Customer Reviews

Loop-d-Loop: More Than 40 Novel Designs for Knitters

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I wish Elizabeth Zimmerman was still around to give us her opinion of these patterns. The conversational style of writing about knitting reminds me of EZ, but the patterns are from another world all together. They are edgy and like nothing you will find at the mall. While there are only one or two of the patterns I can ever see myself making, I loved this book for how it opened my eyes. The pictures, diagrams and instructions are clear and well written. If you are looking for a pattern to make a sweater that looks like you got it from L.L. Bean or Lands End, or if you are a plus size, this is NOT the book to get.

One amazing thing about this book is how passionately knitters either love or hate it, with little in-between. I suppose I'm a little closer to in-between than many - I got this book for a song, and love it, but would I shell out to replace my copy if I lost it in a meteor strike? Maybe, maybe not.

It's a gorgeous book, if you can mentally erase the sour-to-spacy visages and terrifying hairdos that other reviewers have already described in lurid detail. I'm not even talking "Vogue Knitting" scary or mere runway model scary; we are talking about something that is close to visually disturbing. It's off putting, and for every argument against homoginizing the "vision", there's an equally valid argument for making art accessible to ordinary people (and knitters - grin), and I think it's the art that matters most to Ms. Durham.

I say that because the practical is sometimes given short shrift in this book. As with Suss Cousin's "Hollywood Knits", the size range for many of the patterns is pure fantasy. I don't care how stretchy a garment is, when an adult "small" is 24 inches and "large" is 33 inches, guaranteed that many women at a very healthy weight for their height, frame, and age need not apply, unless they are expert at pattern modification. And then there are the "waif pattern" - close fitting tunics with no ease in the hip and so on that really won't translate to any but the thinnest and most boyish figures. (The author explained on the Knitting Review site that she has concerns about health when considering extended size range - a silly and disingenuous rationalization, if you are going to create patterns best modeled on human coathangers.)

There are also some pieces that are rather conventional save for some daring detail like a mid-bust series of stiches dropped aaaalll the way down - great eye candy, maybe party wear, but probably not for most of us. Can't begrudge that too much, it did serve the (I think) intended purpose of challenging knitting conventions and expectations.

And there are some real revelations in this book, both in terms of construction of knitwear and some things I've just never seen before - the "dreamcatcher" panel of delicate not-lace webbing on the reverse of one sweater is what really made me buy this book, but there are half a dozen others I might consider. (Really, how many of us buy knitting magazines for just One Great Pattern? It's not necessarily a question of how many patterns in a book or mag we would never knit, but how many we *might*.)

This book is an original, in the best sense of the word. It remains to be seen whether the author's attention turns to other forms of expression, or whether she'll continue to develop as a knitting designer. If the latter, I'll hope that she'll give us more accessible patterns, maybe even for those "portly" women with discernable curves...knitters are a practical lot, but will doubtless meet this new designer halfway - assuming she's willing as well.

I have been waiting eagerly for this book, and am overwhelmed - it's even better than I thought it would be. Fabulous, all the way. Great patterns, clear photos and explanations of unusual techniques, interesting writing - it's THE ideal knitting book.

The patterns are incredibly cool. I want to make all of them. There's a variety of stuff here, including chair covers which transform an ordinary folding chair into a beautiful objet d'art. Some patterns are for adults, some for kids, and some are sized for both. There are jackets, shells, cardigans, sweaters, capelets, a kilt, a really cute pair of gloves, a hat..... for a preview, you can hit her website, and that should convince you. (google loop d loop).

Some of her patterns use thick yarns, and some use fine, so that will appeal to those lucky knitters who have the patience to use fine yarn:)

Although her designs are really hip, there are a number which would suit the more conservative - just look at the two on the cover.... beautiful stitch patterns, shapely but not OTT.

I highly recommend this book. Much more worth it that Tricoter's newest, which has very few patterns and way too many ponchos. I had it on preorder before I even saw the pics on her site, and would have paid twice as much for it.

I REALLY hope she publishes more in the future.

This book has some of the wittiest and most innovative knitting designs I've seen in quite awhile. Even some of the designs that, at first glance, seem too far out grow on you over time. My major problem (and the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5) is that the garment sizes are TOO SMALL for anyone in the plus or nearly plus size ranges. That leaves many of us out in the cold. "Loop-d-Loop" has some wonderful patterns for scarves and other such items, but sizing problems limit the usefulness of the book.

Don't waste your money on this book. I knitted the riding jacket in Teva Duram's Loop D Loop book. I have never seen so many errors in a pattern. I knitted the medium size and none of the numbers in the pattern worked. The origional cast-on number yeilded 10 too many stitches in the back of the jacket at the bottom of the arm hole separation and there were still 2 more increase rows to go! Other mistakes included markers in the wrong place, decreases going the wrong direction and the cables in the front sections twisting in the wrong direction. She obviously has never knitted her own design.

