Lace knitting doesn't have to drive you crazy! Well-known fiberartist and teacher, Myra Wood invites you to have fun and be creative while knitting lace. This book is a radical departure from the usual pre-designed patterns. You'll discover the wonderful world of improvisational knitting and find your own style emerge whether symmetrically or completely randomly. Starting with a comprehensive explanation of "Lace Logic" you'll quickly learn how and why different types of lace patterns are created, You'll then explore unlimited approaches to create your own lace treasures from your own designs. Detailed instructions include adapting your own patterns as you knit from existing lace patterns, charting entirely new patterns on the fly or just winging it freestyle without any charts at all. The book also includes complete directions for many geometric shapes that can be used with any Crazy Lace approach as the basis for gorgeous shawls, scarves and stoles. Filled with luscious photography and detailed illustrations, this book will become a treasured tool for beginning lace knitters as well as seasoned heirloom knitters who want to break out of the box and try something different. Filled with inspiration, this is the perfect book for discovering the artistic approach to Creative Lace Knitting.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Myra Wood is an internationally known fiber & bead artist and designer. She teaches a wide range of classes in beading, embroidery, crochet and knitting, specializing in all things freeform. She's been a guest instructor on eight episodes of Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads for the DIY & HGTV networks along with publishing a number of jewelry and wearables patterns in a wide range of books and magazines. Myra has been crocheting, sewing and crafting since she was young and enjoys any opportunity to inspire others creatively. She is also the moderator for the International Freeform Guild with over 1500 members worldwide and coordinator for their annual national shows. Galleries of her work can be seen at myrawood.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 62 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best knitting book I've seen in awhile -- something for everyone
December 18, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase
Right from the start: I think the title of the book "Crazy Lace" is a bit of a misnomer. When I think of "Crazy <fill-in-the-blank>" I think of crazy quilts which are meant to be totally random. That is kind of what I was expecting but for the most part, it is not just totally random stitches to come up with a lace fabric. Instead, I think the Crazy Lace concept is more about looking past lace as intricate circular shawls done with extremely fine (lace-weight) yarn and teeny tiny itsy bitsy needles.
I'll admit, the cover art got me -- it is a beautiful cover project and I definitely wanted to see more.
The rest of the book (unlike several I've gotten lately) does not disappoint. The purpose of the book is to get you to think about lace knitting as accessible and there are no "rules"... so often you see lace books that focus on technique and stitches that have been etched in stone since the beginning of time -- with elaborate circular shawls knit on weapons that the FAA would deem to dangerous, it is easy for even the most ambitious knitter to sigh longingly at traditional lace patterns and thing "I can't do that".
Myra Wood's approach is YES YOU CAN! Lace doesn't have to be just cream colored shawls or doilies knit on 000 needles. It can be done with handpainted yarn; It can be done with bulky weight yarn; it doesn't have to be perfect -- in fact by embracing the imperfections, you've created something new and exciting.
In terms of content, there is something here for everyone:
1. The new lace knitter -- helping you put aside your fear and just do it!
2. The experienced lace knitter -- helping you see the endless possibilities and creative expressions associated with lace.
3. The thinking knitter -- breaking shaping down and discussing how to create triangles and circles through increases and how your choice of increases (and frequency) will produce the fabric you are looking for (I really LOVED this section since if you understand HOW to create the different shapes, it frees you to create your own designs and break free of complicated 1000-row instructions)
4. Simple lace patterns -- with relatively few rows and repeats. To me, while I'm really happy to see simple lace stitches that anyone knitter can do, this section was the weakest because there were no pictures of the finished stitch, no names -- just charts -- though the charts are very easy to follow and very clear.
5. The lace designer -- yes -- you can design your own lace and this book gives you the tools to do that! You don't need to be bound by the Modern Lace Bibles that currently rule the craft!
The book has the usual binding that will not lay flat so my usual advice applies -- take this to your local office supply store and have the binding replaced with a spiral so that you can lay the pages flat while you are working with it and reading it.
