A Knitting Wrapsody: Innovative Designs to Wrap, Drape, and Tie [Paperback]

Kristin Omdahl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2011

Designer Kristin Omdahl is one of the most innovative designers working today, and in this collection, she showcases her signature motif designs and experimental construction in 18 original patterns—five scarves, six wraps, five shawls, and two skirts—that provide new ways to think about knitting pieces that wrap, drape, or tie.

Unlike other wrap books, this collection offers ingenious ways for wrapping your knitting, whether around the neck, shoulders, or waist. The designs for these garments are just what you've been waiting for—inspirational, creative patterns that advance your skills, explore shape and silhouette, and are beautiful to wear year-round.

All of the garments incorporate interesting elements, from reversible stitch patterns and unique knitted edgings to interesting closures. Each project is knitted, but much of the aesthetic draws inspiration from the geometry, motifs, and techniques of crochet.

Some of the techniques are quite unusual and the enclosed DVD will demonstrate them in-depth before you cast on for a project.

With her passionate attention to stitch detail and one-of-a-kind motif designs, Kristin offers a wide range of projects in A Knitting Wrapsody for a variety of skill levels and time commitments. Expand your wardrobe with bold, stylish shapes and add form-flattering pieces perfect for layering.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kristin Omdahl is the author of Crochet So Fine and Wrapped in Crochet. She designs knit and crochet garments and patterns under her label KRISTIN and distributes her own line of patterns and knits from her website, styledbykristin.com, and to yarn stores. She also designs for several knit and crochet magazines and book publishers and teaches knit and crochet techniques for private lessons and workshops. Kristin creates designs for a variety of yarn companies, including Plymouth Yarn, Cherry Tree Hill, and Tilli Tomas and has published designs in Interweave Crochet, Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Crochet Today, and Crochet!.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press; Pap/DVD edition (February 22, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596683074
• ISBN-13: 978-1596683075
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kristin Omdahl designs knit and crochet garments and patterns under her label KRISTIN, and is the author of "Crochet So Fine" (Interweave, July 2010) and "Wrapped In Crochet" (Interweave, 2008). She appears in every episode of Knitting Daily TV on public television as the show's "Crochet Corner" expert, and she conducts seminars around the country on crochet and in her new DVD workshop, "Innovative Crochet: Motifs" (Interweave, 2009). Kristin's work has appeared in Interweave Crochet, Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Crochet Today, Crochet!, Cast On, and Knit N' Style, plus books including "Crochet Gifts" (Interweave, 2009) and "Crochet Me" (Interweave, 2007). She enjoys knitting and crocheting in her orchid garden in sunny, Southwest Florida. Check out what's new with Kristin at www.StyledbyKristin.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to give it 10 stars!!!!!!!, February 9, 2011

By 

Carlos Valentino "A. Valentino" (Pennington, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Knitting Wrapsody: Innovative Designs to Wrap, Drape, and Tie (Paperback)

I love Kristin Omdahl patterns, I have several books from her, This book has beautiful patterns, and because they are inspired in crochet, you can get many ideas how to crochet this patterns. The DVD is exellent, she explains all the techniques she uses in the patterns. This is a great book, with very original patterns. This is no a beginners book, I'll say Intermediate more to advanced.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a WRAP!, March 3, 2011

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Knitting Wrapsody: Innovative Designs to Wrap, Drape, and Tie (Paperback)

Wraps are currently a popular item to knit, along with Cowls (see my review of Cowl Girls: The Neck's Big Thing to Knit. Is it because we're keeping our houses cooler in winter to save fuel (not a bad thing...we keep ours at 64 or 65) or because we feel a psychic need for warm comfort wrapped around our shoulders and necks? I don't know, but I do know I enjoy knitting both cowls and wraps. This book has some innovative patterns for these hybrids of cardigans and shawls--designed to conform to your upper body but not fitted and buttoned like a cardigan. Or...they are shawls, scarves, or shawlettes--a shawlette being a cowl that slipped down or a shortened shawl, just enough to keep shoulders cozy.

There are eighteen patterns, categorized: scarves, wraps, shawls, and skirts. They go from lacy to quite dense, solid knitting. It's really hard for me to pick a favorite because there are a lot of great ideas in this book. Here are a few:

1. An infinity wrap-plus-sleeves. The back is knitted with a textured large motif (really a figure 8 but they say infinity so I guess you better be photographed lying on your side!) It could be knit with handspun yarns or art yarns, so this is a great show piece for some interesting, textured yarns. And it's one of those pieces you grab to thrown on at home or just going out whether you live in Southern California, Maine or Georgia. It could be made into a fabulous evening coat.

2. The "Leilani" which is a three-panel shawl. The front panels are solid, soothing garter stitch for the front panels, and an exciting back panel in flower motifs that look like crocheted motifs but are knitted. Personally, I would adapt this pattern, if I liked to do crochet, and put crochet motifs in the middle instead of the knit flowers. I think it would be amazing to mix crochet and knit. Plus you might choose a different motif to suit yourself or make it multi-colored in the center. Either way, this pattern's shape lends itself to modification if you want to take off on your own ideas. It's edged in a solid tooth design, and front or back, looks amazing.

3. Warrior Wings--a side-tied shawlette, lacy, beautiful as an evening wrap.

4. Gypsy Skirt --I'd have called this a pareo, instead. It's a very open, netted overskirt that can be worn as a halter or just around the waist. This is perfect as a light swimsuit cover, and if you live by the pool in the summer, you are going to want to knit one of these. There is another skirt--a side ruffled solid skirt that is striking. Not for everyone, to be sure, but a really eye-catching design.

There is a DVD included with this book to go over some of the innovative knitting techniques, so the flower is demonstrated. Also demonstrated--edgings, a picot cast on, and much more. I think this adds so much to the book--not sure how to make a particular model? Check the DVD to watch Kristin Omdahl demonstrate.

I admire so many more of the patterns, and I encourage you to examine the book for yourself. I think this is one of the most useful knitting design books to come out recently and each of these patterns could be adapted, using different stitch patterns or techniques, to make additional designs. With the inclusion of a technique DVD, this book is suitable for most knitters, because even if you are a beginner, you can work on the techniques until you have them down, then embark on one of the projects. Love this book!

25 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Underwhelming, March 10, 2011

By 

Wendy Larkin (phoenix, az USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Knitting Wrapsody: Innovative Designs to Wrap, Drape, and Tie (Paperback)

I'm frankly at a loss. While I certainly believe in innovation, when what results is sad, tired, and downright ugly, it's rather pointless. I bought the author's previous two books as well, and didn't like either of them; but everyone on the reviews there and here keeps raving. There are at least a few items in this book I find really cute or lovely, such as the cover bolero and the "Warrior Wings" knitted shawl, but most look anywhere from ho hum to weird to really odd. One shoulder wrap piece in particular looks like a burlap feed sack, braided and thrown about the neck.

The included DVD is informative and well made. Some of the author's methods are unusual; the DVD will certainly help with understanding. Her writing style is also straightforward and easy to follow.

Taste is subjective. This author's work does not appeal to me personally. If you are familiar with her work or previous books and like her style, you will almost certainly love this book. If you are unfamiliar with the author's techniques or style, I strongly recommend you thumb through a copy at a library, or find more information and pictures online before spending your money. It's going to be a trade-in book for me.