Swedish Knits: Classic and Modern Designs in the Scandinavian Tradition [Hardcover]

Paula Hammerskog (Author), Eva Wincent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Learn to knit luxurious sweaters, coats, dresses, and more with these Swedish-inspired patterns and instructions.

With this book, knitters of all skill levels can create cozy sweaters; fun, summery dresses; stylish jackets; elegant bedspreads; and much more. The Swedes have been avid knitters since the sixteenth century, creating richly textured garments that are both luxurious and practical. Their designs have inspired modern knitting in how yarn is used, what designs are handsome, and also what is functional. This book brings the long-standing Swedish tradition up-to-date with pieces that are as hip as they are fun to make.

Each design includes creative ideas to spruce up basic patterns, such as using buttons, pearls, yarn variations, and embroidery. If you’re new to the world of knitting, you’ll appreciate the illustrated step-by-step instructions included to familiarize you with all the basic stitches. If you’re an avid knitter, the tips and tricks, creative variations, and unique patterns will make knitting more fun than you ever imagined. Attractive full-color photographs of stitches, patterns, and finished projects make this book both inspiring and instructional. 200 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

Review

The 20-plus patterns...are straightforward and simple: a stockinette pullover, fingerless gloves, and a Missoni-like zigzag dress (among others), all including directions, photographs, and, when needed, graphs. Yet another reason to fall in love with Scandinavia. (Barbara Jacobs - Booklist )

About the Author

Paula Hammerskog is a communication consultant and the author of several books. She has been an avid knitter for many years and lives in Sweden.

Eva Wincent has been running her own knitting business for twenty years. She is among Sweden’s most prolific and respected knitters. She lives in Sweden.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602397244
• ISBN-13: 978-1602397248
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

129 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Volume of Knitting Instruction with a Few Miscellaneous Designs, September 1, 2009

By 

C. Freeman (Somerville, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Swedish Knits: Classic and Modern Designs in the Scandinavian Tradition (Hardcover)

When I pre-order a book titled "Swedish Knits," I expect a book delivering a substantial number of patterns for exactly that--patterns based on traditional Swedish knitting designs. What I did not expect when I opened this volume, and do not want, is another in the unending parade of "how to knit" books.
The first sentence in the foreword of "Swedish Knits" is this: "This book was written for those of you who already know how to knit." Then why, pray, devote 150 of 190 pages to knitting (and crocheting) instruction, starting with the most elementary of steps and repeating information available in dozens, if not hundreds, of other publications? (For me, the 150 pages are a waste: I have knitted for more than 50 years and have made a good many garments in the Scandinavian tradition--not that this is covered well or extensively in the 150 pages.)
Tacked on at the end of the book, in the last 40 pages, are 21 patterns; of these, 17 have nothing to do with Scandinavian or Swedish knitting. Of the remaining four designs, three are based on the Norwegian tradition, not the Swedish, and there is nothing particularly new or special about these three patterns. Exactly one pattern in the entire volume is a Swedish design: a sweater in the Bohus tradition. The Bohus knitting tradition has, of course, been thoroughly and competently explored in other publications; for example, "Poems of Color," by Wendy Keele.
"Swedish Knits," then, is a huge disappointment. I cannot fathom what either the two authors or the publisher (Skyhorse Publishing) were thinking when they brought forth this book under the title "Swedish Knits." "Another Volume of Knitting Instruction with a Few Miscellaneous Designs" would be a much more fitting title. At a list price of $27.95, the book titled this way would at least not mislead its purchasers.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Title is extremely misleading.., September 3, 2009

By 

Sandra H. Elston "Sugar" (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Swedish Knits: Classic and Modern Designs in the Scandinavian Tradition (Hardcover)

I could have saved my money on this one. It may have been written by two Swedes, but the content is not about Swedish style knitting. Extremely disappointing. It is just another "how to" book describing needles, yarn and patterns on the market. What few patterns there are in the book have nothing to do with "Swedish" knitting. Will not purchase books by these authors again.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Deceptive Title, September 4, 2009

By 

Bonnie Brody "Book Lover and Knitter" (Port St. Lucie, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Swedish Knits: Classic and Modern Designs in the Scandinavian Tradition (Hardcover)

This is a book about general knitting, common stitches, and usual materials. There is very little here about Swedish Knitting. The patterns that look Scandanavian are all Norwegian. The only Swedish pattern is the brioche. There are very few patterns in the book and I felt really ripped off when I got this book home. The two Norwegian patterns are nice but they can be found in any Dale of Norway book. The other patterns aren't even particularly nice.