Many knitters I know look at lace as sort of the pinnacle of artistic achievement that only old ladies from the Shetland isles can do and have the right to do. This book gives you the confidence to realize that lace is just another knitting stitch with a few holes here and there -- it gives you the confidence to know that there are no bad "lace knitters" and that every lace project can be a thing of beauty and interest.
If you have been wanting to learn lace, or have your lace take on a more modern flair, this book will give you the tools and inspiration to do it.
As an aside, if you are looking for a more structured approach to learning lace, another excellent book with some manageable projects is I Can't Believe I'm Lace Knitting (Leisure Arts #4466) -- this is more a nuts and bolts Leisure Arts introduction to lace techniques so if you aren't quite ready to embrace your inner lace anarchist, you can earn your lace wings here -- the foundation you build with "I can't Believe I'm Lace Knitting" will serve you well in understanding the concepts discussed in this book.
[NCJAR]
I'll admit, the cover art got me -- it is a beautiful cover project and I definitely wanted to see more.
The rest of the book (unlike several I've gotten lately) does not disappoint. The purpose of the book is to get you to think about lace knitting as accessible and there are no "rules"... so often you see lace books that focus on technique and stitches that have been etched in stone since the beginning of time -- with elaborate circular shawls knit on weapons that the FAA would deem to dangerous, it is easy for even the most ambitious knitter to sigh longingly at traditional lace patterns and thing "I can't do that".
Myra Wood's approach is YES YOU CAN! Lace doesn't have to be just cream colored shawls or doilies knit on 000 needles. It can be done with handpainted yarn; It can be done with bulky weight yarn; it doesn't have to be perfect -- in fact by embracing the imperfections, you've created something new and exciting.
In terms of content, there is something here for everyone:
1. The new lace knitter -- helping you put aside your fear and just do it!
2. The experienced lace knitter -- helping you see the endless possibilities and creative expressions associated with lace.
3. The thinking knitter -- breaking shaping down and discussing how to create triangles and circles through increases and how your choice of increases (and frequency) will produce the fabric you are looking for (I really LOVED this section since if you understand HOW to create the different shapes, it frees you to create your own designs and break free of complicated 1000-row instructions)
4. Simple lace patterns -- with relatively few rows and repeats. To me, while I'm really happy to see simple lace stitches that anyone knitter can do, this section was the weakest because there were no pictures of the finished stitch, no names -- just charts -- though the charts are very easy to follow and very clear.
5. The lace designer -- yes -- you can design your own lace and this book gives you the tools to do that! You don't need to be bound by the Modern Lace Bibles that currently rule the craft!
The book has the usual binding that will not lay flat so my usual advice applies -- take this to your local office supply store and have the binding replaced with a spiral so that you can lay the pages flat while you are working with it and reading it.
Many knitters I know look at lace as sort of the pinnacle of artistic achievement that only old ladies from the Shetland isles can do and have the right to do. This book gives you the confidence to realize that lace is just another knitting stitch with a few holes here and there -- it gives you the confidence to know that there are no bad "lace knitters" and that every lace project can be a thing of beauty and interest.
If you have been wanting to learn lace, or have your lace take on a more modern flair, this book will give you the tools and inspiration to do it.
As an aside, if you are looking for a more structured approach to learning lace, another excellent book with some manageable projects is I Can't Believe I'm Lace Knitting (Leisure Arts #4466) -- this is more a nuts and bolts Leisure Arts introduction to lace techniques so if you aren't quite ready to embrace your inner lace anarchist, you can earn your lace wings here -- the foundation you build with "I can't Believe I'm Lace Knitting" will serve you well in understanding the concepts discussed in this book.
[NCJAR]
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
If you are the compulsive or obsessive "must do it perfectly and in order with detailed directions" type of knitter... you will be frustrated with this book. If you already knit lace and LOVE your charted books and patterns, you might want to pass on this one... it probably won't meet your standards. If you are looking for predesigned lace patterns and expect to be told stitch by stitch how to recreate something the author has designed... you'll be disappointed because that is not the purpose of this book.
