Customer Reviews

Traditional Knitting Patterns: from Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Italy and Other European Countries (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace)

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

 

 

Definitely an important stitch collection book. Should be on every serious knitter's bookshelf; I've owned it for years. Chapters organized by country: Arabic, Spanish, Italian and French, German and Austrian, Dutch, Scandinavian, Fair isle and Shetland, British Isles, and Fishermen's sweaters. Most patterns are written out but charts where more helpful. b&w photos for all stitches.

This book is not for beginners or casual knitters, but if you're interested in ethnic design and the history of knitting, it is a useful reference. The written instructions are not to current standard, but are accurate; the charts can be easier to follow for experienced knitters.

This is one of the books that I was really glad I made the purchase. I liked the fact that it had written instructions for the several stitches. I think it saves time than having the stitches in charts and having to memorise symbols etc. But like the other reviewer said it has charts where it is needed that is for designs that have colorwork. All in all a very nice book

This book details the spread of knitting from its origins in the Arab world to Spain, Italy and France. Germany and Austria, Holland, Scandinavia, Fair Isle and the Shetland Islands, and the rest of Britain. It's broken into chapters for each of these regions, with a one-page overview of knitting in each region followed by photos and instructions for typical knitting patterns from each place.

If you have one or more of Barbara Walker's knitting pattern books, you probably already have most of these patterns -- or patterns that are very similar. And Richard Rutt's "History of Hand Knitting" would likely give you all the historical information and more. It's fairly thin compared to the Walker pattern books. But it's still worth at least taking a look at. It's interesting to see a compendium of patterns broken down by region, which I haven't seen elsewhere.

I haven't actually tried to follow any of the knitting instructions, and probably won't before I take this back to the library. None of them include suggestions for gauge, yarn weight or needle size, so you have to experiment, but you should be able to make a good guess by looking at the photos. A few of the charts looked a bit hard to follow just because the symbols used make them so busy, but the vast majority look pretty clear.

I bought this book here. I am a novice knitter. I really enjoyed the origins and histories given by the author and the very rare lace patterns that I cant find anywhere else. I dont like charts but I can follow them and may one day try one. I love this for its exposure to fair isle, shetland etc. Using terms like won or wrn took a bit of figuring out but it really helps that the patterns are written in an easy to understand format. I stay away from really complicated patterns but work on new stitches as I find them in the book and challenge myself to learn a new one. I took to this book because of my deep irish english heritage and would recommend this to anyone who has had a taste of barbara walker's works or the Harmony Knitting Guides also.

Hmmm...how to describe this book. It's usual in the sense that I have seen many of the patterns in other knitting books (this is very common) but it is UNusual in the sense that the author clumps the patterns based on where they originated. It's an interesting book, but not one I'm interested in purchasing for my knitting library (I checked it out through my local library).

The contents include:

1. Arabic Knitting

2. Spanish Knitting

3. Italian and French Knitting

4. German and Austrian Knitting

5. Dutch Knitting

6. Scandinavian Knitting

7. Fair Isle and Shetland Knitting

8. British Isles Knitting

This is a book for truly serious and somewhat gifted knitters. I would call it academic/technical/historical (uninspired.) The "color" work patterns have been charted, but the lace and Aran patterns are written, making them more difficult to follow for those who have learned the newer charting method.

If you have a knitting library deep in technique and patterns, this book is a required, if less than interesting, addition. All the photos are black and white.

It takes a creative imagination to use these patterns in designing knitwear.

I wouldn't recommend this book.