Customer Reviews

Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade

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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.

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.

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!

I am so happy that I purchased this new book by Donna Druchunas! I live in Alaska and have taken her Arctic Lace class, which has set me on a path to higher levels of lace knitting. One of my fiber friends, Alice Scherp, has the most beautiful item in this book, a Quiviut lace shawl. Handspun, hand dyed, and handknit, it is a testimony to the ageless beauty of lace, and to Alice's skill and willingness to teach and share her patterns with us.

Successful Lace Knitting celebrates Dorothy Reade's fine creations and provides techniques and lace patterns from the 'mother of modern lace knitting'. From shawls and cardigans to stoles and placemats, this offers over 20 new designs by top designers influenced by Dorothy Reade, plus techniques and color photos throughout! Very highly recommended!

If you are a more advanced knitter and like to make wearables, this is a great book of patterns. The cover is even a plus as it is plasticized and has a flap that works as a bookmark. The book celebrates the work of Dorothy Reade who made great strides in knitting but is not a well-known as others.

17 projects to choose from which include tops, shawls, socks and even a table runner! This is one project that I might even try as it is skilled at EASY! I will have to bone up on how to read a chart before I begin as that is the way the pattern is written. That won't be a problem as there is a section on just how to do that.

The first section is a history of Ms. Reade and her work. Photos of her lace pieces, carding wool and spinning are included. The next six pages are knitting basics and where the how to read a chart is included.

Each pattern starts with a blurb and a photo. A skill level, materials needed and gauge are next. The chart to create the item follows.

If your skill levels included a comfort zone with reading charts or you want to stretch your skills, this is a wonderful book with great projects to create.

I bought this mostly to read about Dorothy Reade because the "in her own words" snippets revealed Reade to have been a very opinionated, strong mind and that was just too interesting to put down. I would have welcomed much more about Reade such as stories from people who knew her, much more background, more of her own words. Reade invented charting for knitting. She's responsible for discovering that quivet could be spun, and she taught the Inuit to spin and knit so they could have a livelihood producing knitted products. What a gal! Kudos to you, Dorothy! And kudos to Druchunas for bringing her out of obscurity.

I want to know more about this woman. What was her personality like? Where did she get her spinning material? What kind of needles did she use? What did she tend to make and for what purpose? Why did she use that kind of spinning wheel? Did she pass knitting and spinning on to her daughter? What did her daughter think of her? What was her husband like? Why did she not go into anthropology? What was her education? Is there anyone besides the daughter still alive who knew her? Tell more.

Also, there's a picture or two of her by a spinning wheel and I'm hoping someone can identify and share what type of wheel she's using. There's a much clearer picture of Reade at the wheel on Druchunas' website. It was a bit surprising that the author didn't identify the wheel in the book. Also, what would have been nice, since the book is homage to Reade, would have been to have put all of Reade's own patterns in the book instead of just a sampling. This would have been most welcome, especially since that's what she was proud of and her book is no longer available. (Maybe someone can loan a copy to one of those places that print books on demand so it will be available.)

The author had people create projects using Reade's charted lace designs and they're all wearable pieces with a modern twist such as the use of color and modern styles. These are not Victorian doilies, but everyday type items you'd actually wear. I imagine it must be a bit awkward to have to design something for someone else's book. Yet with the designers' efforts, we get to see some of Reade's charted designs presented in real life. There are a number of wraps in various designs that, even though they're all charted lace, look very different from one another, a floral snood, a throw, a v-neck long cardi in sizes from 36"to 54" bust, the cover cardi in 31 to 49.5" bust, a sock pattern, a table runner & tea cozy, a shell. All in all, really a book of patterns that runs light in the biography department.

I am an avid lace knitter. I love to knit just about any lace pattern that is good and I am particular about the patterns that I choose. Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade, written by Donna Druchunas and published by Martingale and Company is a gem of a book. It is a celebration of the work of Dorothy Reade, not as well known as her compatriots Barbara Walker and Elizabeth Zimmerman, but every bit as creative and celebrated. Dorothy Reade's hand-knitted pieces, "between 1964 and 1969 alone, were featured in almost 20 exhibits and museums. In addition she taught knitting and spinning workshops and pioneered the use of charts for communicating complex knitting instructions." This book gives a fine history of Dorothy Reade both by the author and in Ms. Reade's own words. Her story is fascinating.

How to start speaking about the patterns? They are magnificent and most of them are ones I want to knit. The very first one is a Handspun Medallion Stole knit with 2-ply lace weight yarn. The color is a soft tan and there is lace throughout. The Table Runner is to die for. It is knit with fingering yarn that is variegated in color from blue to gold hues. It would brighten up and beautify any table. The Lace Mesh Triangular Shawl is yummy. It is knit with Jamieson 2-ply Shetland and would be a wonderful accessory to any outfit. The color shown is black. I love the Ripple and Bead Cardigan knit with Light Worsted. It's shown in an orange color that is very beautiful. It is hip length and I just love longer sweaters. The Trillis and Flowers Stole is elegant. It may be my favorite pattern in the book. It is knit with qiviut and silk. Who would not love that! The colors are teal and brown and I can just imagine the soft and warm feel of this yarn. The Toddler Cardigan and Blanket in a lovely lavender would make any baby and mother happy. It is knit with Shepherd Sport from Lorna's Laces.

When I buy a knitting book, I ask myself three questions?

Will I knit the patterns in the book?

Are the patterns easy to read?

Will the book be a good resource?

The answer to these questions is a resounding 'YES'. I also have the author's book, Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters which I have knit from and referred to many times. I highly recommend this book.