HOWEVER... if you have wanted to learn to knit lace and found yourself completely overwhelmed and paralyzed by the charts in books and patterns, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd rather have FUN knitting lace than sweating over every stitch... and frogging more than you knit, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you are a rebel at heart and really don't like being told what to do and how to do it, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to understand how lace WORKS... why it does what it does when it does it, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to sit down with nothing other than your needles and yarn and knit lace "without a net," I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to learn "Lace Logic" so you can chart and graph your OWN lace patterns, you yourself personally, I strongly encourage you to consider this book.
Most other lace books teach you to read lace by sight... literally. You have to learn what all the symbols mean to even begin to knit lace with most of them. You have to memorize the "words" by rote memory without really understanding why that group of "letters" make those "sounds."
"Crazy Lace" teaches you to read lace by "phonics." You learn what "sounds" each letter (stitch) makes and what "sounds" (textures) they create when you combine them in specific ways, (combination of stitches in a given sequence). Better than that, "Crazy Lace" teaches you to "read" your knitting, and this translates into every aspect of your knitting skills. You learn to visually recognize why something looks the way it does... and how to make it look differently if that wasn't what you wanted it to do.
This book is a WORKbook. This book is a foundational COURSE in knitting lace. Do not let its size fool you. It is not designed to "pick out a pattern," get a prescribed set of tools and materials, and follow a pattern. There is not a lot of text, but every sentence is precious and full of purpose. Let them marinate and savor them. Begin reading it, slowly and deliberately, on page one... with some fingering weight yarn and size 6 (4 mm) or 7 (4.5 mm) needles of your choice close at hand to test out things as you go along... and really DIGEST this information. Make the Sampler Scarf. Try your hand with some freeform Crazy Lace. Cast on some stitches and play with the various shapes in the latter part of the book. Play with the edge embellishments. Study the few charts included to get you started with charted lace knitting.
This book's primary purpose is to teach you to trust yourself to create your own lace; but you'll want to follow other's people's paths sometimes, so you are introduced to charting "language" along the way too.
When you get to the end of the book you will know how to knit lace "without a net" with freeform abandon. You will know how to read a basic beginning charted lace pattern... if you choose to. You will understand the logic of lace such that you can design your own lace patterns and chart them for others to follow. You can do some of each, all in the same project.
In other words, this book will set you free to create lacework in any way you please, and please no one but yourself. At the same time, it provides you with a solid foundation to branch out into more traditional lace knitting and patterns with confidence. You can be as free or as obsessive as you choose to be. You'll feel a whole lot less intimidated by those charts and graphs. You'll be able to look at a lace project and "read it"... and be able to figure out how you might recreate something similar, without a pattern, if you'd like to do that.
Will you learn everything you need to know about lace knitting from this book? No. Will you have a firm, broad, foundation upon which to add new lace knitting skills. Oh yeah, baby! You will.
If all you do is glance through this book and look at the drop-dead gorgeous photos, you may not be particularly impressed. You may even be initially disappointed. If that is your initial response, you've not given it a fair chance and you are short-changing yourself on a marvelous experience in knitting that will benefit all your future knitting projects.
I hope you won't do that. Approached from the direction the book is designed to be used, it is worth far more than the price you will pay for it. Unless you USE the book and the information therein, you cannot possibly appreciate the gift Myra Wood has given the knitting world.
NOTE: I didn't buy this book from Amazon. I got an autographed copy from the author. I took a class from her at the TKGA Conference May 2009 in Portland, OR. I paid a lot more for the class than the cost of this book. Her book wasn't released until Nov 2009. I cannot tell you much more valuable this book is, for me, because there simply was not time for her to cover ALL the material that is in the book in class. I can work through every thing she taught me in the class, at my own pace... and still have SO much left to learn from the book! Personally, this book is a HUGE bargain and I simply cannot recommend it to you highly enough if you are really motivated to learn to knit lace... or if you'd like to expand your lace knitting skills by learning to generate your own lace creations led only by the "logic of lace" and the flow of the fiber.
