Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade [Paperback]

Donna Druchunas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2010

This book presents not only a beautiful collection of patterns but also a fascinating biography of Dorothy Reade, arguably the mother of modern lace knitting. It's a must-have for any knitter who appreciates lace! Discover techniques and patterns developed by Reade in the 1960s as you create gorgeous projects featuring completely modern designs.
* Offers more than 25 exquisite patterns for everything from scarves and stoles to sweaters and socks to items for home decor
* Features a wide range of styles from top designers such as Annie Modesitt, Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer, and Evelyn Clark
* Presents the "now I get it" approach to using charts and knitting lace

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

To receive a signed copy of any of my books, please visit 

sheeptoshawlstore.com

About the Author

Visit SHEEPTOSHAWLSTORE.COM to recieve a signed copy of my books.

Donna Druchunas, author, escaped a corporate cubicle to honor her passions for knitting, world travel, research, and writing. She is the author of five previous knitting books, including Kitty Knits: Project for Cats and Their People, and contributor to many others, such as Skein for Skein: 16 Knitted Projects. She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado with her husband, mother, and three cats.

Home: Longmont, Colorado

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Martingale & Co Inc; 1st edition (May 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564779769
• ISBN-13: 978-1564779762
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #665,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up learning many different crafts from my mother and grandmothers including knitting, crochet, rug-hooking, embroidery, and sewing.

After a 25 year vacation from crafts, I started knitting again and learned to spin and dye wool with natural dyes.

Before I returned to knitting, I spent almost 20 years working in corporate cubicles as a writer, designer, and creative services manager. My cubes were in military training facilities, small businesses, and large corporations. During that time, I wrote and designed marketing materials, training courses and technical manuals for many types of hardware and software products.

I also streamlined documentation production processes for several companies. I was recruited by Fujitsu-ICL Systems and Hewlett-Packard's Colorado storage division to establish in-house creative services departments and to implement procedures based on systems I originated earlier for the US Navy Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar and Pyxis Corporation in San Diego.

After all that time, I rebelled and left my cubicle behind to combine my interest in knitting with my skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. My designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Piecework, Interweave Knits, Fibre Focus, and INKnitters magazines, and I design patterns for several yarn companies.

I was born in New York City, but today
I live at the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with my husband and two cats, who are very helpful when it comes to testing new knitting designs!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars knitting history plus wonderful lace patterns, June 2, 2010

By 

M. Poller (Israel) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade (Paperback)

Donna discovered the little known pioneering work of Dorothy Reade in the field of lace knitting patterns. Dorothy developed her own charting system for lace patterns using mainly just 10 symbols. Her first book published in 1968 was spiral bound with 25 original designs for lace knitting and cost $4.50. I bought that book years ago at Knitting camp. Donna contacted 16 designers giving to each one a pattern of Dorothy's and asked them to design a knitting project using that lace pattern. Donna begins with a short biography of Dorothy and then an intro to her lace knitting patterns and finally an explanation of the techniques used. All the 20 designs have been written out but with charts in a more modern chart used today. First project is an actual stole designed by Dorothy Reade. There are 4 more shawls. Also included are socks and hand warmers, baby cardi and blankie, wimple, 5 sweaters, afghan, etc. Yarns used also vary from the finest to chunky. Book includes designer bios and index. Book is rewarding on two levels: first as good knitting history and second for the lovely projects. Recommended to all.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice history but the patterns are for beginners only, August 19, 2010

By 

Quickbeam (Oconomowoc, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade (Paperback)

I bought this book sight unseen which was a mistake. The introductory chapter on Dorothy Reade is excellent. The patterns are to my eye, very very basic. I am a fair to middling lace knitter, no expert. There is nothing here I'd suggest to anyone who has any lace skills. I do think it would be an encouraging book to give beginners who fear lace work. While some of the patterns are classic and simple there is one that is tremendously ugly (Cherry tree (?) shawl....a mess of color and variegated yarn with a lace medallion and fringe. Ugh.). I allow every book an ugly pattern so I'd not rate the book only on that.

Lace charts made lacework much easier for most of us and the book does a good job exploring the history of lace patterns. In the beginning, there are some photos of lovely lacework by Dorothy Reade. I particularly liked a circular motif in one photo. Sadly, nothing like that is in the book's patterns. I'll not keep this book but will probably gift it to a beginner.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doing what she does best!, July 13, 2010

By 

Ann McCauley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade (Paperback)

This is Donna Druchunas doing what she does best! Her respect for history is to be honored just as she has honored Dorothy Reade bringing her name, many contributions, and remarkable spirit to light. The original photos of Dorothy Reade and her work are delightful to see. Donna does not only present us with Dorothy Reade's accomplishments and approaches to knitting, she also gives us a sense of Dorothy as a strong and fascinating person. The 20 new designs by contemporary designers utilizing lace stitch motifs from Dorothy Reade are quite varied from socks to shawls to sweaters to afghans and more. Another unique book from Donna Druchunas!