Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits: Creative Techniques for Knitting Both Sides Right [Hardcover]

Iris Schreier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2009

"For me, the design has to be intentional...so that both sides are beautiful and balanced . . . If both knitted sides are similar—or even completely different from each other—the piece is reversible in a way that much, if not most, knitwear is not. Either side can be public." --Iris Schreier

 

What a winning combination: celebrated author Iris Schreier, 24 exquisite projects, and dozens of in-demand techniques that result in garments that look great on both sides. Using knit/purl, two-color, double knitting, cable, lace, and modular knitting methods, Iris creates beautiful shrugs, shawls, scarves, throws, hats, socks, and more. Some of the items actually have different looks on the front and back while others simply show the same clean, finished fabric throughout. Iris walks novices through all the essentials, then shares modern adaptations of classic stitches, illuminated by photos of hand-knitted swatches. As a bonus, there’s a super-handy yarn substitution chart and an appendix with extra variations for advanced knitters. Knitters of all skill levels can now achieve true “revers-atility”!

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600591175
• ISBN-13: 978-1600591174
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Iris does it again! March 28, 2009

By yoganan

Format:Hardcover

Iris Schreier is a genius at designing beautiful knits that look complex, but are really very enjoyable and easy to knit, once you wrap your brain around them. I've been working on the Sorbet Shawl for the past week, a lacy design that is a relaxing knit, once you set up the first few rows. You can look at your knitting, rather than having to refer to a chart or text. In fact, every time I work another one of Schreier's designs, I feel that I'm a smarter knitter, learning to recognize or "read" what I've knit.

The book is lovely to look at, well-organized, and has a wide variety of techniques to challenge any level of knitter. I'm planning to try one of the double-knitting projects next. Iris designs with her own beautiful Artyarns in mind, but offers a chart for substitutions if you want to try something else.

This book is another must-have for me, as I learn so much from Iris, and am inspired by her lovely designs. If you haven't checked out her other books, you must--they're great, too.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius! April 3, 2009

By Michelle

Format:Hardcover

I purchased this book because Modular Knits is one of the most invaluable tools in my knitting arsenal. Reversible Knits combines beauty and genius in a series of fun-to-knit patterns! The patterns and tutorials are clearly written and well-illustrated, focusing on six techniques. In addition, Schreier includes a chart of yarn substitutions at the end of the book. The one caveat--and this is no fault of the author--is that the book is hardcover. I am a firm believer that all knitting books containing patterns should be spiral bound, or at least soft cover so I can take them to a stationery store and have a spiral binding inserted. Perhaps in a reprint.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent instructions for double knitting April 29, 2009

By BOOK REVIEW VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm actually working on a pattern from another book based on double knitting, my first dk project, and bought this book for the tutorials, which are the best I've found so far. Thanks Iris!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Six key techniques to make reversible patterns offer swatch photo examples, hands-on exercises, and tips July 18, 2009

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

REVERSIBLE KNITS: CREATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR KNITTING BOTH SIDES RIGHT offers a series of 'intentional designs' resulting in beautiful, balanced two-sided knits. Six key techniques to make reversible patterns offer swatch photo examples, hands-on exercises, and tips for blending them into reversible designs. Different weaves are covered in a fine survey suitable for any knitter's library.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing techniques but "meh" projects August 5, 2009

By K. Anderson

Format:Hardcover

If you're an intermediate/advanced knitter looking for a way to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your brain and add new skills to your knitting repertoire, this is an excellent resource. It's especially good at describing double-knitting.

On the downside, most of the projects are scarves and shawls. Snooze-o-rama. In a way, this makes sense because it's more likely that I'd want a reversible shawl than a reversible sweater. Still, I'd have liked to have seen the techniques put to use in a few more imaginative projects. Maybe a vest?

It's also puzzling that the publisher chose to put the most unattractive project on the cover of the book and that the photo doesn't show the "reversibility" of the knitting. Weird.

In spite of these shortcomings, it's great to have a new book for advanced knitters.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ready, Set, Knit June 9, 2009

By Bonnie Brody TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! I received my book in the mail today and I am ga-ga over it. The patterns are beautiful and there are so many things that I want to knit that I don't know where to start. I love the idea that the projects will look beautiful on both sides.

My favorite types of knitting are lace and aran so I suppose I'll start there. The Early Morning Allure Shawl is just beautiful. I even love the colors they chose for it. The Unexpected French Twist will go with anything and the earth colors are my favorites to boot. Both of these patterns utilize a mohair and silk blend. This provides the strength of mohair with the softness of silk against the skin which is a real plus.

The Cable Freestyle Wrapping is beautiful and, again, I love their color choices. The SoHo Hat on page 92 is adorable as well.

I think my favorite pattern in the book is the Southport Lace Shawl. I love that this pattern along with many others do not utilize charts. I am a line by line knitter and do not do well with charts.

This book meets all three criteria that I have for a good knitting book.

It has patterns that I like.
The patterns are easy to read.
The book is a great resource.

Ready, set, knit - - here I go. I think I'll go with the Southport Lace Shawl first!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book but...be prepared to expect pattern errors! May 10, 2010

By T. Cheek

Format:Hardcover

LOVED this book for its informative introduction to many techniques I had never even heard of. Found the book to offer a lot of fun & creative projects well-suited to the reversible format. The only problem I have had is that there appear to be MULTIPLE errors in the 2 patterns that I have worked from in this book - Bauhaus Lights Scarf & Artful Dodger scarf. Some of the errors are related to pattern details such as stitch gauge & the # of yards specified for a project however I found pattern errors in both scarves as well. The pattern errors should hit you in the face when you come across them so they are easily remedied...but I was rather mystified as to why stitch gauge & scarf dimensions did not match up. Only kind of complaining though...both projects came out beautifully!!