Customer Reviews

Tudor Roses

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

 

 

The Tudor kings and queens had sumptuous clothing down to an art--gold embroidery, padding, slits, velvet, silks, jewels, lace. They had it all--and they wore it all at the same time. (They apparently did NOT have the fashion rule to look in the mirror and take ONE ornament away to avoid overdressing. No indeed. Their rule seemed to be to look in the mirror and make sure to add ONE MORE THING. Was there any other time in history when costume was so frankly over-the-top? I don't believe so.)

Alice Starmore and her apprentice, daughter Jade, created a number of sweater designs inspired by the Tudor royals. These are not recreations of Tudor clothing. Instead, these are wearable art that give an impression of richness. Of the designs, one of the most stunning is "Katherine Howard" done by Jade Starmore. She is especially good at dramatic shaping in knitwear--her trademark. The design is in "gold" and "silver" color wool that looks like metallic embroidery couching over a carnelian colored ground. While done in plain, matte wool colors, the impression of this sweater is of a richly embroidered coat with a peplum.

The "Margaret Tudor" is interesting in that it features textured knitting depicting thistles, with pewter buttons studding the cables to give the effect of jewelry. Wearable, but dramatic.

There is also a lot of colorwork done with Starmore's unique way to blend many, many subtle shades of yarn that creates a pearly effect. This is especially effective in the "Henry VIII" which uses golds and browns on a blue ground. The blended shades look like gold embroidery. Amazing.

The most interesting choice of design was the "Elizabeth I", which is NOT pounds of textured yarns and buttons like a heavily-jeweled tunic, but instead, virginal WHITE with a textured neck pattern taken from silk stockings. The shaping is that of a stomacher (lower in front, slanting down over the tummy.) It is a testament to the "Virgin Queen" image of Elizabeth while quoting amusingly from the famous design of the silk stockings she made popular. Think Glynis Paltrow or Cate Blanchett. If you have a pretty figure, this would look stunning.

This book has exquisite photos, intricate patterns, and after reading it I think I could pass a course on the Tudor period of English history. Although many of the patterns may be quite challenging for those unfamiliar with Starmore's technique (and working with so many colors on tiny needles is not for the faint of heart), her lucid explanations give courage. Warning: Use Shetland wool for cutting steeks, you'll thank me later for the advice.

This book is as much an art book and a history book as it is a knitting book. It goes through the history of Tudor fashion and has reproductions of artwork from this era throughout the book. The photographs of the Tudor landscape and castles are luscious. The knitting projects are to die for!

When I purchase a knitting book I ask myself three questions:

1) Are there projects in this book that I want to knit?

2) Are the patterns clearly written?

3) Is the book a good resource?

The answer to all three questions is 'yes'. I wish I could knit every pattern in this book.

This book uses charts and I prefer written instructions but I do know how to translate charts into line-by-line directions. The patterns are all for adults and are either Aran or Fair Isle. There is not an easy pattern in the book. All are for intermediate or advanced knitters. A beginning knitter might enjoy this book, however, just for its beauty and inspiration.

I give this book my highest recommendation.

I'm a big Alice Starmore fan, generally speaking. Normally, when I pick up an Alice Starmore book, whether it's her Fisherman Sweaters or Celtic collection, I see several sweaters I want to knit immediately. More often than not, I am interested in knitting the majority of sweaters in the book, something which I can't really say for many other designers.

After waiting for a year to get this book from my local library, I have to say I'm quite disappointed with it. The book contains 13 designs, all inspired by various members of the Tudor royal family. I can't give the book less than three stars, because there is incredible originality and detail in so many of the patterns. For example, I adore the birds stitched into the multi-color Anne Boleyn cardigan. Henry the VII is perhaps the most well-known design from this book, and it is a colorful piece of art. She also includes some original texture patterns.

First, despite the fact that this book was apparently published in 1998, at least half the sweaters have a decided 80s feel to me. Perhaps it's the mad swirl of colors; perhaps it's really a 90s feel, not an 80s feel. Regardless, for me, the sweaters felt very dated, like something that would have been cool a couple decades ago.

Second, many of the sweaters look great when posed on a sweater rack or simply laid over a chair. When put on an actual person, though, they look busy and don't seem to fit very well. I've looked through examples of these sweaters knitted on Ravelry, and many are gorgeous alone, but I really didn't see any examples of sweaters looking good on people. Even the attractive models in the book don't look usually look very good with the sweaters on.

In summary, this book is great for its original designs, and it is unique. However, most of the sweaters are not something most people would want to wear, and those that are wearable are unextraordinary. To me, this book does not live up to Starmore's other works. It is definitely not, in my opinion, worth the hundreds of dollars it's currently selling for on Amazon.

I DO NOT KNIT, however I do love History, and have always been interested in Henry VIII and his 6 wives. I didn't see the book as I had it shipped right to Mildred. She saw the original price, of under $10.00 on the book and called to say she hopes I didn't pay too much more than that. She has no computer and if she knew I had paid , with shipping a little over $200.00, she would die. However, I had an uncle who collected rare books, and first editions and so understand the law of supply and demand.
Mildred absolutely loves the book...and I would never let her know what I paid. Mildred is worth every penny of the price..she is a good friend and has been for over 35 years. How do you put a price on such a friendship.
Mildred says the instructions are given for a sweater for each of Henry's 6 wives. They are very complex. However, she has reported that she has become an expert of the Tudor Family.
I have no regrets of the purchase of this book, which I understand is a paperback.
Norma W.

This is a "must have" for your knitting book/pattern collection. Even if you're not a knitter, the history and photography is outstanding.