Traditional Knitting Patterns: from Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Italy and Other European Countries

by James Norbury

In this book you will find 263 different patterns and designs, the best traditional knitting material from the Arabic, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Austrian, Dutch, Scandinavian, Shetland, English, Scottish, and Irish knitting traditions. All are presented clearly so you can use them immediately in your own work, or use them for learning how knitting developed the world over.
In an easy-to-use format, the patterns and designs are first presented according to country. Then, after a short introduction discussing characteristic patterns, backgrounds, and influences, the author presents groupings of folk designs and traditional patterns. Each pattern and design is accompanied by a photograph of the completed work and either a chart or carefully written out instructions showing how to work the patterns. Since designs and patterns are given for characteristic units that can be repeated, you can use these patterns for projects of all sizes and shapes as well as for individual motifs. With a little planning these patterns can be used successfully for a wide range of knitting needs.
Knitters can use this book for learning exciting knitting traditions and for picking up new motifs and designs. In looking through the patterns and designs you will see how new ideas sprang up and how others were carried from culture to culture. But most importantly you will have on hand 256 different patterns, some of the most powerful folk material the knitter can have. The author's clear instructions can be followed by anyone who practices basic knitting.

Genres: Knitting, Reference, Art History, Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1973

Reviews

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book details the spread of knitting from its origins in the Arab world to Spain, Italy and France. Germany and Austria, Holland, Scandinavia, Fair Isle and the Shetland Islands, and the rest of Britain. It's broken into chapters for each of these regions, with a one-page overview of knitting in each region followed by photos and instructions for typical knitting patterns from each place.

If you have one or more of Barbara Walker's knitting pattern books, you probably already have most of these patterns -- or patterns that are very similar. And Richard Rutt's "History of Hand Knitting" would likely give you all the historical information and more. It's fairly thin compared to the Walker pattern books. But it's still worth at least taking a look at. It's interesting to see a compendium of patterns broken down by region, which I haven't seen elsewhere.

I haven't actually tried to follow any of the knitting instructions, and probably won't before I take this back to the library. None of them include suggestions for gauge, yarn weight or needle size, so you have to experiment, but you should be able to make a good guess by looking at the photos. A few of the charts looked a bit hard to follow just because the symbols used make them so busy, but the vast majority look pretty clear.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The charts may be nice but much of the historical information is completely fake.

The so-called "Arabian" knitting in this book is made up. The earliest known true knitting has been found in Egypt, from the Fatimid and Mamluk periods. Lots of socks, knit of cotton dyed sometimes with indigo. And a few intriguing *very complex* multi-colored wool examples. Reality is much more interesting than Norbury's fantasies.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep going back to this stitch pattern reference whenever I'm looking for stunning texture and graphic motifs for my designs. Although the abbreviations are less-than-standard, and the charts are an eye-strain, it's a simple job to work out my own charts following this guide. I'm an unabashed James Norbury fangirl.