A book which describes different methods of knitting - Aran knitting, Fair Isle knitting, knitting with more than one colour and Japanese techniques. There are complete patterns for an Aran jumper, a winter coat, a Shetland lace shawl and Fair Isle socks. Show more Show less
It was thrilling nostalgia to find this (and the other books in the set)! Alas that my original Threads magazines were jettisoned in my many moves, so this is sweet compensation. I'm a sucker for the historic and obscure, so these articles are pure fascination. The color photos and diagrams are bright and clear, and although a few of the avant garde styles scream early '90s, the ideas are extremely useful and inspiring. I'd not recommend this for beginning knitters, or those who prefer to follow patterns to the letter. It's much better suited to those more committed to textile design.
If, like me, you enjoy the knitting articles in Threads but aren't very interested in all their other articles about sewing, quilting, etc., this book of creative inspiration and practical advice is for you.
Drawing from articles published in the magazine between 1986 and 1992, this collection showcases techniques from the world's folk knitting traditions. There are familiar favorites such as highly textured Aran knitting and delicate Shetland lace as well as some less well-known traditions like Swedish Two-Strand knitting and lace knit in the Catalan style. All the articles are accompanied by excellent illustrations of the techniques and full-color photographs. Many of the articles include fascinating history about the places where traditional techniques were developed.
My favorite articles include Alice Starmore's exploration of Fair Isle Knitting, Meg Swansen's article on knitting coats from unspun Icelandic wool, and Yoshimi Kihara's dense article on pattern design.