This book is a vanity publication for the author. It is not written for knitters even though the author knits. Before writing this review I took out a shell I've owned for twenty years--a designer handknit that cost a fortune at the time, and which is still beautiful. The knitted measurement (diameter) is 42 inches at the bust--a medium according to the label. It stretches another 4 to 6 inches. In Loop-d-Loop, a similar shell (see pages 25 & 48) in Small/Medium is 25.5 inches around and a Medium/Large is about 28 inches around. These may possibly stretch to fit a 32-34 inch bust although the book doesn't say what the actual ease is nor whom it should fit.
I consider this book as just one more of the recent designer publications that show a basic disregard (if not contempt) for their buyers. It's an attitude of "My designs are so beautiful that I need not be bothered supplying information for a realistic range of sizes. Those with normal bodies will just have to do the math themselves."
Ms. Durham or her publishers may not care about having more buyers for this or her next collection of designs. But negative reviews do discourage purchases. At least I hope this one does.
Having said this, many of Teva Durham's designs are extraordinarily beautiful, a fact which only increases my frustration with the overall quality of the information in this book. I recommend it only if you want a coffee table book on knit designs.

I sat on the floor of Barnes and Noble pouring over this book for the better part of an hour; i was entranced by it's beautiful patterns and stunning photos. All of the items therein are lovely, most of which i hope to create. I have to agree, however, with most reviewers - the patterns are very small. As a 5'9 size 8-10 woman, i most often fit comfortably into a size medium. Well, not according to this book! I knit up the Yoke Vest in the medium size, as it was described to be 'stretchy'. I just about stretched the wool to it's very limit when i put my finished piece on. It looked like I was wearing a sweater made for a toddler. Very dismayed, i sadly sat at my desk today and frogged the whole piece.
Perhaps even more disgruntling is that not ALL patterns run consistently small, but surprisingly vary, making it impossible to judge what size you'll be on which piece. I also knit up the Maiden wench blouse, in size medium, to find that it is incredibly boxy and roomy on the sides. I must find a way to delicately 'take it in' somehow.
Anyway, this book is beatiful. I think Teva is a wonderful and innovative designer. I would highly recommend it those with a fair amount of patience, a willingness to rip out your work, and a slender torso.

As an experienced knitter, I found the ideas very interesting and exciting. However, knitting the actual pieces is fraught with frustration. The instructions are both poorly written and contain *a lot* of errors. There are no 'correction' pages on her website nor did she answer any emails regarding the pattern instructions. Several expert knitter friends suggested that rather than continue to waste time attempting to dicipher and amend her instructions, I ought to simply look at the photographs and create my own set of instructions. Not at all what I expect from a knitting magazine editor and designer. However, the ideas are certainly interesting--which the only reason I gave it 2 stars.

I was torn between giving a two star or a three star rating... Yes, the patterns in this book each and every one are absolutely gorgeous BUT choice on sizing absolutely sucks. I am a good knitter, but cannot rewrite a pattern myself. Therefore, not a single clothing pattern worked for me. My daughter fell in love with the ballet top but I cannot make it for her because she isn't a size 2/3 or 4/5, the ONLY choices.

Highly anticipated and equally disappointing... just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't want to knit and wear something gorgeous. It's being returned.

I found this a thrilling and beautiful book, not least because of the exquisite collaboration between author, photographer and models. Being old and large I can wear only one or two garments presented in this book (with some adaptation) -- but there are plenty of things I could make for others! A pretty book like this is surely even more for inspiration than for the actual patterns. Teva's courage in pushing the envelope of traditional knitting makes me want to express myself in wearable art too, and she sets forth good directions for creative thinking. Think about planes, she says, think about tubes, think out of the box about what can be done with yarn and some needles, and get out of your rut!

Knitting most certainly isn't what it used to be. Many people who learned their knitting as young children fifty years or more ago have nostalgic feelings about the time everyday knitted garments were worn gratefully season after season by family members of all ages. This is not what knitting is about any longer. In fact, it is only because of talented younger enthusiasts like Teva Durham that knitting has undergone its current revival. People need to create with their hands and find it relaxing to escape into knitting, but they wouldn't continue to do it if the activity didn't produce fun, interesting things for themselves and their friends. Grandmother's grey botany wool cardigan is too boring, too hot with central heating everywhere, takes far too long to make with all its tiny stitches, and gets moth holes during the summer. So new and different things are needed - and a whole lot of them are suggested in this book.

However, knitting is knitting. You pull some loops through some other loops either backwards or forwards, and the technique itself leads to a repertory of pattern types that knitters have been using for centuries. So I take issue with the reviewer "Rosy" who thinks it's all been done before and the predecessors are not given acknowledgement. Of course it's been done before (and isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery?), but not in these shapes, with these colors and these yarns by these people living and breathing right now -- and showing such energy and beauty through the ancient craft of knitting.

Just as each generation needs its own, new translation of the Bible, and, indeed, of all the classics we anglophones read in translation, each art and craft also needs a re-incarnation in every generation. Why not stand back with grandmotherly pleasure and delight in the new knitting antic and prowess of the young? I love this gorgeous book with its bold and lively ideas, its sound design principles, and its absolutely wonderful photographs - and I love to think about all the talented young people involved in it! Let it be said of us oldies, "They also serve who only stand and [applaud]."