Customer Reviews

Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a really great knitting book. If you could only bring one knitting book with you to a deserted island, this one would be it. I think it was originally published in the 1940's, or perhaps it was earlier in the 30's, but its contents are still contemporary to this very modern day. Mary Thomas explains in a very clear and easy-to-follow way all different types knitting patterns that can be used for different results, as well as different ways to change the patterns to suit your needs (ie. different needle sizes, etc.) A portion of the book covers garment construction, providing a good foundation for those who would like to venture off and design a garment of one's very own. I was surprised to even find a section on seamless knitting for sweaters that I had thought was originally a certain reputed knitter's idea and which this book outdates... I guess a good idea will never die, only to be passed down to the next generation... There are also some good sections on shaping and an amazing section providing different ideas on finishing touches for the final product.

I highly recommend this book. Not only will it be an inspiration, but it will prove to be an excellent resource of information that I find myself reaching for often.

I never ever thought of adjusting commercial stitch pattern to adjust the size of projects, or I never ever dreamed of creating my own, until I met this book. Creating pattern stitches was a mystery to me for long time, but this book trained me to have a far better command of dealing with pattern stitches. I have never found any other book which is like this one. The book shows you all most all the kind of possible "core" techniques, and how they are used solely, or how they could be combined together to creat more complex design. And it shows how the pattern grow and develop from simple to complex. Ant it also explains what alterative ways are possible. The possiblitiy of creating new ones are just infinite. It just the matter of clever combinations of technique in scientific order. It has been nearly 70 years since the book was first written, there are no other books which try to further develop Ms. Thomas's idea, even Ms. B. Walker is not as scientific as. This is like the first so excellent book for piano practicing that you would have so much better understanding when trying other piano lesson books. Lastly, the price is so good. It has so much more value than its price.

I am so glad to find a reprint of this book. I inherited one of the 1930 ones from my grandmother, and have used it for the last 40 years. Now that it's coming apart, I'm so glad to find a replacement. This is a wonderful encyclopedia of stitches, and I have found its clear instructions a wonderful resource for designing my own knitted afghans...

Mary Thomas is one of the best all around knitting references there is. Her first book, Mary Thomas' Knitting Book, approaches every angle of knitting from a practical and sensible point of view. She doesn't raise knitting to an art form, as so many of today's popular knitting mavens try to do, but approaches it from the practical level of a craft, as it should be, in my opinion.

In this, her second book, the reader is given loads of stitch patterns and suggestions on how to use many of them. Practically everything Nicky Epstein put in her books is an adaptation of something in Mary Thomas' in one form or another. Just goes to show you, there's nothing new under the sun! Certainly, this book isn't as all encompassing as Barbara Walker's Treasury volumes, but for such a small book, the reader is given a most far reaching and complete treatment of nearly every kind of knitted fabric from solid fabrics to lace, motifs to medallions, and practical and amazingly complete instruction on designing your own garments and other projects. The "By The Way" chapter at the end gives a lot of the signature Mary Thomas historical information on knitting tools, knitting humor, transcribing a pattern, and caring for your woolens. The book is sprinkled throughout with factual historical gems and trivia that make Mary Thomas so readable and enjoyable.

Because I learned to read charts from Mary Thomas' books, I think they are easy to follow, but the symbols are different than most knitting books on the market today. The key provided for the symbols is self explanatory and simple enough that even a beginner can catch on quickly with a little work and attention.

If I had only two knitting books in my library, they would both be by Mary Thomas. Under her instruction, I learned to knit socks, gloves, mittens, and made my first original (or so I thought at the time) sweater pattern. I recently had to buy a new copy to replace my mother's worn and falling apart copy. I keep both of this author's books close at hand. I own a lot of knitting books, many of them very expensive, but very few are as helpful and complete as the Mary Thomas books.

This small book is jammed full of great stitches and knitting information. Even more, it includes some drawings of some of the more difficult stitches while being knitted (drawings or swatch photos of all stitches as well). There are some photos of finished items, but no instructions (it's a stitch book, after all) but they are great for inspiration and show how a stitch might look in the finished garment. There are many good suggestions for how a stitch can be used (check out the texture index too!) Since the book was originally printed in 1943, some language is out of date. Not for a beginning knitter. Doesn't have the staggering breadth of later stitch collections. A wonderful reference book which is quite charming and still relevant to modern knitters.

This small black and white book from the World War II era is a reminder of a time when most women had a higher literacy in the skills of knitting, sewing, and clothing alterations. It lacks a lot of handholding, has no color plates, but makes up for it in the intelligent approach to knitting stitch presentation.

It may be great for some beginners who are familiar with textile arts if not knitting, yet other beginners will be confused with the brevity of the instructions and the lack of color photos and projects to replicate.

It is my absolute favorite knitting book, because it explains the techniques for developing stitches systematically. Every time I learn something new from this small and unassuming book.

If you understand the most basic stitch, then you can see the steps that lead to creating new stitches, or more elaborate laces from the lowly yarn over. The small drawings of stitch samples are accurate and detailed.

Both charts and word instructions are given for many stitches.
Recommended for intermediate or better knitters as a learning expanding reference with few words, or a historic artifact to look through for students of knitting.

Dover did all of us a huge favor making this and Mary Thomas's Knitting Book available for such reasonable cost. I can't say enough good about this book and its companion. I would guess that I pull this book off the shelf every couple of weeks to look up something and I always find it. Originally published in the '30's it obviously isn't very helpful for "today's yarns" but if you want to develop your skill in knitting, this is a must-have.

types of stitch reference books for the projects they inspire. When I'm bored and want something to knit (or crochet) but don't have anything in mind I turn to stitch guides and make swatches. With a little effort and imagination these swatches can turn into a scarf, lap blanket, the sky's the limit.

To correct the reviewer, imgeorg, who cried 'politically correct'; fagoting, or faggoting is a type of open-work embroidery that was used in lace collars, cuffs, etc. Mary Thomas was certainly not making an insinuation of the sort imgeorg referrs to as, assuming she was even familiar with the term, to a woman of her generation that would have been unthinkably unladylike.

This book is the Swiss Army Knife of knitting - many tools for many purposes in one compact package, and still coming in useful after all these years - a real classic.

Mary Thomas explains how all knitting stitches and patterns work. Her description of increases and decreases (and their uses, both decorative and functional) is the clearest I have seen anywhere.

There aren't "projects" here, chiefly techniques, but learn the techniques in this book and you'll not only be able to knit almost any project anywhere, but you'll be able to modify existing projects and design your own.

A must have for your knitting library collection.

320 fully packed pages of fully illustrated knitting patterns.

As per description, " Special attention is given throughout to explaining the how and why of each pattern...." , and yes, by descriptions of why and how, you have a reason to pick out specific patterns for your project.

"The illustrations in this book are arranged to present a progessive, pictorial story of knitted patterns, to be first enjoyed by turning the pages and watching the designs grow from simple to greater elaboration."
This is a wonderful, soft cover, easy to leaf through book, has excellent pictures, black and white, and great explanations of charting.

In Mary Thomas' words, There is no work more ingenious than Knitting and that is why it has lasted so many centuries.

So go for it, and enjoy this book.