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

Review

Finalist in the About.com Reader's Choice Awards for Best Knitting Book of 2011.

“A Knitting Wrapsody is a lot of fun for knitters who are looking for something a little different in their garments. Lots of knitting projects -- socks, hats and sweaters, to name just a few – are pretty much only good for one purpose; they can only be worn one way. But Kristin Omdahl thinks knitting should be more versatile than that, and she's come up with some designs that turn a cape into a coat, sweater pieces into a cape and a capelet into a scarf or collar, just to name a few.” – About.com Guide to Knitting

“One of the most exciting new knitting books that I’ve seen in several months…With scarves, wraps, shawls and skirts, it has something in it for just about everyone.” – Courier-News

“These fresh patterns feature some unusual design elements that make them outstanding…the handy DVD reference guide…is the next best thing to having a private instructor at your side…Whether your interest is lace, texture or construction details, this collection has a little something for everyone.” – Monsters and Critics

“Now, [Kristin Omdahl] brings her dramatic style to knitting with 18 drop-dead gorgeous projects unlike anything you’ll ever see in stores. The wraps, skirts and shawls in A Knitting Wrapsody incorporate unusual elements and clever designs to make them really stand out…Omdahl demonstrates her new and unusual techniques on the DVD that comes with this book.” – Crafter’s Choice

“A very nice book, complete with the awesome DVD.” – CraftGossip.com

“Fresh ideas…The included DVD is a nice touch, too, though the written descriptions seem quite clear…If you do better with visual aids, you’ll appreciate the DVD.” – Knitting Scholar

“There are plenty of interesting stitch pattern and clever constructions to keep you interested and challenged.” – The Yarn Lounge

“The experimental construction makes the designs elegant and eye-catching….Many of the patterns incorporate quite complicated techniques, but thanks to the bonus DVD that demonstrates unusual stitches step-by-step, the designs are still manageable for newbie knitters.” – Yarn Forward magazine

“Kristin takes some unusual approaches to her techniques and the accompanying DVD will guide you through. A perfect way to learn, and who better to learn from!” – Terry Kinche, CraftGossip.com Knitting Editor

“This is the first knitting book I've seen that has a how-to DVD included and I LOVE THAT!! For people like me who love knitting, but don't always feel confident in their skills, an instructional DVD is invaluable. I would say this is an advanced level book, most of the projects are quite intricate, like wearable works of art.” – Laurie Perry, aka Crazy Aunt Purl, author of Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split

“Wrap yourself in the beauty and elegance of knitted art-to-wear with amazing ideas, inspiration and patterns from designer Kristin Omdahl's latest book, “ A Knitting Wrapsody”. If your knitting skills are intermediate to advanced, this is a definite must-add to your collection of knitting books." – The Detroit News

“Kristin Omdahl is full of ideas and always coming up with very interesting techniques for which she is merging her very artistic and creative side with her mathematically-oriented mind. We see the result in her designs as fascinating shapes and interesting usage of known stitches.” – Faina Goberstein, The Designer’s Studio

"Overall, the book is well-produced: there are lots of clear photos of each piece; charts and schematics are sharp and usable; the design layout is visually pleasing. The patterns seem easy to follow.” – Knit and Travel, Blog

“Kristin Omdahl’s designs are not only striking and innovative, they’re strong reminders that knitting and crochet are joined at the hip. Each craft has much to offer on its own, but as you’ll see when you take a look at Kristin’s latest book, “A Knitting Wrapsody”, bringing the two techniques together opens up a whole new territory.“ - Knitcircus

“This is a wonderful and welcome addition to a book with so many exciting and beautiful patterns.” – Knitty.com

“Each of her knit designs exudes her same signature style: drapey, soft, feminine, intricate, mathematical, simple.” - lindamade

“This is a lovely book, showing many different ways to wrap yourself in lovely and cozy hand knits from top to bottom. There is elegant, warm, summery, fun and funky to be found.” – Monika Steinbauer, Smoking Hot Needles

“If you’re interested in unique shapes and a build-as-you-go construction style, this would be a good book to pick up.” – Stefanie Japel, author of Glam Knits

“What a fun and inventive book! Lots of interesting patterns! There are plenty of interesting stitch pattern and clever constructions to keep you interested and challenged." - The Yarn Lounge

"For her first knitting book, Omdahl returns to territory she so successfully explored with a hook in Wrapped in Crochet." – Yarn Market News

About the Author

Best-selling author Kristin Omdahl designs knit and crochet garments and patterns under her label KRISTIN and website styledbykristin.com. She appears in every episode of Knitting Daily TV on public television as the show’s Crochet Corner expert, conducts seminars around the country, and teaches knitting and crochet in her DVD workshops, including Innovative Crochet: Motifs. She is also the author of Wrapped in Crochet, Crochet So Fine, and A Knitting Wrapsody. Kristin’s work has appeared in many magazines and books. She enjoys knitting and crocheting in her orchid garden in sunny southwest Florida.

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: 8.5 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,488 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 35 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

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful

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

By Joanna Daneman #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format: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!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, Fun, Challenging patterns March 22, 2011

By B. Castiel

Format:Paperback

This book focuses on wraps, shawls, and shrugs. It has the innovative feature of including a DVD that illustrates some of the special techniques used in the book. This is a fantastic feature.
Kristin is well known in the crochet world. I'm not a crocheter, so I'm looking at the designs solely from a knitter's point of view.
This book is not intended for beginners, as it really requires a good foundation in basic kntting techniques.
I'm fairly experienced as a knitter, so I'm attracted to new and different tecnniques and design effects.

Overall, the book is well-produced: there are lots of clear photos of each piece; charts and schematics are sharp and usable; the design layout is visually pleasing.
On to the patterns:
I Do - diamond lace scarf, is very pretty, wearable and appealing. This might be the first project I tackle.
Echo - mobius - has an original stitch pattern that makes me want to try it.
Ring of cables shrug - has a bright fresh look that would be so cute on a twenty-something, and it has a really interesting construction.
Infinity cardi-wrap - just breathtaking in its unique design. A figure-8 is knitted for the back, So striking.
Finally, the Warrior wings shawl, with its pretty scalloped edges, is another winner.

I passed the book around at my knitting group, and these patterns got the most ooohs and aaahs.

As for the downside, I couldn't see knitting the Flamenco ruffled skirt, or the Gypsy wrap... Just not wearable for me or people I know.

All in all, there is a very proportion of things I do want to make, compared with other knitting books I have. So this book is a winner :-)