Knitting Roundup
-- Library Journal, 8/15/2007
SWEATERS
Szabo, Janet. Aran Sweater Design. Big Sky Knitting Designs. 2006. 175p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-97680250-1. pap. $24.95.
Aran sweaters are elaborately-textured garments named for the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland where they originated. They are usually knitted in a single light color to show off the texture of their panels of stitch patterns featuring cables, knots, bobbles and popcorn stitches. For knitters with intermediate or advanced knitting skills, this is the best practical book on designing Aran sweaters from concept to finished sweater. There are also patterns for cardigans, pullovers and a vest.
Turner, Sharon. Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting Design: Working from a Master Pattern To Fashion Your Own Knits. Wiley. (Teach Yourself VISUALLY). 2007. 293p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-470-06817-5. pap. $24.99.
In addition to master patterns for sweaters, this collection of knitting "recipes" for knitwear in multiple gauges and sizes. it also includes templates for scarves, shawls, hats, bags, socks, mittens, gloves, hand warmers and vests, as well as chapters on altering the master patterns and designing your own knits. However, if your budget is limited, Ann Budd's pattern books (see print version of this article) is the preferable option because their clearer formatting, interior spiral binding and superior photography make knitting from them a more enjoyable experience.
SPECIALTY PROJECTS
Polley, Sandra. The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing and Accessories. Potter Craft, dist. By Crown. 2004. 96p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4000-5437-4. pap. $19.95.
Every knitter should at least once in a lifetime feel the satisfaction of knitting a teddy bear for a little child. This book includes 12 different traditional teddy bear patterns with clothes, suitable for beginning to advanced knitters.
HOT TRENDS
Epstein, Nicky. Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Flora, Points & Picots: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders. Sixth&Spring 2004. 168p. illus. ISBN 978-931543-40-8. $29.95.
Knitting's "queen of bling" specializes in designing knitted embellishments, those extra little touches that make a piece of knitting unique. This is a collection of some 350 patterns for knitted borders. Each chapter is devoted to a different type of edging, including ribs, ruffles, lace, fringes, floral motifs, points, and picots. (LJ 8/04)
Schreier, Iris. Modular Knits: New Techniques for Today's Knitters. Lark, dist. by Sterling. 2005. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-57990-649-8. $17.95.
Modular knitting normally involves creating individual motifs such as squares, triangles, and diamonds, and then either joining them to create the finished piece or binding off one motif, cutting the yarn, joining a new yarn, picking up stitches on that piece, and starting another motif from there. Designer Schreier has come up with a variation using short-row techniques to create modules all in one piece. Each is illustrated with practice swatches and is followed by 24 projects that include scarves, shawls, hats, a poncho, and even a sweater, which—had it been done the traditional way—would have required 300 separate squares! (LJ 12/05)
Sowerby, Jane (text) & Alexis Xenakis (photogs.). Victorian Lace Today. XRX. 2006. 196p. illus. ISBN 978-1-933064-07-9. $29.95.
The lace depicted here—edgings, scarves, shawls, capes—takes your breath away. Examining surviving pattern books from the Victorian era, Sowerby realized the need to translate their sketchy instructions to a form the modern lace knitter could understand. In this book she has done so quite brilliantly, combining knitting history and lace knitting techniques with a collection of 40 patterns in the modern pattern writing style (color photographs, written and charted instructions and schematics) preferred by the modern knitter. A treat for intermediate and advanced knitters.
CREATIVE KNITTING
Fassett, Kaffe. Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library: Over 190 Creative Knitwear Designs. Taunton, dist. by Random. 2003. 160p. illus. index. ISBN 978-56158-663-9. $34.95.
Fassett, an American painter based in England and the first living textile artist to have a one-man show at the Victoria and Albert Museum, creates opulent, brilliantly colored knitwear that has inspired many to learn the craft. This pattern library is a good introduction to his work as it collects 190 of his knitted color patterns and displays them both as swatches and in charted form.
New, Debbie. Unexpected Knitting. Schoolhouse. 2003. 248p. illus. ISBN 978-0-942018-22-6. $40.
New is an original thinker whose artist's wider vision of knitting as a creative tool breaks many of the traditional "rules" of the craft. Freeform knitting, scribble lace, swirl knitting, labyrinth knitting, cellular automaton knitting, ouroborus knitting—don't even ask—are only a few of the topics addressed in this richly illustrated "idea" book which should fin a welcome place in large public and academic libraries.
KNITTING HISTORY
Gardiner, Kay & Ann Shayne. Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures. Potter Craft, dist. by Crown. 2006. 159p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-307-23605-0. $29.95.
