Customer Reviews

Knits from the North Sea: Lace in the Shetland Tradition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I eagerly awaited the publication of a new book on Shetland Lace knitting in hopes of finding a well-designed, well-written, and well-charted authentic Shetland shawl pattern. It ain't here folks. There are a few nice stole designs, namely Carol's Alice Maud Stole, Carol's High-Country Wrap, and Carol's Alpine Meadow Stole. However, only the Alpine Meadow Stole and Margaret's Cockleshell Scarf speak clearly to the unique lace of the Shetland Isles. Several patterns (Carol's Peaches and Cream Scarf, etc.)reflect the lace of Orenburg, Russia -- not what one expects to find in a book on Shetland lace. All of the patterns are in chart form with written instructions to support the charts. The patterns are not in written format. I have identified several errors in the charts--be sure to check for errata before starting any project.

I strongly discourage new and less-experienced lace knitters from using the patterns in this book for their beginning lace projects. The lead author's (CRN) well-known bias against the use of circular needles and atypical recommendations for needle/yarn match-ups and blocking will leave newbie's incredibly frustrated and poorly guided in the art of lace knitting. Be aware that the CYCA yarn weight numbering system is incorrectly applied to many of the yarns in this book (ie., Jaggerspun Zephyr 2/18 is a #0, not a #2; Matchmaker Merino 4 ply is a #2, not a #3). I suggest comparing yarn to yarn when making substitutions. The recommended needle size for all of the patterns is *much* smaller than is customary in lace knitting. For example, CRN recommends that Doceur et Soie, a fingering wt. kid mohair and silk blend, be knit using US1/2.25mm needles. By way of comparison, Jane Sowerby, author of Victorian Lace Today, recommended a US7/4.5mm needle for the same type of yarn. I suggest that knitters start out using a needle that is ~2 sizes larger than the pattern states (a US3/3.25mm instead of a US1/2.25mm; a US5/3.75 instead of a US3/3.35mm) and make individual adjustments from there. I found this to be successful in swatching several patterns from the book (Carol's Ruffles, Margaret's Cockleshells, etc.).

The author has also taken liberties with the application of the CYCA skill level ratings. Only Carol's Peaches and Cream Scarf merits an easy rating and even that should be elevated to intermediate given the yarn/needle recommendation. Experienced knitters will know how to make the necessary changes to successfully knit from this book, others should look elsewhere for their Shetland Lace designs. In short, I found this book to be a huge disappointment--definitely not worth the purchase price.

As an experienced knitter who is planning to knit her first lace shawl from this book, I don't understand why there are so many negative reviews (on Amazon and [...]) of Noble and Peterson's slim but lovely collection. Not every one of the 16 patterns was to my taste, but they all look wearable -- and the "Alice Maud Stole" on the cover is really stunning. (The "High Country Wrap" is a close second.) The authors' tips and techniques seem to have come under particular fire, but their instructions for provisional cast-on,"Russian grafting," and blocking, while doubtless idiosyncratic, are clearly written and illustrated; they're good ideas I'm going to try.

As for the nonsense about the Shetland Islands not being on the North Sea (!??) and the supposed absence of anything resembling an "Alpine meadow" there (that being the name of another nice stole pattern) ... these are such laughably untrue charges that they're not even worth answering. Go live on the North Sea for a year, as I have, and you'll see nothing wrong with these beautiful interpretations of the North Sea landscape.

I was so hopeful this would be the Shetland lace version of "Gossamer Webs", which really is a wonderful book. However, this book is such a half-hearted effort, with drippy descriptions and incredibly uninspired and mostly unauthentic designs, that you would be better off saving up for one of the more authoritative books on Shetland lace. Such a disappointment.

