Collected from knitting designers all over the world, the patterns in this guide will be a joy to create for any knitter. The lavish full-color illustrations and easy-to-follow instruction charts will make these traditional patterns an exciting addition to a lace knitter's repertoire. From beginner to advanced, the 34 projects contained include designs for sweaters, vests, shawls, scarves, gloves, and socks. With beautiful photographs of these unique patterns, this knitting book is perfect for those who love to knit lace and those who would love to learn.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"'A beautiful book that samples the best of both traditional and contemporary lace knitting; it is a collection of patterns from a number of sources and includes biographies of the designers and a snippet of prose for each pattern. It is good to see lace patterns in a variety of yarns, both chunky and fine. All designs are charted with some suitable for beginners and others very much for the experienced lace knitter. This would make a delightful present for someone special or for yourself.' SlipKnot, Knitting & Crochet Guild, Sept '04"
About the Author
Meg Swansen is the daughter of designer Elizabeth Zimmermann, a leading figure in handknitting since the mid-1950s. She is the owner of Schoolhouse Press, writes the semi-annual Wool Gathering, has produced nearly 20 instructional videos, and presides over Knitting Camp. She lives in Pittsville, Wisconsin.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
104 of 108 people found the following review helpful
By A. Reader
Format:Hardcover
This is a collection of beautiful designs, and it has great color pictures of each shawl. The designs are unique and challenging. Pattern instructions are presented in chart-form only, which makes things exceptionally difficult because many of the charts are flawed. Written instructions would have been an easy way for knitters to double-check confusing instructions. An errata file can be found at www.knittinguniverse.com, but this is the only knitting book I own with errors, so it's disappointing that the errata sheet is necessary. Most of the patterns are for shawls, with a few sweaters, a hat, a pair of gloves, three sock patterns, a couple pillows, a child's pinafore, two purses, and a hat thrown in. Then, for some reason, there are pictures in the back of shawls without patterns provided, which is completely baffling in a pattern book. While I love the designs and the variety of the patterns, the book falls short of expectations. I would not recommend any of the patterns for beginners.
75 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Yes, it's finally here! And, it is well worth the wait. This is a beautiful and BIG book - coffee table size and 174 pages.
The most astounding thing about this book is the amazing range of projects offered within the theme of lace. Just among the shawls offered there are: 3 triangles, 2 rectangles, 8 circles, 2 faroese and 3 squares. Then there are garments ranging from shrugs and tunics (6) to socks (3) and a christening gown. Then, just for grins, is Debbie New's lace boat (I kid you not!)
As for the skill levels required, there are a few projects for solid beginners. (The actual knitting of lace isn't difficult -- it's the keeping track of where you are in the pattern that is the trick.) Most of the projects are best suited to knitters with some experience with lace.
Beyond the patterns, there's a good techniques section in the introduction. There's also a gallery of lace projects where the designer doesn't have a written pattern available but it has some fun ideas (including the boat). There's also a section with a message from each designer. The book concludes with a section about the making of the book - coordinating 30 designers, photographing garments on several continents (and the photos are stunning). What a project for Meg Swansen to coordinate.
Bottom line -- a gorgeous book of patterns but with enough technique and design that you can use it as a reference too.
72 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
More than one knitter has been bitten by the lace bug. With a few basic stitches and proper techniques, you can go from a plain looking thin yarn to a garment that is a work of art, with lace leaves, flowers, insects, and waves of edgings like ocean foam.
This book not only has patterns for shawls and scarves (typical lace projects) but also gloves and socks! Best of all, it teaches all-important techniques such as choosing the right yarn, the right sized needles for the yarn and blocking--stretching the lace project when completed. When you are initiated into these secrets, you will be able to make lace knits that are the stuff of legends.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laces Laces Laces
As an intermediate knitter, I always love laces. Other books have patterns reminds me of Grandma and dollies. Read more
Published 7 days ago by I. Holmes
4.0 out of 5 stars
enough good patterns to make it worth the price
A Gathering of Lace contains a variety of patterns with charted knitting instructions as well as a small technique section (with techniques for grafting and the invisible cast on,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by windup
2.0 out of 5 stars
Meh.
Meh. It isn't as pretty or as useful as Victorian Lace Today. Although it is more comprehensive than VLT since it includes patterns for sweaters and shawls and gloves, there's... Read more
Published 22 months ago by KathyD
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gathering of Lace and happiness....
This book is amazing! I got it in no time at all from the vendor, and even though I only ordered it for one pattern that I really wanted, I was pleasantly surprised at all the... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Nici Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!
Well, I already knew that I wanted this book before I got onto Amazon to buy it. I have been drooling over it for a few months until I could save up for it. Read more
Published on November 26, 2010 by jc
3.0 out of 5 stars
eh, nothing special, little detail
I bought this because it had great reviews, i should've listened to the bad ones more... i am a beginner with lace but this book was too simple for me. Read more
Published on November 23, 2010 by alli12987
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely collection of patterns
A really good knitting book is one in which you enjoy knitting most of the patterns. This book has a nice variety of great patterns which help it meet this criteria for me. Read more
Published on December 30, 2009 by S. Al-Amri
5.0 out of 5 stars
My "Bible"
Having made many of the things in this book, I also learned to combine them into somewhat original projects. It is the book I first go to when I want to make a wedding gift. Read more
Published on December 25, 2009 by Mary E. Wojcik
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the two best lace knitting books
I decided to purchase this book after taking it out from the library and thoroughly enjoying it. The book is both a joy to read and a joy to knit from. Read more
Published on December 5, 2009 by Poison Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lace knitters-Wow
For lace knitters of any skill level this is a great book. Easy to understand and wonderful shawls and techniques. worth every cent!!
Published on September 28, 2009 by Laurel K. Cole
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