HOWEVER... if you have wanted to learn to knit lace and found yourself completely overwhelmed and paralyzed by the charts in books and patterns, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd rather have FUN knitting lace than sweating over every stitch... and frogging more than you knit, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you are a rebel at heart and really don't like being told what to do and how to do it, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to understand how lace WORKS... why it does what it does when it does it, I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to sit down with nothing other than your needles and yarn and knit lace "without a net," I strongly encourage you to consider this book. If you'd like to learn "Lace Logic" so you can chart and graph your OWN lace patterns, you yourself personally, I strongly encourage you to consider this book.
Most other lace books teach you to read lace by sight... literally. You have to learn what all the symbols mean to even begin to knit lace with most of them. You have to memorize the "words" by rote memory without really understanding why that group of "letters" make those "sounds."
"Crazy Lace" teaches you to read lace by "phonics." You learn what "sounds" each letter (stitch) makes and what "sounds" (textures) they create when you combine them in specific ways, (combination of stitches in a given sequence). Better than that, "Crazy Lace" teaches you to "read" your knitting, and this translates into every aspect of your knitting skills. You learn to visually recognize why something looks the way it does... and how to make it look differently if that wasn't what you wanted it to do.
This book is a WORKbook. This book is a foundational COURSE in knitting lace. Do not let its size fool you. It is not designed to "pick out a pattern," get a prescribed set of tools and materials, and follow a pattern. There is not a lot of text, but every sentence is precious and full of purpose. Let them marinate and savor them. Begin reading it, slowly and deliberately, on page one... with some fingering weight yarn and size 6 (4 mm) or 7 (4.5 mm) needles of your choice close at hand to test out things as you go along... and really DIGEST this information. Make the Sampler Scarf. Try your hand with some freeform Crazy Lace. Cast on some stitches and play with the various shapes in the latter part of the book. Play with the edge embellishments. Study the few charts included to get you started with charted lace knitting.
This book's primary purpose is to teach you to trust yourself to create your own lace; but you'll want to follow other's people's paths sometimes, so you are introduced to charting "language" along the way too.
When you get to the end of the book you will know how to knit lace "without a net" with freeform abandon. You will know how to read a basic beginning charted lace pattern... if you choose to. You will understand the logic of lace such that you can design your own lace patterns and chart them for others to follow. You can do some of each, all in the same project.
In other words, this book will set you free to create lacework in any way you please, and please no one but yourself. At the same time, it provides you with a solid foundation to branch out into more traditional lace knitting and patterns with confidence. You can be as free or as obsessive as you choose to be. You'll feel a whole lot less intimidated by those charts and graphs. You'll be able to look at a lace project and "read it"... and be able to figure out how you might recreate something similar, without a pattern, if you'd like to do that.
Will you learn everything you need to know about lace knitting from this book? No. Will you have a firm, broad, foundation upon which to add new lace knitting skills. Oh yeah, baby! You will.
If all you do is glance through this book and look at the drop-dead gorgeous photos, you may not be particularly impressed. You may even be initially disappointed. If that is your initial response, you've not given it a fair chance and you are short-changing yourself on a marvelous experience in knitting that will benefit all your future knitting projects.
I hope you won't do that. Approached from the direction the book is designed to be used, it is worth far more than the price you will pay for it. Unless you USE the book and the information therein, you cannot possibly appreciate the gift Myra Wood has given the knitting world.
NOTE: I didn't buy this book from Amazon. I got an autographed copy from the author. I took a class from her at the TKGA Conference May 2009 in Portland, OR. I paid a lot more for the class than the cost of this book. Her book wasn't released until Nov 2009. I cannot tell you much more valuable this book is, for me, because there simply was not time for her to cover ALL the material that is in the book in class. I can work through every thing she taught me in the class, at my own pace... and still have SO much left to learn from the book! Personally, this book is a HUGE bargain and I simply cannot recommend it to you highly enough if you are really motivated to learn to knit lace... or if you'd like to expand your lace knitting skills by learning to generate your own lace creations led only by the "logic of lace" and the flow of the fiber.
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful
If you love to knit lace and sometimes get discouraged by trying to work with charts and written patterns, or if you've never knit lace before, or if you are an accomplished traditional lace knitter who would like to step out of the box and try something new - this book will take a cherished place on your bookshelf.
