The Best Of Rowan: Fifty Designer Patterns (Hardcover)

~ Kaffe Fassett (Author), Stephen Sheard (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Rowan designs appeal to the sophisticated knitter willing to put a good deal of time and money into creating striking garments. This collection of Rowan patterns includes sweaters from such well-known knitwear designers as Kaffe Fassett, Kim Hargreaves, Susan Duckworth, Sasha Kagan, Jean Moss, and Annabel Fox. Recommended for large public libraries.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

In this beautiful collection of 50 of the best patterns to come from the famous Rowan design company, you'll find luxurious garments from such designers as Kaffe Fassett, Annabel Fox, Kim Hargreaves, Jean Moss, Amanda Griffiths, Louisa Harding, and more. The Rowan photography is superlative, the step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow. An essential addition to any knitter's design library!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press; First Edition edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883010578
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010577
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,018 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just beginning to appreciate it, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

I set this book aside for several months, since at first I was disappointed. A number of the sweaters showcased are from very recent Rowan magazines, and I was hoping for sweaters from the older,out of print, magazines. Also many of them weren't appealing to me at all. But I picked up the book again and found a few that I now want to make. The book contains a good variety for a knitter who does not already own Rowan magazine issues, and as is typical with Rowan, the sweaters are not simple to create. Rowan yarns are not a must to knit these either -- I am using a Cascade 220 for the first design in the book, a cabled pullover sweater, and I am altering the design to make it more "American". The photographs are nice, although again they are repeats from the Rowan Magazines. I have looked at out of print issues of Rowan magazines, however, and there were other sweaters that I would have considered "best of" and am sorry not to see included here. At least half of the sweaters in this book I would never consider making, but I believe the book is worth owning for those few that are really beautiful and that I don't already own. The best thing Rowan can do for knitters, though, is to bring back into print all the vintage Rowan magazines so those of us who just discovered Rowan in the last few years can now have all those wonderful older designs without paying phenomenal prices for used issues of the out-of-print magazines (some sell for $700!).

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book In more ways than one, November 29, 1999

By A Customer

This book was a true inspiration to me as a beginner. I am inspired to better my skills to do justice to some of the more complex patterns. My only problem with this book was the lack of directions for larger sizes. Most of the patterns gave directions only for sizes up to medium. Unfortunately I am not good enough yet to adapt patterns for smaller sizes to fit my L/XL body.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Designs from Rowan, February 20, 2000

By A Customer

This is a lovely book unless, like me, you have many of the recent magazines. Rowan has rekindled my interest in knitting, and this book will have the same effect on you. Remember however, if you have several of the more recent Rowan magazines, there is nothing new here for you.