Yes, the co-authors of popular blog Mason-Dixon Knitting (see below) share some 30 fun and inventive knitting patterns here, but there's also a hilarious knitting history time line, interviews with creative knitters, sidebars on topics like British slang, field-tested favorite TV shows to knit by, places in which the authors have tried to knit and failed, and essays on the joy of community knitting. An excellent annotated bibliography rounds off this entertaining read (LJ 4/15/06)
Macdonald, Anne L. No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting. Reprint ed. Ballantine. 1990. 512p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-345-36253-7. pap. $25.
First published in 1988, this lively and personal account of knitting and its place in American life traces the history of knitting in the United States from colonial times to the 1980s. Despite the fact that Macdonald's extensive footnotes and bibliography occupy almost 100 pages, the book itself is very readable—perhaps because of its detail this is more for knitters seeking a connection to other knitters of the past than to the casual reader of social history.
Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie. Knitting Rules! Storey. 2006. 224p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-58017-834-1. pap. $12.95.
Like Pearl-McPhee's previous books At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much and Yarn Harlot (also the name of her blog, see below), this one is entertaining yet also provides practical advice on how to identify fibers using the burn test, a comparison of needle sizes using metric, U.S., and U.K. numbering, a step-by-step cheat sheet for knitting socks, and, yes, a good many knitting-related jokes and anecdotes. (LJ 8/06)
Rutt, Richard. A History of Hand Knitting. Interweave. 2003. 256p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-931499-37-8. $39.95.
As a boy Rutt, formerly Bishop of Leicester, learned to knit from his grandfather and later spent many years painstakingly researching the history of the craft. First published in 1987, this book traces the history of knitting from the days of knitting myth and legend before 1500 to the 1980s and includes valuable insight into local knitting traditions in the British Isles. Black-and-white and color illustrations.
.Vogue® Knitting Magazine editors.. Best of Vogue® Knitting: 25 Years of Articles, Techniques and Expert Advice. Sixth&Spring. 2007. 244p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-9330-2716-6. $29.95.
Originally published from the 1930s until the late 1960s, Vogue Knitting Magazine was revived in 1982 from obscurity by Condé Nast and today high-fashion knitting and Vogue Knitting are synonymous. This anthology includes the best essays published in the magazine over the last 25 years, including profiles of knitwear designers and famous knitters like Elizabeth Zimmermann and Kaffe Fassett, articles on the history of knitting, techniques for both beginning and advanced knitters, designing knitwear, fibers, and finishing. Of special interest is the prefatory essay on the history of the magazine with photographs of covers running from 1982 to 2006.
MAGAZINES (PRINT & ONLINE)
Knitter's Review
knittersreview.com
Written by Clara Parkes, this free weekly e-mail newsletter offers reviews of yarns and new knitting books, reports on industry trend, and a very popular knitter's forum.
Knitty
knitty.com
Published four times a year since June 2002, this online magazine, which gets approximately 20,000 visitors a day, features entertaining articles and a good selection of patterns. The majority of Knitty readers are between ages 19 and 49.
MagKnits
magknits.com
This UK-based online pattern magazine is published monthly with a readership of 5000 a day. Patterns only. No feature articles.
Vogue® Knitting International. 4/yr. $19. Vogue Knitting, PO Box 1808, Altoona, PA 16603; 877-860-6164; vogueknitting.com. ISSN 0890-9237.
Vogue Knitting represents the cutting edge of knitwear design, with projects that will appeal to a younger demographic and to the style conscious. Buy for large urban libraries.
EMAIL GROUPS
Here are three of the most popular email groups out of literally hundreds devoted to every aspect of knitting :
KnitList
groups.yahoo.com/group/knitlist/
One of the oldest knitting groups on the Internet, this moved to Yahoo in 2000 and currently has more than 10,700 members.
KnitU
www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/Communityknitu.php
A large general knitting group housed at the web site of XRX Books, the publishers of Knitter's magazine.
Sockknitters
groups.yahoo.com/group/Socknitters/
This group, founded in 1999, is a meeting place for sock knitters from all over the world—some 11,600 in number—to share techniques, experiences, and photos of their projects.
KNITTING BLOGS
There are more than 900 different blogs devoted to knitting and kindred arts. Two of the most popular (listed below) have morphed into knitting books.
Mason-Dixon Knitting
www.masondixonknitting.com
Joint blog by two friends—one living in Manhattan and the other in Nashville—who met through their common interest in knitting.
The Yarn Harlot
www.yarnharlot.ca/blog
A wildly popular blog in which its creater Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, "goes on (and on) about knitting."
