Customer Reviews

Knitting Lace Triangles

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoy knitting lace. I appreciate this book because it is more about the architecture of lace triangles than step-by-step, row-by-row instructions. It's got a good set of ingredients from which one can choose to cook up one's own shawl. Clark uses four lace motifs--flower, leaf, medallion, and ripple--plus an edging that is the same for each suggested shawl. She offers transition rows so that the motifs can be successfully combined in a shawl. What she doesn't do is explain why only these motifs are offered. What are the design considerations in choosing a lace motif? I assume she tried out a bunch before settling on these for the book. What makes these work better than others? If I go to one of my many stitch compendia to look for lace stitches, will I blunder into an awful shawl using something not offered by Clark because of some mystery embedded in lace triangle knitting? Why only the one edging? It's a beautiful one, and I've no quarrel with it, but how was it chosen and why not others? You get the idea. This is a really good book, but it leaves me curious. Also, why isn't amazon.com selling it directly?

The patterns are in tiny snippets and bits of charts all through the book. To make the simplest of shawls, it was necessary to chart the whole shawl from beginning to end. Just flipping through the book to the different sections was needlessly confusing and little bits of instructions were strewn hither and yon. If you missed the bit about the transition rows replacing the last few rows of the pattern, you ruined quite a lot of knitting. God forbid that you use a yarn that cannot be frogged. Until I charted a whole shawl, I spent more time ripping out than knitting.

I have knitted for 45 years and done many difficult and intricate patterns. Surely, there was a simpler way to present this very basic design in knitting lace triangles than the over complicated, piecemeal way that was done in this book.

All the above being said, I would still buy the book for the pattern. However, I advise charting the whole shawl design, complete with transition rows, etc., before ever casting on the first stitch.

Added 4 months later: I finished blocking the shawl that I made using this book and have to add to my review and change my rating. I knitted 5 shawls last year and the one made using this book is the most truly magnificent shawl ever. I could use it as a wedding veil, it is so beautiful. Granted figuring out the pattern was difficult, but the result makes me change the book's rating from 1 to 5 stars.

This book is an invaluable reference and an absolute must have for any lace knitter. On first glance the book appears ordinary, largely owing to the black and white photos and lots of text. On closer inspection however this book reveals itself as a catalyst for creative knitters. The reader is encouraged to use the 4 basic patterns provided to "create their own" unique shawls and scarves.
The book provides details in a modular fashion, giving the cast on instructions then a choice of beginnings, middles and an edging. One of the most helpful parts is the yardage calculator. Giving requirements for many different weights and lengths of yarn. My first project using this book was from handspun. I wanted to make sure that I used every last bit of the yarn and was able to using this chart. I am overjoyed with the result.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to create their own individual shawls.

This is a well writtne, little book. It has detailed explanations of what, why, and how to knit lace trianagles. It has written and charted instructions. The charts are large enought to be easily read, without enlarging them on a copier. The knitting process is broken down into 3 steps: beginning, middle, and end. Transition stitches to easy the change from one pattern to another are shown. I haven't had time to try any of these patterns yet, but I look forward to it. Seven triangle patterns are given to work with, 4 one lace, 2 two lace and one 4 lace triangle.
The quotes from famous women scattered throughout the book are interesting and fun, too.

I bought this book because I liked the author's patterns. It is a description of the method of planning and designing a shawl within the footprint of a triangle form. This book is a technical reference for designers rather than a book of patterns, which is what I wanted. I have read it through twice and almost understand the math enough to branch out. Meanwhile I am trying one of her combination suggestions and working through the design elements to experience the rhythm of the patterns.

I had the hardest time trying to figure out how to knit a lace shawl, and this book got me started with lace knitting. It has four basic motifs to choose from and you can mix and match to make a large variety of lace triangle shawls.

I highly recommend this book for beginning lace knitters.

This is an interesting book with lots of creative possibilities. I have now read it several times over and feel inspired to start my first Lace Triangle Shawl and to start experimenting with different yarns and needle sizes.

I was surprised at how small the book was in contrast to Sharon Miller's book Heirloom Knittingwho's book is my lace knitting bible! This is defintely one to add to the shelf and to use as often as possible to make shawls in readiness for summer, but to experiment and make shawls using a heavier yarn for autumn and winter.

Definitely recommend it and for beginners - just take your time over the instructions and practise practise practise!

This book wasn't what I thought it would be, which was a collection of patterns of triangular lace shawls. Instead, it's more of a technique book, one I'll keep for reference, an archive of lace patterns (as opposed to actual shawl patterns) that I can incorporate into my lace knitting.

This book is great! IT is a valuable reference and great for designing a triangular shawl.

This is a nice little book. Evelyn Clark presents four basic shapes and describes how you can use them to design your own shawl. It is pretty basic. It looks like a good way to start designing lace. I knitted the Medallion Shawl. It's pretty and the instructions were easy to follow.