A History of Hand Knitting [Hardcover]

Richard Rutt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

This reference provides a full history of hand knitting by tracing the development and refinement of the craft. With special attention to the social aspects of knitting, it examines the changes in tools and techniques within different regions. Examined in detail are the history of European knitting before 1500, knitting in Britain from Henry VIII to the Commonwealth, from the Restoration to 1835, during the 19th century, and during World War I and after. Further explorations consider local traditions in the British Isles, knitting as practiced east of the Adriatic, and developments in the Americas. Absorbing reading for knitters and nonknitters alike, this book also defines knitting in relation to other yarn crafts such as crochet and nalbinding and offers a historical glossary and a transcription of the earliest known English knitting pattern. This replaces 0934026351.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a knitter by profession and passion, I feel that this book is an essential addition to my collection." -- Knitter’s Review

About the Author

Richard Rutt is the former bishop of Leicester, a town that played an important role in the British knitting industry.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931499373
• ISBN-13: 978-1931499378
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but not without the illustrations, August 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Hand Knitting (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book but the new edition does not contain the color plates from the first edition. Why? The illustrations are wonderful and add so much to the text. Without them the book's value to a reader is seriously diminished.

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars new edition is missing the color plates, May 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Hand Knitting (Hardcover)

Although this book is dated, its republication has been eagerly anticipated. I am sad to report that the new edition does not contain the color plates that appeared in the original. This makes the text at times somewhat difficult to understand.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but lack of original colour plates is irksome., June 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Hand Knitting (Hardcover)

Informative and interesting. Some early "knitting recipes" are reproduced.
My main complaints:
1) The dust jacket states that colour plates are included, but there are no colour plates in this book. I suspect that the plates were reprinted as black and white photos that are scattered throughout the text.
2) The text was not edited to accomodate the lack of colour plates. An example is when the author refers to "figure 7" for Charles I's light blue shirt. The figure number does not correspond to the image! The image *is* there however, but you have to look it up in the index to find it, and it is reproduced in black and white only.