweater. For new knitters looking to build confidence in pattern design, Druchunas starts with some smaller projects, such as fingerless gloves and ponchos.

Unlike her previous book, Arctic Lace, Druchunas does not concentrate very much on the history of the countries themselves, although there is a brief introduction to them at the start of each section and sidebars of trivia dotted around the book. Instead the emphasis is on using elements of each country’s knitting traditions to create your own patterns. Icelandic and Lithuanian patterns include Fair Isle motifs and borders, while the Irish patterns include cabling and designs to create your own customised aran sweaters.

There are photos of the pattern stitches throughout the book, although I would have liked to have seen photos of the finished product as well. With the exception of the cover photos, finished products are shown in line drawings

If you’re looking for rigid patterns, this is not the book for you. The key themes of the book are flexibility, pattern tweaking, and as Druchunas herself says ‘fudging’. For a beginner this is a very good introduction to designing your own pattern, and should give even the most cautious knitter the confidence to design their first sweater.

 

Review: Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design

The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design (How to Keep you Knits about You)
Shannon OKey, 2010
Cooperative Press

Review by Cecile Renaud

The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design is aimed squarely at the budding designer thinking about taking the next step and wanting to publish their designs. As such it is a mine of useful information, covering every aspect of the process of going professional from who does what in the industry, to design software and advertising, also including alternative ways to earn money with knitting, whilst you wait for the design side of things to take off. It presents different options for many of the steps involved, with helpful indications on their pros and cons, notably on the different means of selling patterns. This is not a book with fancy fashion shots or even instructions on how to write a pattern, but the advice it dispenses covers a wide ground, and undoubtedly represent a handy shortcut to information which would otherwise have taken a long string of trials and errors to figure out.
This is, however, definitely a book you need to read with a handy Internet access, because much of its advice is illustrated by links to web pages. Although this leaves more space to cover a wider amount of topics in the limited space available in a book, it also means that if you want to get the full picture you often have to refer to the Internet (although a summary of the main points developed elsewhere is most of the time given). This might also be easier to access from the ebook version, which is also available for purchase, as the references might be hyperlinked in the PDF, otherwise, typing in URLs can be slightly tiresome.
The pattern design industry is constantly changing and Knitgrrl’s guide covers the facilities offered by the Internet thoroughly, starting with examining the possibilities of the different types of social media, but also giving or mainly linking to ‘how tos’ and sources of information.
It includes advice for people at different stages of their professional project, including a chapter on Further Education in textiles, covering many countries of the English-speaking world, which is a very nice change from national-centered perspectives. On a personal level, I was thrilled to find a reference to the knitting collection of the Winchester School of Art Library, which is part of my university.
Finally, the last chapter of the book consists of interviews with thirty professionals from the knitting industry: long established designers such as Louisa Harding, as well as more recent, mainly Internet based ones like Ysolda Teague, but also tech editors and magazine editors. The number and range of people interviewed adds to the variety of points of view, making it a rich and comprehensive read.
The book thus offers, in simple terms accessible to any knitter, a fascinating insider’s view of the workings of the knitting industry.

Review: Ethnic Knitting Discovery

Ethnic Knitting Discovery: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and the Andes
Donna Druchunas
Nomad Press

Review by Eddie

Donna writes in the introduction: 'Today, published patterns are everywhere. But that doesn't mean that you can find just the right pattern, when you have a project in mind'.
How right she is! This is why she has written this book, which explored how knitters in different parts of the world approach knitting and create unique garments and accessories.
The book contains no patterns but instead has a sample garment and a sample accessory for each country. The countries in this book are The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and The Andes.
I would like to knit a really nice sweater for my husband from this Jacob's wool that I have begun spinning. I am sure this book will be very handy when trying to figure out the sizing and shaping as I haven't yet found the perfect pattern.
Donna teaches you how to get the size right by making some measurements and working from them. There are different options depending on whether you are a knitter who is ready to work from a basic concept, a knitter who wants to plan thoroughly in advance, or a knitter who would like detailed instructions.
Basically, Donna is teaching us to knit from very basic principles in a way that has been used for generations. This is a truly unique and extremely useful book.

Review: Simple Socks

Simple Socks (Plain & Fancy)
by Pricilla A Gibson-Roberts
Nomad Press
Review by Dee Westwood

