One of today's hottest knitting trends is entrelac, a modular technique that results in striking basketwork designs of rows within rows and interlocking diamond patterns. Using only simple knit and purl stitches, knitters can create eye-catching pieces with incredible texture. Entrelac introduces both the history and how-to of this fun style, along with 20 patterns for a variety of garments, home décor items, and baby accessories. Comprehensive instructions and a wide array of swatches provide endless possibilities in lace, colorwork, and much more.
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About the Author
Rosemary Drysdale is knitting editor at Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple magazines and a consultant and designer in the yarn industry. She has enjoyed a long career as an embroidery and knitting teacher and designer, including at the Pratt Institute and Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
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186 of 186 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Entrelac Book Yet: Includes Instructions for Technique, "Designer" Rectangles, Attractive Garments
November 4, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Far and away the best book yet on entrelac knitting! This is the book that I wish I'd had, when I first attempted entrelac. It has big, beautiful photos that illustrate each step in the entrelac process, and it includes detailed information on things like how to avoid holes where the triangles and rectangles are joined. It also explains how to knit backward (for increased speed), how to pick up stitches (from garter and stockinette edges), and how to knit entrelac in the round.
But it gets better. It also includes written-out pattern instructions (no charts, sad to say) for knitting fancy, non-stockinette rectangles that can be combined with plain stockinette rectangles to add interest to entrelac fabric. The "designer" rectangles incorporate lace patterns, cables, relief designs, geometric designs, colorwork, beads, felting, embroidery, and "melange" techniques such as two-color garter stripes. Each "designer" rectangle pattern is illustrated by a large full-color swatch photo. By my count, there are more than 50 patterns for different fancy rectangles.
And it gets even better. There are attractive patterns for garments that use entrelac accent panels (highly-textured entrelac fabric can be overpowering if a garment is knit entirely in entrelac). There are also patterns for pillows, socks, purses, blankets, cowls, scarves, shawls, and long mitts. The garment patterns include: (1) uptown poncho, (2) rose garden baby cardi, (3) Edwardian cardigan, (4) shades of gray vest, and (5) garden path jacket. I particularly like the baby cardigan, which has an entrelac border with embroidered roses, and the garment patterns that use stripes in combination with entrelac sections. All of the patterns are basic enough to have general appeal, without being boring. Moderately experienced knitters should have no trouble knitting the patterns, because the entrelac technique is easy to master, even though it appears complicated.
Finally, there is a brief chapter on entrelac designing that includes a discussion about figuring out gauge. I really love this book, which belongs on any serious knitter's reference shelf. Another good new book on entrelac knitting is Entree to Entrelac: The Definitive Guide from a Biased Knitter, which has quite a bit of technical how-to information, but is primarily a collection of patterns which mostly use plain stockinette rectangles.
But it gets better. It also includes written-out pattern instructions (no charts, sad to say) for knitting fancy, non-stockinette rectangles that can be combined with plain stockinette rectangles to add interest to entrelac fabric. The "designer" rectangles incorporate lace patterns, cables, relief designs, geometric designs, colorwork, beads, felting, embroidery, and "melange" techniques such as two-color garter stripes. Each "designer" rectangle pattern is illustrated by a large full-color swatch photo. By my count, there are more than 50 patterns for different fancy rectangles.
And it gets even better. There are attractive patterns for garments that use entrelac accent panels (highly-textured entrelac fabric can be overpowering if a garment is knit entirely in entrelac). There are also patterns for pillows, socks, purses, blankets, cowls, scarves, shawls, and long mitts. The garment patterns include: (1) uptown poncho, (2) rose garden baby cardi, (3) Edwardian cardigan, (4) shades of gray vest, and (5) garden path jacket. I particularly like the baby cardigan, which has an entrelac border with embroidered roses, and the garment patterns that use stripes in combination with entrelac sections. All of the patterns are basic enough to have general appeal, without being boring. Moderately experienced knitters should have no trouble knitting the patterns, because the entrelac technique is easy to master, even though it appears complicated.
Finally, there is a brief chapter on entrelac designing that includes a discussion about figuring out gauge. I really love this book, which belongs on any serious knitter's reference shelf. Another good new book on entrelac knitting is Entree to Entrelac: The Definitive Guide from a Biased Knitter, which has quite a bit of technical how-to information, but is primarily a collection of patterns which mostly use plain stockinette rectangles.
