Folk Style (Style series) [Paperback]

Mags Kandis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2007 | Series: Style series

The unique cultural patterns contained in this lively collection will inspire knitters looking for such bright, new projects as Mexican floor pillows, Shibori neck wraps, Asian cropped vests, and Peruvian tunics. Featuring fashionable items for women, children, babies, and the home, this guide shares techniques on colors, motifs, details, and styles. The vibrant photos and step-by-step directions give beginning and advanced knitters alike the keys to creating colorful, ethnically diverse crafts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This global medley, influenced by a panoply of cultures and ethnicities, is a colorful entry in the Style series."  —Yarn Market News

"An ideal book for both beginners and seasoned crafters alike. These bags are truly works of art!"  —KLIATT

"Mags Kandis . . . I love her world-encompassing design sensibility."  —Knitty.com

"These are all quite stylish designs."  —Knitting News

"A ton of fabulous projects. . . . This would be a rich addition to your fiber library."  —The News & Observer

'This treasury of patterns is a must for fall knitting."  —Anchorage Daily News

"For intermediate knitters and up, or an adventurous beginner wanting to stretch his or her skills."  —Planet Purl

About the Author

Mags Kandis is the head designer and consultant for Mission Falls Yarns and the former creative director and co-owner of the company. She lives in Consecon, Ontario.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (August 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680202
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680203
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am co-owner of the Mission Falls label and was creative director and chief designer for over 13 years.
Now I am a very fortunate creator of books, designer of things and maker of stuff.
I live and work in beautiful Prince Edward County on the shores of Lake Ontario-- the Canadian side.
I invite you to be involved in Gifted by joining my Facebook page!
When in FB search--- Gifted:Lovely things to Knit and Crochet.
See you there!!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't knit just one . . ., September 7, 2007

By 

Cat Bordhi - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Folk Style (Style series) (Paperback)

You know a knitting book is a winner when you keep picking it up for just one more journey through the sensory delight of its pages. This is one of those books.

Folk Style is a lavish collection of stunningly beautiful designs. Sometimes folk elements from more than one culture or era are married with beautiful results, such as in The Grand Tour Waistcoast by Di Gilpin, which weds Greek, French, and Spanish inspirations. I particularly love Gilpin's careful placement of asymmetrical intarsia motifs so that the imbalance appears to be a natural growth. I also love how she incorporated some texture and a cable into both the background of the front and into the central motif in the back - what a lovely and fresh juxtaposition of elements! Plus the back armhole shaping . . .

I'd love to make and use Gina Wilde's Appalachian Gathering Basket, with its unusual shape, nubbly texture, faded southwestern colors, and haunting Pima Native American motifs. It's hard to stop gazing at it and turn the page. And yes, it is the perfect shape for gathering something.

Annie Modesitt proves yet again what a magnificent designer she is with her Shanghai Surplice. I got to see the original at TNNA (the industry show) and admired it there. And yes, it's given in lots of sizes - bust circumference from 30.5 to 52.5" - yay! Just looking at it makes a knitter's heart sing, because the directionality of knitting is used so well. The upper left front, with its diagonal curve from neck to midriff , sends the knitting sideways with an upward tilt, drawing the eye in a gentle and arousing manner. I love the two different armhole treatments - and the colors. This is one design that is so perfect that I'd want to knit in the original yarn and colors, and fortunately Annie chose something easily available and reasonably priced, Brown Sheep Cotton Fine.

Lisa B. Evans' Tribal Baby Carrier would be an amazing baby gift - once again, you cannot bear to turn the page.

Mags Kandis's softly felted Shibori-Esque Neck Wrap made me pause a long time to wonder if I might widen my own fashion sense to include this. It's just a little more "modern" than I usually wear, with elegant lines that are simple and graceful. If nothing else, it makes me think about doing something similar, combining Shibori and felting and weaving an end through a slit.

And it is just this kind of wondering that the editorial staff of Interweave encourages. Like the rest of books in their Knitting Style series, they include a Design Notebook in the back to inspire and guide knitters who'd like to venture down their own path of creating Folk Style garments. Twelve pages of guidance suggest how to find inspiration and develop it into working design, and show that this publisher recognizes the intelligence, eagerness to learn, and growing independence that characterizes today's knitters.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Twist on Folk-Inspired Designs, September 10, 2007

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Folk Style (Style series) (Paperback)

For the modern knitter, this book provides a wealth of folk-inspired design that goes beyond the actual folk-style garment. For example, there is a Tribal Baby Carrier that has a Kilim pattern but looks hippy-chic and would make a beautiful gift for a young mom. There are color block scarves that look like abstract paintings based on Log Cabin quilts and some colorful socks. There is a Morroccan cap, but with big bright retro flowers.

Each design seems to apply traditional techniques you may have seen before but in a totally new way, so this is not a ho-hum, another Scandinavian or sock or bag or sweater book. For that alone, I give this book huge props. The trendy knitter is sure to find a wealth of ideas here to apply to other projects as well as plenty to do right from these patterns. The ideas incorporate applique and embroidery as well as colorwork and texture.

I liked best the Indian "silk" pillow and a simple lace pattern paisley inspired shawl as well as the bright Algonquin socks. There is something in here for any knitter and plenty to learn from. This could be a very valuable source book for a creative person.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh and fun!, December 3, 2007

By 

Bookworm 426 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Folk Style (Style series) (Paperback)

This book is a creative inspiration! The color options are fresh and vibrant, and I can easily see making several of the small projects for my family without arousing that "Oh, no, where did Mom find this clunker?" response (I can see the Sunny Flowers Fez becoming an instant favorite with my granddaughter). Some of the body silhouettes are short trendy accent garments (patchwork jacket, Shanghai surplice) that would be easy to lengthen if coverage is an issue. The Algonquin socks and Bunad mukluks are adorable--just in time for winter!

I really like the suggested embellishments--embroidery touches, buttons, unexpected details--that add whimsy without overloading the designs. Mags Kandis has opened a window to fresh design and color choices.