Beautiful photography, clear close ups, and a wide variety of projects attracted me to this book and I was not disappointed. I would agree that this is not purely a traditional/ historical Shetland lace reference book and those looking for such should search elsewhere. However, for beautiful, wearable lace with Shetland inspirations, this book is a treasure. The designs in this book are inspired by or use traditional Shetland lace motifs and patterns but incorporate other stitch patterns (such as in Margaret's Cockle Shell Scarf or Carol's Spiderweb scarf) for garments that are traditional and contemporary at the same time. Shetland lace is known for being light and airy, and many of these designs look like colorful clouds. However, many patterns use much smaller than traditionally used needle sizes to achieve their fabric texture and yet still look light as air. The book is filled with a variety of intermediate to advanced designs and the directions and charts are quite clear for anyone with some lace experience under their belt already. I am currently working on Margaret's Starry Night scarf (which does include a correction on the publisher's website) and am looking forward to making the Ruffles scarf as a Christmas present for a friend. Overall a beautiful book.

I bought this as a gift for my aunt who is an expert knitter. She can be described as an obsessive knitter in fact, and I've been the lucky recipient of many of her purses, scarfs, mittens, gloves, sweater jackets, etc... She found this book and several others that I can only assume hold her interest because of the artistry of all the projects, and the specific intricate stitches. Anyone who is not a beginner knitter should check this book out.

If you want to knit something romantic, something thoroughly light and feminine, and something that will be passed on, this is a very good book to inspire you. I have yet to knit something from it because I have a sweater to finish, but, I've got the yarn and The knitting needles are warming up, and perhaps the guts, however, I can dream and dream big. The tough part is the actual admission... I will need to pick one, OK, two and do it. Every time I pick up the book...I say to myself, I will knit this one! Then, the dishes need doing, or the cat throws up or company walks through the door and the cat throws up again...peace, harmony, and lace knitting, repeat three times, and slowly. Look at the book often, chose two projects, and take the cat to the vet...it is going to be a good summer of lace! And by the way...I like this book!

The 5 or 6 patterns I'd use in this book made it worth the price for me. I've started a beautiful scarf & the only stitches you need to know are K, P, SSK, K2Tog, & SK2P. As long as you can read a chart back and forth (pattern stitches on all rows) you can knit from these patterns! I SIMPLY LOVE THIS BOOK & THESE EASY BUT LOVELY PATTERNS!!

I too was disappointed with the lack of true Shetland shawls, but like Readaholic Leigh I thought it was photographed beautifully and the designs were interesting enough, if somewhat repetitive for an experienced knitter (sometimes that's good). I didn't think the needle and gauges were too off as one reviewer suggested- I've knit many shawls in Jaggerspun Zephyr and usually use a smaller needle. I too would disagree with the author about circular needles - I find that shawls are less likely to fall off circular needles, they concentrate the bulk of the knitting into the lap thereby avoiding shoulder strain, and I have NEVER had a problem with slipping work off the needle onto the cable join (and I usually use fingering or lighter weight yarn for shawls and have knit DOZENS of Norwegian sweaters with DK weight)- perhaps the author needs better quality circular needles.

I think the scarves are great and much more interesting than what one usually sees - they would be fairly quick to knit, also.

The charts are fairly good - who wants to knit lace from written out directions?

Beginners, get a mentor to use this book, but go ahead and stretch your horizons!

16 lace-knit scarf type patterns. The tremendous designs are beautifully photographed and are presented in an easy to use format of just 80 pages. Most of the deigns are in fine yarns and use knitting charts. The patterns are simple, if you are used to knitting lace, with for the most part easy repeats. This book works for me as there are several patterns I would enjoy knitting. The scarves include stoles, capes, shawls, wraps and anything else that comes under that heading.

The only fault with the book is that it is perhaps too generic to be considered 'Shetland' even though Margaret is a Shetland Isles native and designer. It might not be for those who want traditional Shetland, but even Shetland can produce up-to-date designs.

I just bought this book new off the shelf and I may be spending too much time sniffing the ink when I should be planning the patterns. The front and back cover have flaps that can be used as bookmarks.
Every pattern is well charted and in brilliant color. Some of the16 project patterns look like others I already have on other books, however if you look closely they have more sophistication and depth to the lace pattern.

All the projects are in lace weight. And even though designer Margaret Leask Peterson has lived in the Shetland Islands may have been inspired by her location yet the patterns seem new. In any case they will keep you interested in knitting its self.

The charts are all monochrome for some reason. And instead of laying the projects flat they are strewn over what look like models.

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