Full-color reproductions of original pattern swatches, sweaters, and accessories from the Bohus workshop in Sweden, along with the history of the women who designed them.
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Many handcraft traditions are lost because no one records the history and techniques, even though numerous examples and practitioners still exist. Thankfully, Wendy Keele has prevented this from happening to Bohus-style knitting. Poems of Color shows this unique Scandinavian knitting style-- philosophy, really--in careful detail, elucidated by a number of the original knitters and beautifully illustrated with color photographs.
From Library Journal
Founded in 1939 to provide a source of extra income for skilled knitters whose families had been hard hit by the Depression, the Swedish knitting cooperative Bohus Stickning produced handknit garments of the finest workmanship and design for 30 years. Bohus knits subsequently became sought-after collector's items. Nine years in the writing, this is the first trade book in English about Bohus. Keele combines a history of the cooperative and its garments, designers, and knitting techniques with a selection of patterns that will interest contemporary knitters who want to make their own Bohus-style garments. The sweater patterns have been adapted to today's more casual oversized styles. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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74 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Bohus Workshop in Sweden was started about 50 years ago and brought together creative designers and hand knitters to make some of the most stunning knitted creations ever. The wool was carefully chosen, the designs modern and timeless, with that ineffable Scandanavian flair. Sadly the Bohus workshop has long been closed. All that remains are some treasured vintage sweaters and...this book to document their history. And not only does this book document the history of Bohus Workshop, it also has patterns so you can make some of the famous designs yourself.
This isn't knitting for the timid; many of the designs boldly go where color knitting isn't supposed to go; there are patterns with 3, 4 even more colors per row. The colors are subtle and varied, knitted in an angora/wool mix to create the "shimmering" effect the Bohus designs were famous for. But if you embark on such a knitting adventure you will surely make a masterpiece you will wear or give with great pride.
A source for the kind of yarn that closely matches the Bohus mix is provided in the book, plus patterns for the famous fairisle-like yoke pattern models. Also included are jackets with matching designs to the yoke pullovers, mittens, and hats. You can certainly adapt the design to your own creations. Not all the designs require many colors per row; some are two color only throughout and some rely more on texture than color.
This book is worth reading for textile history, for history of women in clothing design, and for knitting history. And it's also a valuable knitting reference for people who like to knit their own designs as well as reproduce them from patterns. All in all, this book has a lot and is one of my great favorites.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The photos in this book are glorious, and the story of the Bohus collective is inspiring. The book provides reconstructed patterns for Bohus-style garments at the back, and it is as far as I know one of the only places to find such patterns. These reconstructions are not technically authentic Bohus garments -- their gauge is a bit bigger and they use different yarn. So if you are a stickler for authenticity, buy a Bohus sweater kit online. If you are interested in learning more about the history of this kind of knitting and you want to knit a gorgeous Bohus-inspired garment, this book is for you.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. Walker
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beautiful Informative - everything you need to know about Stickening - plus patterns.
Interesting part of world crafting history.
Interesting part of world crafting history.
11 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Rebecca
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a beautiful book. I expected to see color patterns and instructions to knit projects including the tam on the cover. There are few patterns in this book. It's more a historical reference. I returned it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Caryn
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved the pictures and history in this book. It was very informative and inspiring to see these patterns come to life. The only downfall really does not belong to this book, the site to buy the yarns from does not have an online store. A hint to knitters diving into these patterns-do your colorwork one needle size up from the plain knitting. I can't wait to make my first cardigan, the blue shimmer pictured on the front cover!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I haven't done any of the patterns from the book yet, but boy oh boy has it given me ideas.
The book is well-written and loaded with illustrations of vintage Bohus pieces. The patterns and charts are clear - an experienced knitter should have no problem following them. The color work is well charted, for those who want design their own project around a favorite Bohus pattern, rather than re-creating one of the vintage garments.
I appreciate the pictures of the re-created clothing. The recommended yarns aren't as fluffy as the vintage yarns, so the colors don't blend the way they do in vintage pieces. The color work will "pop" more than in the original pieces. I imagine that one could substitute fluffier yarns (more mohair, angora, something) and then brush the finished piece for a more traditional effect.
Had I written this book, I would have concentrated more on charting the colorwork patterns rather than providing instructions on making entire garments. That is, I would have been even happier with this book had it included charts for more of the distinctive Bohus color work and fewer instructions on how to make an entire sweater.
The book is well-written and loaded with illustrations of vintage Bohus pieces. The patterns and charts are clear - an experienced knitter should have no problem following them. The color work is well charted, for those who want design their own project around a favorite Bohus pattern, rather than re-creating one of the vintage garments.
I appreciate the pictures of the re-created clothing. The recommended yarns aren't as fluffy as the vintage yarns, so the colors don't blend the way they do in vintage pieces. The color work will "pop" more than in the original pieces. I imagine that one could substitute fluffier yarns (more mohair, angora, something) and then brush the finished piece for a more traditional effect.
Had I written this book, I would have concentrated more on charting the colorwork patterns rather than providing instructions on making entire garments. That is, I would have been even happier with this book had it included charts for more of the distinctive Bohus color work and fewer instructions on how to make an entire sweater.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great how-to for some of those wonderful Swedish/Scandinavian knitted garments. The items in this book are a work of art. I love being able to see how my ancestors created the things they did.
5 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By J. Korte
Format:Paperback
Detailed history of Bohus knitting, including discussion of the lives of the knitters as well as the designers. So. . . lots of text.
The two most inspiring Bohus designs - Blue Shimmer and Wild Apple - are available as kits and there are lots of pics of them on the internet. There are nice photos of a few more designs and old (read not great) photos of others. Interesting and informative. Somewhat inspiring but some of the designs are not classic and scream 60's or 50's which is fine if that's what you are into.
There are, however, patterns not only for blue shimmer and red apple but also for some others that I've not seen before that are very interesting and unique. Of note is that none of the designs use traditional fair isle motifs but, as would be expected, modern Scandinavian.
Don't get me wrong--it's a nice book. But it really does not live up to all the hype about it.
The two most inspiring Bohus designs - Blue Shimmer and Wild Apple - are available as kits and there are lots of pics of them on the internet. There are nice photos of a few more designs and old (read not great) photos of others. Interesting and informative. Somewhat inspiring but some of the designs are not classic and scream 60's or 50's which is fine if that's what you are into.
There are, however, patterns not only for blue shimmer and red apple but also for some others that I've not seen before that are very interesting and unique. Of note is that none of the designs use traditional fair isle motifs but, as would be expected, modern Scandinavian.
Don't get me wrong--it's a nice book. But it really does not live up to all the hype about it.
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