Customer Reviews

Reversible Knitting: 50 Brand-New, Groundbreaking Stitch Patterns

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have always loved reversible patterns so I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. Seeing the cardigan on the front, I figured that it would include more variations of Reversible Cables.

However, I should have paid more attention to "Groundbreaking" part of the title. The author explicitly states she was hoping to create a "different" type of knitting stitch library. She succeeded. However, I guess I have to wonder how useful those stitches will be and how many people will want to use them.

The knitting stitches are very "avant garde". They contain large holes and many seek to mimic crochet stitches -- however they require a lot more effort than crochet.

Most of the stitches aren't truly "reversible". To me "reversible" implies that the stitch looks the same on both sides. Garter stitch is reversible. K1P1 is reversible because if you look at both sides of the fabric, they are virtually indistinguishable.

The author's definition of "reversible" appears to be does it look "ok" on both sides of the fabric. Can either side be viewed as "interesting enough" or "attractive enough" to face the outside. For the most part, she succeeds in this mission.

The projects included in this book again, are very "avant garde". They might work well for New York or more "cosmopolitan" fashion sets. However, here in NC or in the midwest -- I couldn't see many people being able to "pull off the look". Their appeal is most likely going to be oriented towards 20-somethings and younger and size 8 and smaller.

If you are knitting to try to create a "textile art" -- much like woven tapestries -- I could see where these stitches could create a new "art form" in this respect. Lots of visual interest. However, as a fashion knitting technique, they really don't appeal to me.

Finally, in terms of skill level -- these stitches require a high skill level and lots of concentration. If you are just learning, you are probably going to get very frustrated trying to follow the patterns.

Lynne Barr is a knitting genious--her previous books have been incredibly inspiring and beautifully produced.

This book is no exception; it is primarily a stitch dictionary with a few projects at the end. The stitch patterns are clever and appear different though equally interesting on both sides.

The only downside is that I am left with little other than inspiration from this book; I can only think of the amazing scarves I can make from these double-sided patterns. I suppose you could make an amazing sweater you could wear inside out? Maybe an EPS seamless style so there is no wrong side seams? I have no idea how to incorporate shaping into the patterns though and the book offers no advice on the subject.

I was really excited when I heard about this book. I like to knit scarves, and I prefer them to look good on both sides, though for me they don't have to be identical. There are quite a lot of patterns like this in the Barbara Walker collections, but the idea of "50 brand-new groundbreaking stitch patterns" in this book was very tempting.

The reality was rather disappointing. A number of patterns have reverse sides which are basically stocking stitch, or reverse stocking stitch, or just a normal "wrong side", so not actually "reversible". There is a section called "Double Knit", but double knit has been done before, in fact for decades, so this is not "groundbreaking". [See Jane F. Neighbors: Reversible Two-Color Knitting, 1974.] Some of the patterns are just weird, and/or not attractive, eg Four-by-four Shift and Pick-up Overlay. A too-large proportion of the stitch patterns is lacy or holey. I had hoped for a bunch of new stitch patterns that were NOT lacy or holey, so they would be suitable for men's scarves and normal knitting.

The "Reversible Designs" section consists mainly of weird or even bizarre offerings. In most cases they fail to utilise the stitch patterns of the earlier part of the book. The Cat Bordhi design so praised by another reviewer is simply garter stitch in a strange shape. Several of the designs are made so that they can be worn upside down -- a very strange idea which can result in messy-looking dressing. One, Reverse Me (pictured on the front cover), uses reversible cables, but again, that idea is not new. Two designs are of socks, but of such peculiar shape that I cannot think who would wear them. Some designs are really a "con", eg Flip your Lid, which consists of two hats, one inside the other, to be turned as desired. This should NOT be called reversible knitting. Neither should Double-wrap Stockings: who needs a reversible stitch pattern for stockings? Well, there is a "reversible double-wrap bind-off stitch"!

Not one of the designer designs was for men or children.

Altogether unsatisfactory.

If you are a serious knitter, you won't be disappointed in this book. The stitch patterns alone are worth the price! The techniques are intriguing, and the instructions are clearly written and illustrated. Even if you don't want to make all the projects, it's great fun to see how artists like Norah Gaughan and Cat Bordhi apply reversible techniques to their knitted designs. Highly recommended!

I really have been enjoying this book for both the stitch patterns and the designs. I'm looking forward to udnerstanding how to create some of the stitches, since it is not obvious from looking at them - should be a new way to twist my thinking.

I understand some people are not fans of the patterns, but they are wearable and look wonderful (although Debbie New's "thing" doesn't really excite me. Maybe in a different yarn/color...) I love the idea of being able to change a look by putting the item on upside down or inside out - it could be messy or strange if not handled correctly but the designs seem to work.

My only quibble is that one or two designs don't seem to actually have a different look... they don't seem to actually be reversible. But overall this book is one of my favorites and I cast on the Reverse Me cardigan immediately. And by the way... you don't need to be tiny to wear most of this stuff. The sizes are wide-ranging and I think they would look good on a lot of people. (I'm not tiny...)

If you are an intermediate knitter with a bit of patience, this is a fabulous book to create all sorts of fascinating textures. The stitch patterns are beautiful, and would be great for scarves, bags, or features on larger garments. On the downside, they seem pretty time consuming. But if you want to create something intricate and beautiful by hand, that time will be well spent.

The patterns in the book for actual garments are a mixed bag, with some being amazing and others, well, a bit daggy. But overall, this book has much to offer and the stitch patterns really have 'wow' factor.

This is the most unbelievably incredible book I've seen. Cat Bordhi's stuff is WOW. This rivals Cat's stuff easily. If you love texture and impossible patterns, you'll adore this. The projects are a mixed bag. Some are great and others are medium. But the stitches! Sweet EZ, the stitches!. More! Please give us more!

This book opens a new world for knitting one's own designs. My head is still spinning with all the possibilities ... However, it might not be adequate learning material for the very beginners; you have to be able to recognize your stitches perfectly well and not lose your count and orientation easily. Knowledge of backward purling might be of great help. Fantastic book!

I am giving this book such a high ranking because it is truly original. The knitting stitches and styles that are shown are not mirror images of each other. Rather, both sides are attractive enough to be the right side. Some garments are designed to be worn in different ways and that is what makes them reversible. Not everything is my taste but this book will bring something new to the table and not regurgitate the same old patterns and stitches.

If you love to knit and design intrigues you, put this book right next to your Barbara Walker volumes. The fifty reversible stitch patterns in the book seem to me as indispensable (though admittedly not as prolific) as Walker's work, and get one's imagination racing in the same way. The stitch patterns include textures, cables, double-knits, and even some "faux crochet". If that weren't enough, twenty reversible patterns are also included. The patterns are modern (form-fitting; avant-garde) and delightful - and inspirational even for this knitter "of a certain age".