PODCASTSs
Cast On
www.cast-on.com
A knitter's podcast beautifully produced by Brenda Dayne who also blogs from her home in Wales. Interviews, opinions, knitting news and music to knit by.
KNITTING REFERENCE QUESTIONS
Are you prepared for these knitting-related reference questions? The answers below will point you to specialized knitting books you may want to acquire.
QUESTION: Do you have a book on knitting with hand-held knitting looms like as the Knifty Knitters™ available in craft stores?
ANSWER: The most complete reference on loom knitting is Isela Phelps' The Loom Knitting Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting on a Loom, with over 30 Fun Projects (Griffin: St. Martin's. 2007. 144p. index. Illus. ISBN 978-0-312-36661-2. pap. $24.95.)
QUESTION: Do you have a book on knitting rugs? I'd like to knit a rug, but cannot find many patterns in knitting books or magazines.
ANSWER: Your best choice for knitted rugs is Donna Druchnas's The Knitted Rug: 21 Fantastic Designs. (Lark 2004. 128 . index. illus. ISBN 978-1-57990-424-1. $24.95. pap. ISBN 978-1-57990-747-1. $14.95; LJ 12/04.
QUESTION: I prefer crocheting to knitting. Are there books on converting knitting patterns to crochet?
ANSWER: The short answer is "no" , but if you would like to crochet fabric that imitates knitting, check out From Needles to Hook: Complete Guide to Converting Knit Patterns to Crochet. (DRG/The Needlecraft Shop. 2002. 192 p. illus. index. ISBN 978-157367-124-8. $24.95). While this guide does not give you a formula or step-by-step instructions for doing the necessary math to convert knitwear patterns to crochet, it does show you how to imitate basic knit and purl combinations in crochet as well as bobbles, cables and twisted stitches, and it includes a number of technique-building projects.
QUESTION: I'm tired of struggling with multiple double-pointed needles when knitting socks. Do you have information on knitting socks with two circulars?
ANSWER: Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks will get you started with this technique. For even more information and patterns, check out Cat Bordi's Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: A Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns. (Passing Paws, distr. by Unicorn Books & Crafts. 2001. 44 p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-9708869-5-8. pap. $16.95. )
QUESTION: I'd like to learn to spin my own yarn for knitting. Where can I find information on hand spinning geared specifically to knitters?
ANSWER: Check out Shannon Okey's Spin to Knit: The Knitter's Guide to Making Yarn. Interweave. 2006. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59668-007-4. pap. $21.95.
KNITWEAR DESIGN SERIES TO CONSIDER
Themed pattern books are collections of projects selected around a theme such as socks, hats, bags, scarves, etc. Interweave Press, Storey, Sixth&Spring and XRX Books all have excellent series that fit into this category.
The "Style" series from Interweave Press includes Scarf Style, Wrap Style and Lace Style. The great variety of designs, many challenging patterns, and a chapter on knitwear design in each volume makes the Style series an ideal choice for intermediate and experienced knitters.
The "Folk Knitting" series, also from Interweave, features patterns inspired by knitting traditions around the world and includes Folk Vests, Folk Shawls, Folk Mittens, Folk Bags, Folk Hats, Folk Socks, and Folk Knitting in Estonia.
The "Knit!" series from Storey Publishing includes Knit Baby Blankets!, Knit Baby Head & Toes!, Knit Christmas Stockings!, Knit Hats!, Knit Mittens!, Knit Scarves!, and Knit Socks! Many of the patterns, presented in row-by-row fashion, are suitable for the beginning knitter with clear color illustrations demonstrating featured techniques that might be new to the knitter.
The "Vogue Knitting on the Go" series by Sixth&Spring includes patterns by many leading knitwear designers, each graded for level of difficulty. These small format hardcover books (there are 27 titles in the series so far from Baby Blankets to Weekend Knits) cost $12.95, making them good choices for even budget-strapped libraries
XRX Books's "Knitter's Dozen" (including Ponchos & Wraps, and Scarves)series is one of my personal favorites because many of the patterns feature new-to-me techniques and/or fresh ways to look at knitting. Patterns are beautifully illustrated with liberal use of charts and schematics. Also included are teaching pieces, giving the knitter new techniques to learn.
In general I would recommend the "Style" series, the "Folk Knitting" series, and the "Knitter's Dozen" series for large public libraries and/or libraries catering to the more experienced knitters, and the Storey series for small public libraries and/or beginning knitters. Sixth&Spring's "Vogue Knitting on the Go" series is recommended for any library where there is demand for themed pattern books and especially for budget-conscious libraries.