Here is a list of some of the differences between Crazy Lace (CL) and Traditional Lace (TL)
TL - follow a chart or written instructions or both
CL - use a chart or written instructions for stitch patterns or just wing it.
TL - count sts and rows
CL - you can count if you want to
TL - everything needs to work out mathematically
CL - missing a stitch? Just add it in later
TL - work 3 nights to progress 6 rows, discover a mistake and rip it all out
CL - what mistake? it's a design element!
TL - must give all my attention
CL - can watch tv, carry on a conversation and knit lace all at the same time
TL - can make me Crazy!
CL - calms me down
Within hours of Myra outlining her concepts for Crazy Lace, I was happily knitting a circular shawl and was able to finish it in a couple of days with no trauma, no frogging, and no stress!
As Jen said - if you are looking for a book of patterns - this is not for you! But if you want enough inspiration to keep you going all winter and beyond, you will find it in Crazy Lace!
And did I mention that the book design and photography are mind blowingly beautiful?
Here is a list of some of the differences between Crazy Lace (CL) and Traditional Lace (TL)
TL - follow a chart or written instructions or both
CL - use a chart or written instructions for stitch patterns or just wing it.
TL - count sts and rows
CL - you can count if you want to
TL - everything needs to work out mathematically
CL - missing a stitch? Just add it in later
TL - work 3 nights to progress 6 rows, discover a mistake and rip it all out
CL - what mistake? it's a design element!
TL - must give all my attention
CL - can watch tv, carry on a conversation and knit lace all at the same time
TL - can make me Crazy!
CL - calms me down
Within hours of Myra outlining her concepts for Crazy Lace, I was happily knitting a circular shawl and was able to finish it in a couple of days with no trauma, no frogging, and no stress!
As Jen said - if you are looking for a book of patterns - this is not for you! But if you want enough inspiration to keep you going all winter and beyond, you will find it in Crazy Lace!
And did I mention that the book design and photography are mind blowingly beautiful?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The lace how-to
I have been knitting lace for several months and came across this book in my search for information. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Anna Marie ~
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine book by Myra Wood
If you love Myra Wood's work, you'll love this book. I've taken courses from her at Stitches Conferences and I've found Myra to be a well organized, articulate teacher. Read more
Published 18 months ago by N. Sarquiz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Creative Lace Knitting
This beautiful book frees a knitter from patterns. Or, you can make up patterns on the fly. Whatever your choice, you are free to incorporate it into your project. Read more
Published on April 26, 2011 by P H F
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy lace
Great ideas outside the normal "follow the pattern" lace knitting books. Ideas on making up your own designs as you knit - which is really what I love to do. Read more
Published on August 8, 2010 by L. A. Scott-smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Lace Rocks!
Crazy Lace is a wonderful book for anyone who loves to knit lace and has a desire to design. It gives lots of lace motifs, and suggesstions for making several different shapes and... Read more
Published on May 12, 2010 by Amy Mallison-austin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relax, Release, Reform
This is not your grandmother's lace book. There are no recipes here to follow. Instead you are guided by Artist Myra Wood along an inspiring ride toward improvisational knitting... Read more
Published on March 8, 2010 by J. MacK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!!!
This is the lace book I have been waiting for. I think it is thoughtful, useful, logical, well thought out, and inspirational as well! Read more
Published on February 22, 2010 by Cornelia B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Tutorials
This book is not a book of rote patterns, it teaches you how to design your own lace and not traditional lace.
Beautiful thought provoking photos, very inspiring
Beautiful thought provoking photos, very inspiring
Published on February 8, 2010 by D. M. Schroder
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'll Keep This Short
This is a LOVELY book, well put together with many great tips on knitting lace.
Can it be everything to everybody? No, no book can. Read more
Can it be everything to everybody? No, no book can. Read more
Published on January 12, 2010 by A. Modesitt
5.0 out of 5 stars
CRAZY LACE
Hier habe ich ein sehr interessantes Lace Buch gefunden, nicht für Anfänger, sondern für Strickerinnen, die ihre eigenen Creationen zum Leben erwecken möchten,... Read more
Published on December 19, 2009 by Sue
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