Weardowney Knit Couture: 20 Hand-knit Designs from Runway to Reality

by Gail Downey, Henry Conway

Gail Downey and Amy Wear, owners of Weardowney boutique, carved a name for themselves with their innovative range of intricate handknitted garments and couture and by publishing their seasonal Biannual magazine with each London Fashion Week. This imaginative and informative book will surely inspire knitting mavens and fashionistas alike. In addition to providing the reader with an in-depth knowledge to the world of fashion and knitwear, this gorgeous book features more than twenty designs complete with coloured photography and easy-to-follow instructions. Charming illustrations accompany advanced techniques used in the projects. Weardowney invites movement of a beloved craft, maintaining its unique successful qualities whist extending present limits to promote and progress an infinite medium. They also provide knitting classes and offer knitting kits.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2007

Reviews

[Ligaya]

I thought the photography and design of the book was fantastic, particularly the line drawings on the vellum overlays. I hadn't intended on reading the text but once I started, I found it engaging and I learned a lot. The author was much more high-fashion focused and I was disappointed that hand knit superstars, with the exception of Kaffe Fassett, were totally ignored. Nothing at all on Patricia Roberts or Susan Duckworth, and, I think, they're both Brits! The fashion photos rarely had captions and there are not any photos of the influential garments that the author references in the text. So, that was frustrating. The large full-page photo facing the Kenzo page (p 44) is actually a totally crocheted piece as is the photo on page 68.

In looking more closely at the knitting patterns, I realized that the photos are of no use at all since they're more arty and not for seeing what the garment actually looks like. Not great, but at least there are schematics.

[Mckinley]

For women, some nice projects but I'm not a fan of knit skirts.

[Abbey]

BOTTOM LINE: Decent enough fashion-centric knitting pattern book, rather heavier on the "fashion" aspect than the pattern element, sadly. Not for the faint-of-heart, nor the larger-sized knitter, though.

Ms. Downey is a brilliant designer, but for my taste these aren't very engaging designs. There is a large amount of historical perspective about knitting and fashion designers use of the craft (yes, Chanel and Schiaparelli are referenced, as they always are...), and it is, in the main, well-researched and written. But I read pattern books for *patterns*, you know? And I was less than impressed by these, although your mileage may differ. Chic-aspiring, without being fun, interesting without being pretty, well-made but not appealing, at least to me.

Downey's books are always worth a look, and this is no exception, but unless you're a real fashion maven, don't expect much. And if you are very "into" fashion, then read this one quick - it's from 2008, and not at all trendy any more, if it ever was...

[Laura]

There are some interesting patterns in this book. I skimmed through the beginning of the book, just kind of looking through the pictures. The first part of the book talks about knitting; how it started, what it has evolved to, what it is today, and that sort of thing. There are a couple risque photos in here, but nothing totally inappropriate. I liked some of the patterns, especially the skirts, they looked interesting and like something I might want to knit in the future. I'd probably recommend this book, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Monika]

This book is great, if by "couture" the authors means "patterns that you can download from Lion Brand for free." The book is beautifull printed, with gorgeous pictures and a nice history of knitting and fashion, but the actual patterns leave MUCH to be desired. Not only are most of these items unflattering and impractical, they aren't even FASHIONABLE. I liked the patter for the tunic dress, but that's about it. The rest you can find online for free, without the misleading "couture" label.

[Anna]

Holding off on assigning stars till I've run through a pattern (first up: the tunic dress on the cover). The introduction, though--a history of hand knitting from ancient Egypt to 21st-century haute couture--is fascinating. Downey's observation that knitting is a fundamentally different kind of garment-making because it can create in three dimensions rather than cutting and pasting flat pieces of fabric is something I'd never thought of before.

[Lesley]

I'm sorry but these designs are just ugly.