Customer Reviews

Barbara Abbey's Knitting Lace

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

 

 

I do christening gowns and was looking to knit some insertions and edgings so this was the perfect book for me, and I might add the only one that I was able to find that even addressed edgings and insertions in great detail. It is kind of an unattractive book in that it is all black and white and not of superb quality in its presentation. It is a hardback book. The woman who wrote the book has her own little shorthand method and at first can be a little hard to follow (like for example instead of k6, yo, k3, she simply would write 6,0,3. There is no symbol on my computer keyboard to show her slip stitch symbol, it is kind of an ^ except like an upside down U.) It is a book for someone who already knows how to knit and purl at least some, otherwise it would be difficult to follow. I did learn the fagot stitch from this book and have already made one of the lace edgings. I wish she would spend more time on materials for knitting lace as I will have to go to another source to figure out the best threads and needles.
I recommend this book for someone who, like me, is really wanting a pattern book for edgings and insertions. Or for someone who wants to learn to make a repeating pattern in a lacy design.

If you're in the market for antique knitted lace patterns all done in chart format, this is the book for you. If not, however, start with something easier and work up to this. As a beginner, I was over my head on this book, but I'm gradually beginning to make sense of it, and the patterns are beautiful!

After years of borrowing this book from the library, I finally purchased it for my own knitting book collection. It is definitely worth every penny. A must have for the experienced knitter. This is not a book for a begginner.

Barbara Abbet's "Knitted Lace" is a worthwhile collection of mostly lace edgings and insertions, with a few patterns. Instructions are given in line-by-line written format, with no charts, my major quibble with the work. Otherwise, a good reference book.

I wanted a stitch dictionary that focused on lace edgings. This one does, but reading the patterns is more work that it is worth, at least for me. I don't insist on charted designs - good old knitter's English is good enough for me - if I want a chart, I can make my own.

But these patterns are notated in the author's own unique shorthand. BEWARE! You will spend a good portion of your time deciphering them, flipping back and forth to the abbreviation chart, and basically wasting time you could have used for actual knitting.

If you want to learn to knit from her system, go for it! It isn't difficult, just tedious. If you do, this book will be a treasure for your library.

I think the black and white photos are fine. It is the notation that lost points in my opinion. I am not sure I'll keep it.

I have had this book in my library for a long time and I decided to look inside of it for inspiration. It is a treasure trove. Most lace edgings and insertions are knit horizontally and require a lot of binding off. These are the opposite there are only a few stitches to bind off and there is no guess work. You knit until you have enough! This book is a must have!

Excellent content, but the book was made from photocopies of an old one. At this price, one supponse the author should improve the quality inside the book.

Not fot the faint of heart, this book of mostly edgings (but a few spectacular "insertions"), is a worthy collection for the generally experienced knitter. While some of the notations may not be familiar, they are defined and
it is easy enough to translate them into the vernacular. Decidedly a "keeper" for the knitting library.

It is very easy to follow the directions for the lace. Outstanding photos of the samples. Must for one who is passionate about knitted lace.