Customer Reviews

Knitting Scarves from Around the World: 23 Patterns in a Variety of Styles and Techniques

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

 

 

I regularly knit scarves, mostly in between other projects and usually with a matching hat. This is a lovely book of scarves from around the world and they are ones that are off the beaten track - not the usual ribbed or stockinette style scarf. Edited by Karie Cornell, the book opens up with an introduction to the history of scarves by Donna Druchunas.

The patterns are divided into 'Scarves of Scandinavia', 'Scarves of Europe', Scarves of the British Isles and Ireland', 'Scarves of the West', and 'Scarves of the East'.

My favorites are the following:

Min Ulla Norwegian Scarf designed by Elinor Brown in a traditional two-color black and white Norwegian motif.

Greenland Beaded Leaf Scarf designed by Donna Druchunas 'inspird by the beaded wrist warmers from Greenland'. It is knit in a lovely green lace and then beaded.

The Icelandic Lace Scarf is a joy for the eyes. It is knit in white of the most lovely and open lace.

The Estonian Triangular Lace Shawl, designed by Nancy Bush, is a lace knit in a lovely yellow. It is more a shawl than a scarf but it is so beautiful, one can forgive its inclusion in this book.

The Belgian Ridged Lace Cowl is knit in a bright red and designed by Elinor Brown. She was 'inspired by the lace found in store windows in Brugge'.

Aran Scarf with Bobbles, designed by Melissa Leapman, is knit in a pure white and as its title states, is comprised of traditional
aran cables and bobbles.

The Chinese Good Fortune Scarf, designed by Lily Chin, is a delight in a bright orange and red Chinese-inspired design.

Orenburg Lace Scarf is scrumptious. Designed by Susan Lawrence, it utilizes techniques from 'traditional Russian Orenburg shawls'. She used 'beaded yarn with plies of mohair, silk, and metallic thread'.

There is a section about all of the designers that is very interesting. All of them are so different yet they come together through their love of knitting.

I love the Norwegian scarf by Elinor Brown although I did not find it that original but I would definitely knit it and wear it. Donna Druchunas has designed a very enchanting beaded scarf inspired by a pattern from Greenland. There's an acceptable Lopi scarf and Finnish scarf. However the prize in this Scandinavian section is without doubt the Icelandic lace Scarf designed by Helene Magnusson - feathery and light. From Europe there is a twisted stitch Bavarian scarf, a gorgeous European Cowl from Donna Druchunas - a must knit, a good textured scarf and Belgian cowl, both acceptable, but again the biscuit is taken by Nancy Bush' Estonian Triangular Lace Shawl - wow. On this side of the pond, we have a Celtic two-colour lace, which does not do much for me, a Celtic aran with felted flower scarf, a stranded fair-isle that isn't pulling my strings much and another two Arans - I didn't feel this was a very strong section. Lily M Chin's good fortune scarf was a big turn off for me, by contrast the flower collar inspired by Japan and designed by Elanor Lynn is pretty, I love Susan Lawrence's Orenburg Lace (you can tell I'm in a lace mood). From America we have a colourful Navajo blanket inspired scarf from Lucy Neatby, a handspun cowl by London Nelson which is heart-warming, a Mobius scarf from Jennifer Hansen and a scarf based on a crazy quilt by Susan Nix. I would consider knitting well over half these and there was only one that I thought was a definite no-no. beautifully photographed and presented with clear instructions. Some patterns have charts. I like the snippets of information, the general introduction and that to each pattern. This review first appeared on Karen Platt's yarn and fabrics blog.

Not your typical scarf book. Lovely book with a great variety of projects, using several different techniques. Beautiful photography. Inspiring.