86 of 86 people found the following review helpful
By Poodytat
Format:Hardcover
This is an excellent book on Entrelac. The author walks you through the technique, and then provides variations on the theme. The illustrations are well done and the book is attractive.
Unlike one of the other reviewers, I have knitted entrelac before. The reason I purchased the book is the inspiration it provides. Many of the entrelac garments that I've seen in the past looked pretty much alike, and not things I would want to knit and wear. Ms. Drysdale has done some amazing things with entrelac. The stitchionary of entrelac variations is worth the price of the book. But even more, the garments (for which she also provides patterns) show how you can take the technique and do some amazing things with it. I'm not sure that I will make the patterned garments (and they are beautiful!), but they have inspired me to take another look at the technique and incorporate it into my own designs. This book opened my eyes to what can be done.
Unlike one of the other reviewers, I have knitted entrelac before. The reason I purchased the book is the inspiration it provides. Many of the entrelac garments that I've seen in the past looked pretty much alike, and not things I would want to knit and wear. Ms. Drysdale has done some amazing things with entrelac. The stitchionary of entrelac variations is worth the price of the book. But even more, the garments (for which she also provides patterns) show how you can take the technique and do some amazing things with it. I'm not sure that I will make the patterned garments (and they are beautiful!), but they have inspired me to take another look at the technique and incorporate it into my own designs. This book opened my eyes to what can be done.
74 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Over the many years I've knit (+40) I've even designed my own entrelacs. The only book I've seen before this year is one from Australia done many years ago which is now unavailable. I have bought this book and the second one that was published recently and I feel this one is indeed the best of all 3 of them. First of all Drysdale doesn't complicate the subject. Entrelacs are not difficult and also easy to design as all you need to do is knit a swatch of a few triangles and then 2 rows of rectangles. She comes at it straight on and in an organized way so the beginner or advanced as well can immediately get into it. I don't think she puts that much emphasis on knitting backwards which I don't care for anyway. Then after the basic explanations with good photos she has 65 swatches of all types of knitting which can be done in entrelac; e.g. lace, cables, colorwork, etc. Each swatch has a big color photo and then the instructions are given from the beginning with the starting triangles. This section is followed by the patterns which begin with a poncho where only the front has entrelac. Each project is completely written out along with the yarn called for and the gauge which is sometimes given for the pattern used and at other times for the entrelacs. I find the book inspiring as just reading it with all the swatches and projects gives me ideas to do my own thing. I want to make the shawl but there is just about every kind of item presented. There is one page on designing your own and one on figuring out gauge. I think this book is a classic and anyone interested in knitting should consider buying it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This book has such nice patterns for Entrelac and such good instruction. Well worth the price. Entrelac is so pretty. Read more
Published 6 days ago by MotherHensRoost
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic step by step with pictures!
This book is perfect for anyone with basic knitting skills wanting to learn this technique. Instructions are given in broken down steps with pictures. I would highly reccomend it! Read more
Published 12 days ago by crafty1
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good purchase.
I've scanned this book and it appears to have a lot of good information and a good number of patterns. I would recommend it.
Published 22 days ago by Sandy Karman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Instructions!
I couldn't learned this technique without this book. The instructions are very clear and with lots of photos you can't go wrong!
Published 23 days ago by I. Worman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have.
This Entrelac guide has everything for beginner to advanced knitter. The instructions are clearly written and the pictures are very helpful - just a well-put-together book.
Published 24 days ago by Linda Verchereau Becker
5.0 out of 5 stars
recommended
This book was recommended by a teacher in a class that my friend took on entrelac. What facinated me most with what I saw online was that I could learn to knit backwards. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Margaret Connelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the best
I know the basics of knitting but I wanted to try to gain more knitting skills. My favorite teacher (my mom) is no longer with me so I choose a book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Terri L. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have!
Whether you're enrolled in a class to teach this method of knitting or want to venture out on your own, I strongly suggest this book be the one to teach and assist you! Read more
Published 1 month ago by PSlayt6
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everything you've ever wanted to know about entrelac
It's so complete, just wish there were twice the patterns. You sure get a load of everything else though. It's a good book.
Published 1 month ago by Janet Koski
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still struggling
I haven't had time to really dig into this, but it looks to be well written and easy to follow. I am itching to make a scarf or pair of socks at the least.
Published 1 month ago by Anne Cloward
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