Customer Reviews

Knitting from the Netherlands, Traditional Dutch Fishermen's Sweaters

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While many knitters associate fisherman sweaters with the Aran Isles and Guernsey (one of the Channel Isles), the knitters of the Netherlands make similar sweaters to Guernseys in many wonderful patterns based solely on knit and purl, with occasional cables and lace (yarn-over) designs.

The basic structure of the Dutch fisherman's sweater is a patterned or textured yoke with a plain knit body. The structure is a tube with drop shoulder sleeves, similar to Norwegian sweaters. Color is not used, instead, indigo dye or natural wool is used.

The sweaters bear a strong resemblence to British sweaters, due to a strong trade route between the Dutch and British trading Dutch cured herring for sweaters in the Shetlands. Since the Shetland knitters came from Norway originally, this accounts for the similar construction.

This book has many stitch patterns, the method to construct an authentic fisherman's sweater the Dutch way, and many photos of Dutch fishermen and children wearing the garments in vintage photos as well. A rare book, well worth adding to any serious knitter's library.

Although we live in New Zealand I have married into a Dutch family. I kept borrowing this book from our local library and was lucky enough to spot it when it was put in a withdrawn library books sale. I couldn't believe my luck!

This is not a fancy book, which adds to it's charm as the jumpers were designed to be practical and solid and warm. The history and photos alongside the patterns, and the instructions which make it possible to create a jumper all of your own makes this one of my favourite knitting books to leaf through.

I also particularly like the way the patterns are placed in their geographical settings. I eventually plan to design and knit my children jumpers out of this book, when they are a little bigger so they don't grow straight out of them. While the tiny place their Oma grew up in is not in the book there are enough hints at the styles for that area to make me feel confident I can do something that is representative of that location.

It is an absolute gem of a book.