Customer Reviews

Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ARCTIC LACE is not your typical knitting book. Not only does it provide an array of native alaskan designs for every knitting level, it also offers easy to follow tutorials with templates for designing your own unique lace projects.
This beautiful book is brimming with photos and stories that depict the rich history and traditions which give insight into the unusual world of alaskan knitters.
The author provides interesting information about the history and use of qiviut, the exquisitely soft, lightweight, but warm fiber from a most unusual source, musk oxen.
I highly recommend this book for all knitters who are interested in the diverse and rich historical aspects of this craft.

I really enjoy this book. It is a unique and fascinating look at handwork in a part of the world I know little about. The lace patterns are sweet but VERY basic so if you were thinking that you would advance in your lacework, you won't get that from this book. I also felt that some color photos would have punched up the book an awful lot.

The north star tam is a unique pattern and if you are a hat knitter,this book is worth it for that alone. I was quite impressed that the author bothered to show the hat in both a conventional wool and qiviut. Nice touch!

Don't be put off by the qiviut discussion...the author handles this well and these designs can be worked up in fingering or laceweight yarns easily.

Donna Druchunas is an expert knitwear designer whose work has been showcased in Family Circle, Easy Knitting, Interweave Knits, PieceWork, Knitter's, INKnitter's, and Fiber Focus magazines. In "Arctic Lace: Knitted Projects And Stories Inspired By Alaska's Native Knitters", Donna has created a 192-page, single-volume workshop on knitting and designing lace with an Inuit flair. In addition to the fifteen individual "user friendly" projects provided with careful step-by-step instructions, "Arctic Lace" is enhanced with 171 b/w photographs, 91 b/w illustrations, 28 tables, 11 sidebars, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index. These projects are adaptable to any yarn and demonstrate to even the most novice needlecrafter just how to make the most of luxury fibers. There is even extensive background information on the natural history of musk oxen, conservation efforts, and the fiber quality and use of their fur which is the source of Qiviut (or musk ox down), felt by many to be the world's warmest, lightest-weight fiber and a mainstay of Alaska's native knitters. "Arctic Lace" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to any dedicated needlecrafter's reference collection.

Artic Lace is a well-crafted, informative book. Far more than a knitting book it is a book of discovery. In it we are introduced not only to working in lace but to the rich northern culture.

Traveling "north" is a treat that due to the expenses incurred not all may enjoy. Yet while reading Artic Lace I felt I was there. Donna takes us with her to Alaska. You meet the people, hear their stories, experience their culture.

One of the stories Donna shares is of the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producer's Co-operative. As a rural woman I know how hard it can be to make a living. The story of the co-op speaks of ingenuity, perseverance, and dedication.

Donna also introduces us to the gentle creatures whose luxurious fibre every knitter longs to knit.

Then in the final chapters Donna's thoughts turn to lace. A knitter inexperienced with working in lace may be apprehensive Donna addresses your concerns and puts them to rest. She outlines steps to ensure your experience is rewarding. Her lace-knitting workshop in words and pictures is clear and concise. The patterns included offer hours of knitting enjoyment for knitters of all skill levels.

I highly recommend Artic Lace to both those who dream of artic travel and to those who like to or long to knit lace.

I was lucky enough to read the galley of this book and in a word, it's superb. It's fascinating to read about the native knitters in Alaska and the Oomingmak co-op. There are patterns, too, for the new knitter and those with more advanced skills, calling for the use of qiviut yarn. This is a luxury fiber from the muskox. Every knitter should add this book to their knitting library.

Don't be afraid to try lace! Even if you've never picked up a pair of needles before, you can start knitting lace with just this book alone. It includes clear, complete instructions with pictures of how to cast on and off, work even the most basic stitches, backgrounds, and borders. There is a very helpful discussion of pros and cons of yarns suitable for knitting lace, then a lace knitting "workshop" discusses straight and circular needle materials and size, yarn weight, full chart reading instructions, and leads you through 3 progressively harder lace swatches. All patterns are charted which is very combination knitter friendly.

This wonderful book is full of tips to practically ensure your success in learning to knit lace even if you've never knit before. One of the best features is that it includes full instructions for making your own lace patterns with a library of lace stitches to use and tips on making your own charts. A variety of easy projects will get you started if you're not feeling adventurous enough to try designing your own yet.

There is a lot of interesting information about the native Alaskan co-op and musk oxen where the luxurious qiviut yarn comes from, as well as pictures (but not patterns) for each village's signature lace pattern. Although the pictures are black and white, it really doesn't detract from the book and the high contrast makes the lace patterns are very visible. This is one of my most treasured knitting books.

Donna Druchunas is a great teacher and a historian/sociologist. The beginning of the book documents what has occured in the knitting craft in Alaska. She describes the background and the current occurances in an interesting manner. She also supplies a section that pertains to each area and the different peoples of the area so that all the information is on context. As for the knitting...It is presented first in 3 lessons that are simple to follow and understand. The patterns are rendered in the same manner. Lastly she also teaches you how to design and create your own patterns. It is just one of the best books I have purchased as well as enjoyable to read.

I thought that I would only be intersted in the lace patterns for a fine luxury yarn. What I discovered was fascination with the stories of the lives of the Alaskan knitters, musk oxen, and the land they inhabit. The whole book is more than I argained for and I am pleased.

After being gifted with a bag of quiviut fiber, it was fascinating to read about how the Oomingmak Co-op and the musk ox farm began. Not only does this book contain patterns featuring traditional patterns of the native Alaskan knitters, it also shows how to design your own piece incorporating their stitch patterns. Each stitch pattern is shown with a history of where it originated. This is a great read for those who are interested in the history of knitting and not just another book of patterns.

For me, this book was a disappointment. If you read the article in Piecework several years ago, this book doesn't add much to that.

Also, be aware that the patterns in this book are very basic lace patterns and none of the patterns from the Oomingmak Co-op are included. I'd advise checking the book out in person before buying.