Jan Messent's Knit a Fantasy Story (Search Press Classics) [Paperback]

Jan Messent (Author)

Book Description

Series: Search Press Classics | Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Jan Messent shows how, using only oddments of wool, the minimum of materials and a little imagination, you can create an enchanted land and people it with fairy folk, a handsome prince and mythical creatures. This book will delight the young at heart and anyone with a sense of fantasy and fun.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jan Messent taught embroidery design to the members of the Embroiderers' Guild, wrote and illustrated design books, and lectured worldwide. Her last embroidery book was about the Bayeux Tapestry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Search Press (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844481816
• ISBN-13: 978-1844481811
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Materials are hard to find; but the trouble is worth it, March 7, 2007

By 

Sunny Sewing Honeybee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jan Messent's Knit a Fantasy Story (Search Press Classics) (Paperback)

Somewhat resembling dollhouse-size Waldorf dolls, the knit creations from this book include miniature people, fairies, animals, mushrooms, and even trees and buildings! The book is divided into three sections: a farmyard, castle, and fairy-inhabited forest, with applicable projects for each. A combination of three books, the farmyard book is not by Jan Messent, so the figures are slightly different than the castle and fairy figures. Finished projects are suitable for older children and adults.

Sadly, it's possible the book will never become as popular as it should be in the U.S., because the projects use various needle sizes between 000-3 (US), and very fine wool yarn. These products aren't commonly available here (even though they should be!). Also, the authors sometime leave detailing/finishing instructions out. While experienced knitters will be able to finish projects without "nitty-gritty" instructions, these would have been nice to include for beginning knitters or people who want more specific directions.

Despite these factors, the projects in this book are extremely original and awfully cute. My hope is that more knitters will discover this book, and that more stores will offer the materials needed to complete the projects. As it is now, crafters will likely need to special order items needed.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Knitting at its most original, December 18, 2006

By 

C. R. Wolf (beautiful planet earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jan Messent's Knit a Fantasy Story (Search Press Classics) (Paperback)

I am pleased to see this back in print. I have always regretted parting with my original 1980's hardback copy. Those new to knitting will find some interesting projects at all skill levels in this book, while knitting experts will find both projects and inspiration. I used the basic ideas in this book -- and a LOT of imagination and planning! -- to knit my then four year old daughter a Barbie doll house. Don't expect to find very fine and fiddly petite flower fairies in this book; it is full of items with which children and adults can actually play. My daughter and I created many memories, her choosing the items for me to knit, making up stories about them as we progressed. Use it as inspiration for your own creations, or follow the instructions in the book. Whichever you decide, let your imagination roam free, and have fun.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reprint of "Knit an Enchanted Castle" with more patterns added!, November 17, 2007

By 

min-bee (Nyack, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jan Messent's Knit a Fantasy Story (Search Press Classics) (Paperback)

I am a great fan of Jan Messent, who like EZ is a notable contemporary knitter included in Richard Rutt's "History of Handknitting." I think she deserves to be better known in the US. This book is issued by the original publisher of the out-of-print and often-sought "Knit an Enchanted Castle." In addition to ALL THE PATTERNS in the Castle book, it also includes the content of "Knitted Gnomes and Fairies" by Jan Messent, and "The Knitted Farmyard" by Hannelore Wernhard, rewritten by Jan Messent and with new drawings, according to the copyright notice. I compared the book with my copy of "Enchanted Castle," and all the book's patterns are in the new one, although they appear in a sometimes different sequence, integrated with the patterns from the Gnomes and Fairies and Knitted Farmyard books. As I don't have copies of these last two books, I can't say whether all of their patterns have been included in the new book (my guess is that they have, like the Castle book), but this is a great book and a bargain as well. It has good directions, diagrams, and is printed in color and well edited--not full of typos like so many new books. I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and whimsy.
There is now an American designer who does the kind of whimsical designs that Jan Messent does. Susan B. Anderson's "Itty-Bitty Nursery" is also available from Amazon and has charming designs for a garden mice mobile; a clothesline with miniature knitted garments pinned on it; a cupcake tea set; dotted chickens; and the three pigs, the wolf, and the three pigs' houses. Knitters interested in Jan Messent might also like to check Anderson's designs.