Lush fiber and dazzling design are the focus of this collection of patterns inspired by pre-Columbian textiles from the culturally rich Andes in South America. Adapted for modern knitters, the ambitious designs offer eye-catching patterns, unique silhouettes, and a palette of techniques ranging from intarsia and Fair Isle to embroidery and beading. Skilled knitters will find plenty of contemporary flair in projects such as a boldly striped geometric scarf, a showy lace cardigan with ruffled trim, and a crocheted poncho embellished with beads. Photographs of the stunning Peruvian landscape and stories about the tradition of Andean craft and the vital alpaca enrich this tour of beautiful art from a beautiful country.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Stunning pieces that will grace your knitted collection forever." — Vogue Knitting
"Readers will be enchanted...Enthusiastically recommended for large public libraries and academic textile collections." — Library Journal
"An inspiring look at some very interesting construction techniques for knitwear." — Spindlicity.com
"This book is full of knitting patterns that have interesting shapes and constructions with difficulty to match." — Knitty.com
"Many of the patterns...incorporate distinctive stitch, color, or embellishment highlights that say, 'This is special.'" — MonstersandCritics.com
"This book is not just a knitting book, it is also a travelogue plus a history of alpacas. The book is wonderful reading." — Knitting News
"In knitting the designs you'll come to love the alpaca fiber itself. Knitters of all levels will draw inspiration and joy from the stunning designs and unusual construction. Beautifully photographed and illustrated." — Creative Knitting
"Readers will be enchanted...Enthusiastically recommended for large public libraries and academic textile collections." — Library Journal
"An inspiring look at some very interesting construction techniques for knitwear." — Spindlicity.com
"This book is full of knitting patterns that have interesting shapes and constructions with difficulty to match." — Knitty.com
"Many of the patterns...incorporate distinctive stitch, color, or embellishment highlights that say, 'This is special.'" — MonstersandCritics.com
"This book is not just a knitting book, it is also a travelogue plus a history of alpacas. The book is wonderful reading." — Knitting News
"In knitting the designs you'll come to love the alpaca fiber itself. Knitters of all levels will draw inspiration and joy from the stunning designs and unusual construction. Beautifully photographed and illustrated." — Creative Knitting
About the Author
Helen Hamann is a knitwear designer whose designs have been featured in fashion magazines, in mail-order catalogs, on television, and in Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's. A native of Peru, she is also a founding member of the International Alpaca Association. She lives in Decatur, Tennessee.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mondo Bizarro,
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This review is from: Andean Inspired Knits: Designs in Luxurious Alpaca (Paperback)
When I was in Santa Fe I came across a shop with imported sweaters from South America featuring fascinating and beautiful geometric designs. Hoping this book would also feature such designs, I was gravely disappointed.
In addition, the actual knitted garments are of an unflattering design for most bodies. I know of very few America women who could stylishly wear these finished products. I gave the book two stars because there are two graphed patterns I may be able to use elsewhere.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fun to look through...,
By Rosy (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Andean Inspired Knits: Designs in Luxurious Alpaca (Paperback)
This is a nice book to leaf through, colorful and nicely presented, with real people modeling instead of glossy stick-girls. I'm not sure I would have bought it if I'd seen it first, however, although it came highly recommended. My primary reason: embroidery. At least half the designs involve embroidery, some of them in an essential role where I would expect intarsia work. I don't WANT to do embroidery, especially on sweaters. My other objection to the book is more personal: some of the things in it are just goofy, like flowers to pin on hats (ugh) and a ridiculous string of giant crocheted "beads" that might make a baby toy but never a necklace! I dislike having my time wasted by fillers like square foldover purses, straight strip scarves, etc, especially when I have to embroider a flower on them. Finally, her palette is about four colors and since I happen to dislike them very much, it was one more irritating little hurdle to jump, trying to visualize the patterns in something besides orange and yellow. On the other hand, there are some very interesting shapes to garments, not the usual at all, including a sort of trapezoid fold-over shrug/jacket and a knockout short reefer-type jacket with clever lapels (the orange one with, yes, the *embroidered* barred plaid). I have kept the book on the basis of those two garments alone, because I think they could be very interesting indeed in different yarns. Lots of people might like this book; I don't want to trash it. It's not the author's fault that it happened to ring so many of my little peeve bells. Just...look it over in person first.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Back to the drawing board,
This review is from: Andean Inspired Knits: Designs in Luxurious Alpaca (Paperback)
Because the land of the alpaca offers so much excitement in color and geometric pattern to inspire the knitter, I expected more from this book. I was extremely disappointed with the designs offered. The author obviously loves alpaca yarn and showed us charming photos of the animals in pastoral scenes. But she might have worked a bit more on her designs. On the whole, the garments appeared ill-fitting and clumsy. Perhaps the author should re-work her ideas.
As a knitting pattern book this one , unfortunately didn't inspire.
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