As a dedicated sock knitter myself, I was pleased to be asked to review this lovely book.
The author has put many years of sock knitting expertise into creating a simply presented book for any new or more experienced sock makers with some tips for hand-spinners too. Once mastered, I feel certain that all knitters will be keen to adopt the style and methodology explained…. And that having done so, will effortlessly find their sock making takes on a new lease of life. Having seen for myself the benefits of doing things in the ways revealed within the book I believe I may now be a convert.
What is immediatly striking is Pricilla’s enthusiasm for knitting and sock making history giving us as readers a little background, making us feel almost as if we’re old friends sitting knitting together, discussing the cultural origins of the stitches and styles as we create.
The book adopts the use of 5 DPN’s although as a knitter who prefers using circular needles I have found no reason at all why circular needles cannot be used successfully by using stitch markers. I absolutely love the idea of using the short row method for sock toes, as well as the heel (which is also my own preferred heel turning method) and really appreciate the alternative yarn over method instead of wrapping stitches. It does indeed leave a much smoother and tighter seam.
In fact the book has many great ideas for the committed sock enthusiast and knitter to try, and no doubt adopt in making future projects. For instance, the invisible cast on when beginning at the toe, which as a hand spinner has recently become my preferred starting point too and for exactly the reasons Pricilla states… no more worries about not having enough yarn to finish a project that you might encounter when knitting from the top to the toe. Brilliant!
No matter what your preference, whether you begin at the cuff and knit towards the toe, or begin at the toe and work to the top, both are fully explained and are equally easy to do. Leg shaping for longer socks to suit the male or female shape, deciding where and how you want stitches to behave, or which way to lean, it’s all there. I can’t think of anything that has been forgotten or left to chance.
Then there are the elastic cast on or cast off techniques, given in English and Continental styles, as well as the straightforward explanation and diagrams for sock construction which will enable us all to make socks to any size, to fit any foot, that will not only look and feel pleasing, but that also stay put keeping our tootsies snug!
The author has gone to great lengths to provide us with easy to understand explanations of any movements needed to attempt and successfully complete the manoeuvres required to master these new methods and has provided simple illustrated drawings to back these descriptions up.
Having tried the basic sock, I’m keen to get started on my next project and to put into practice some of the ideas for creating fancy designs, although I have much doubt in my ability to master intarsia or motif knitting I will with this book open beside me be giving it a go!

Review: Vintage Knits

Vintage Knits: 30 Knitting Designs from Rowan for Women and Men
2010

Reviewed by Eddie

This book is purely a pattern book - but oh what patterns. Rowan has collected 30 patterns by 8 of the UK's top hand knit designers. I can't wait to get going with some of the patters. The patterns themselves are obviously not vintage but instead, vintage inspired by photos from the post war period and films such as "Chocolat" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
The patterns are mostly for shawls and cardigans but they are all unique and beautiful. Some include embroidery while others incorporate intricate cable-work. About half the knits are for men and half for women. A great collection for anyone who enjoys great design and vintage style.
The designers behind this book are: Kaffe Fassett, Sarah Dallas, Kim Hargreaves, Martin Storey, Sharon Peake, Louisa Harding, Brandon Mably and Lucinda Guy.
My personal favourite patterns are definitely Kim Hargreaves "Beau" and "Jarrett", two wonderful and stylish knits for men, Sarah Dallas' exceptional cardigan for women: "Tyrolean" and Martin Storey's "Bridget" which to me has a lovely Scandinavian look, that is a classic but still fresh.

Review: Knitting it Old School

Knitting it Old School
By Stitchy McYarnpants and Caro Sheridan, 2010

Published by Wiley

Review by Inny

Stitchy McYarnpants and Caro Sheridan's new book, Knitting It Old School is an absolute riot of colour, patterns and inspiration. The writing style is very jolly; rather tongue in cheek, and I really enjoyed reading the book for that alone.

The book is dedicated to the authors' mothers 'who passed on their creative genes' and in light of this, I reviewed this book along with my own mother, who is of the age to have worn and made a lot of the patterns when they were first in fashion.

There is a good mix of styles covering the decades approximately from the 1940s to the 1970s. Although not a vintage book in the strict sense of the word, these patterns are inspired by the vintage look but brought up to date for today. The patterns range in size from XS to 2X variously in the women's patterns which is a heck of a lot bigger than the 34" busts of many actual vintage patterns.

Knitting it Old School features a nice mix of both garments and kitschy items like Bottle Buddies. The book attracted some well known designers such as Annie Modesitt and Pamela Wynne and this is reflected in the high standard of the designs. Some of the garments we thought a bit too out-there for everyday wear, but there were enough included that we would knit for ourselves to make up for this.

We really liked the way that the book was divided into fun sections like 'Vroom!' and 'Sci-Fiber' [sic] although my Mum wasn't sure that my Dad would have appreciated her knitting him a Star Trek inspired sweater!

Despite the title, Knitting it Old School actually also contains 10 crochet patterns and 4 for sewing. Within the crochet patterns is a fabulous 1960s style granny square dress.My Mum claims to have worn one of these herself although I am still waiting on photographic proof of this...

While she wouldn't make herself a crocheted dress nowdays, my mother would like to knit herself the lovely 1950s-inspired navy and white short sleeved sweater, whilst I particularly liked the scoop-necked St Moritz pullover with its button details and clever waist shaping. We both agreed that that it was really positive in a general knitting book to see such a range of men's garments.

Each pattern has at very well shot photographs, although it would have been useful to see the back and some detail shots of some of the garments to get a better idea of how they sit when worn. There is a good description included of each garment or item with a little design story and ideas about how to best wear each.

The charts included are very good, and in colour, which is a real bonus. However lack of written word alternatives to the charts might have been been helpful in places for those who prefer to work that way.


Although not a beginner's book, we would highly recommend this as a useful resource any of us who have a good working knowledge of basic knitting. This book has such a lot of interesting techniques that it would make a great buy for someone who likes both the retro look and the challenge of learning something new.

So really, whether you love knitting, or are just a 1950s throwback, this book should be on your Christmas list. You'll dip into it again and again.