Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today: More Than 50 Patterns to Knit and Crochet [Paperback]

Lion Brand (Author), Nancy J. Thomas (Editor), Charlotte Quiggle (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Lion Brand Yarn | Publication Date: January 24, 2006

Lion Brand Yarn: Vintage Styles for Today reinterprets more than fifty vintage designs for today’s knitters and crocheters, with detailed patterns and stunning archival and contemporary photographs.


Vintage-style treasures come front and center, restyled for current lifestyles and in modern day yarns. For more than a century, Lion Brand Yarn has shaped the future of knitting and crocheting while preserving its heritage. Now editors Nancy J. Thomas and Charlotte J. Quiggle have turned back the clock to find classic styles from decades past and reintroduce them with a modern feel. In Lion Brand Yarn: Vintage Styles for Today, you’ll discover a trove of vintage pieces that have been lovingly reinterpreted for contemporary sizing and sensibilities, offering retro-styled flair while taking advantage of today’s stunning new yarns.

In more than fifty timeless designs, classic looks meld with modern fashion without losing the beauty of past eras. Contemporary accents and modern textures transform traditional cardigans, vests, shrugs, and wraps into chic attire. A selection of sweaters, socks, hats, and gloves for every member of the family (even the dog) allows everyone to enjoy the spirit of the past. A variety of timeless designs for blankets and baby items offers endless possibilities for reinventing vintage looks. With detailed pattern instructions and illustrations and more than 100 stunning archival and full-color contemporary photographs, Lion Brand Yarn: Vintage Styles for Today weaves the past and present together for today’s needlecrafters.

At 125 years and counting, Lion Brand Yarn is the oldest American yarn brand. Since the beginning, the Lion Brand philosophy has been to provide a quality product at an affordable price. Lion Brand yarns are available at leading stores throughout the country.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

For more than twenty-five years, Nancy J. Thomas has been the editorial voice of the most widely circulated knitting magazines in the country. Instrumental in the launch of Vogue Knitting Magazine in 1982, Nancy also served as the publication’s editor in chief. She was the founding editor of Family Circle Knitting and editor in chief of Knitter’s Magazine. Nancy is the coauthor of Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book, regarded as the most important knitting reference in print, and A Passion for Knitting. From 2000 to 2005, Nancy served as the editorial director of Lion Brand Yarn Company, where her expertise brough added value to consumers of this highly respected brand.

Charlotte Quiggle is a writer, designer, knitter, and editor. She has published designs and articles in the nation’s leading knitting magazines, including Interweave Knits, Knitter’s, Knit It!, Vogue Knitting, and Knit 1. In addition, Charlotte has done technical editing for several magazines and books, including A Passion for Knitting.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; 1ST edition (January 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400080614
• ISBN-13: 978-1400080618
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage style knits for today's yarns, January 28, 2006

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today: More Than 50 Patterns to Knit and Crochet (Paperback)

If you are a collector of old knitting or crochet books, you know that one of the problems you face when you want to knit one of the patterns is the yarn. What is "wheeling?" And what gauge was the yarn they used? How many yards? It's not impossible to reproduce vintage items with trial and error, guessing gauge of yarn, but it's a lot easier with "Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today." I myself used to struggle with the only knitting book we had at home, one dating back to World War II and I knit a bedjacket for my mom (using baby yarn, only thing available that was fine enough in gauge.) She has it still, 30 years later. That yarn wore like iron.

This book updates famous knitting patterns and interprets them in Lion Brand yarns, which are widely available in yarn shops and even discount department stores. So this book is useful for a number of types of knitters--the knitter or crocheter who wants to create theater or vintage-style garments, the funky modern knitter looking for shrugs and scarves, or the classic knitter who wants to make coats, vests and jackets in a timeless style. The patterns are a mix of knit and crochet. For example, the cover model is a famous bedjacket-style crochet reinterpreted as a lacy cardigan.

The pattern chapters:

1. Cardigans and Jackets
2. Vests and Shrugs
3. Shawls and Wraps
4. Sweaters for Everyone (Cardigans, Ski, Turtlenecks, Men's)
5. Hats, Caps, Scarves
6. Baby things (sacques, layette, hats)
7. Mitttens, Gloves, Slippers, Socks
8. Blankets, Afghans and Throws.
9. Techniques

As you can see, this is a comprehensive compilation of patterns. I was asked an IMPORTANT question by one knitter; how many extra large sized patterns are included? Several of the coats and sweaters go up to 3x. There is a loose coat that is "one size fits most" but the more experienced knitter can look at the measurements and try a larger gauge and blocking to increase the size. The fitted style garments (tightly knit or crocheted vests) tend to only go up to size L.

Highlights: a crocheted cutaway coat with suede yarn frogs. A dog sweater that was one of the nicest I've seen, knit in a checkerboard texture stitch. There is a fisherman sweater in a classic style for men. The famous Navajo Crochet blanket is here, something found in many of the old Fleisher books. This is a crocheted afghan that imitates a Navajo blanket. There is a pair of gloves knit in Lion's self-striping "magic" yarn. I especially liked the crocheted "Poet's Shrug" and a bolero in novelty fringe yarn. Definitely something here for everyone. I really like this book.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's fabulous - for what it is!, March 23, 2006

By 

L. Mallette (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today: More Than 50 Patterns to Knit and Crochet (Paperback)

To those who complain the styles aren't true to their "forebears" - well, this is not a book of faithfully reproduced vintage patterns, nor does it purport to be. The instructions and choices of yarn have been revised to appeal to modern knitters and crocheters who love the vintage look but don't have the skill or patience or $$ for the necessary materials to recreate it. Clothing inspired by vintage styles is everywhere these days and this book provides the knitter and crocheter with the tools they need to make their own vintage-inspired fashions without the necessity of searching for old patterns, attempting procedures that exceed their skills, or investing a fortune in top-quality wool.

I purchased this book based on one item alone (the breathtaking "Linda stole"), but my friends who knit and crochet are ga-ga over most of the other patterns and have already asked to borrow it. For what it is, this is a wonderful book.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Like Unique and Classy, This Book is Worth a Look, January 8, 2007

By 

Colorgirl "Spreading color around my world" (NE US) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today: More Than 50 Patterns to Knit and Crochet (Paperback)

I have a hard time finding crochet or knitting patterns that look classy, funky, fashionable, yet not dowdy or dumpy. When I got this book from the library, I was thrilled. This book takes all kinds of patterns from the 1900's (most decades) and reworks them for today- keeping the essence of the pattern, but with the comfort of today.

I just love the different funky and unique ideas in here as well as the old staples like hats, scarves, etc.

There are many different types of yarns showcased in this book from the old staples of woolen type yarns to the funky fur with lumps that is so popular today.

This book has feminine cardigans and jackets, vests and shrugs, shawls and wraps, sweaters for all ages, hats and caps for everyone, baby things, and really cool and fun wristlets, gauntlets, mittens, socks and slippers as well as gloves.

There are some patterns for blankets and throws to round it all out.

So far, I am really impressed with this book and it sits among some of my select few favorites. I love the idea that it has BOTH Crochet and Knitting- all of which are interesting and motivational. There are also many levels of projects in difficulty too.

I can not rave about this book enough- it is right up there with my favorites from the Stich N Bitch collection (I only like a few of those), and even more exciting than many of those.

If you can get it out of the library first or see it at a bookstore that will tell you if you want to have it in your collection. I probably would never have ordered this if I had not seen it first, because there are SO many books out there that have disappointed me. After seeing it however, I am absolutely thrilled with it.