Folk Style

by Mags Kandis

The unique cultural patterns contained in this lively collection will inspire knitters looking for such bright, new projects as Mexican floor pillows, Shibori neck wraps, Asian cropped vests, and Peruvian tunics. Featuring fashionable items for women, children, babies, and the home, this guide shares techniques on colors, motifs, details, and styles. The vibrant photos and step-by-step directions give beginning and advanced knitters alike the keys to creating colorful, ethnically diverse crafts.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Crochet

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Ligaya]

I love the author, Mags Kandis, and LOVED her yarn (Mission Falls) when it was in production way back when. I could easily see how she was selected to be the author for this book as part of Interweave Press Style series. I'm reading this 16 years after publications and, I think, much of the content is still wearable today without looking dated. I, though, only found one thing I really wanted to cast on for, the author's Modern Quilt Wrap using Rowan's Kidsilk Haze. Still, a good book for inspiration.

[Nellie]

Nice collection of folksy items to knit.21 projects ranging from hats to mittens to shawls. Cute sweaters and bags.

[Jennifer]

Very colorful designs inspired by "folk" traditions. The author defines folk style as "a melding of cultures and eras and a global interaction of color, texture, motif, and shape," fashioned with a contemporary eye. As with fusion cooking, some of the combinations in this book work for modern designs and some, in my opinion, don't work as well. As usual for the "Style" series, there is a clear and useful section on incorporating the book's ideas into your own designs.

One very unique and beautiful design is the author's own "Shibori-Esque Neck Wrap," which is knit and felted to look like Japanese Shibori fabric. I'm thinking of trying this pattern.

[Jennifer Gee Conway]

This book has a number of very cool and diverse projects. I love some and am indifferent to others, but the way I feel about the ones I love makes it worth having picked this up. Projects I think might be worth making: "modern quilt wrap," "burma rings scarf," "bunad mukluks," "appalachian gathering basket," "sunny flower fez," "shanghai surplice," "tribal baby carrier," "algonquin socks," and "urban hand warmers," all in all a good few months of knitting even without picking up another book. We'll see.

[Amberjean]

I'm not so crazy about books that water down a "traditional" art so far that it's unrecognizable. These patterns were not to my taste, but also not actually "folk" in any discernible way. I mean, at some point, it's diluted so far that knitting in norway and peru are not that dissimilar; both use sticks and string to make a series of interwoven loops.

I suppose this might be an ok pattern book for beginners, but I don't think it's a good introduction to any of the "flavors" of knitting it addresses.

[Tonileg]

This is my least favorite book in this Interweave Press series.
I want to love it, but it was impractical and sometimes just ugly. I did like the Gansey Toque and Mitts pattern which needs only 200g for everything and looks like a great Holiday gift to knit up for a boy or girl that can be personalized with their initial.
160 pages and borrowed from the library and will not be buying in the future
2 stars

[Tanya]

I was interested in checking this book out to see the Paisley Shawl by Kate Gilbert, I was pleasantly surprised to find many other projects that would be worthy of casting on.
Other items that really would be fun to knit: Modern Quilt Wrap (very colorful), Annie Oakley Jacket (a great basic, with subtle embroidery detailing at the waist), Shibori-esque neck wrap (a felted project).

[Cat Fithian]

I love this book. The colors, designs, feel of this book all give me inspiration every time I take it out. LOVE!

[Mckinley]

Full title: is _Folk style : innovative designs to knit including sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, and more_.