Customer Reviews

Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Five: Lace Knitting: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine (Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Series)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you already own the previous four volumes in the STITCHIONARY series, you may want to purchase VOGUE KNITTING STITCHIONARY VOLUME FIVE: LACE KNITTING to complete your set. However, VOLUME FIVE is nothing more than a rather unwieldy coffee-table-book collection of "more than 150" lace stitch patterns "taken from the pages of Vogue Knitting magazine."

The patterns are organized into general categories: easy/mesh, edgings, chevrons, allover, panels, combos, and motifs. However, the "lace knitting" title is misleading, because there is no instructional material on (1) combining lace stitch patterns into garments, shawls, or stoles; (2) selecting patterns that are appropriate for different kinds of projects; (3) attaching edgings; or (4) understanding or using the charts and written-out instructions.

There is one page of instructions for yarnovers (illustrated with line drawings). This page appears to be taken from the publisher's very good general reference book, VOGUE KNITTING. There is also a short glossary of knitting terms used in the book. For each stitch pattern, there is a beautiful, enlarged, color photo of a swatch knitted in the pattern. The selection of patterns is somewhat random, because VK magazine is the pattern source, but many basic lace patterns are included. There are also quite a few complicated "designer" patterns (evidently created for specific patterns published in the magazine) that may be of limited practical value to knitters seeking ideas for lace items of their own design.

Many other stitch dictionaries are currently available that provide more patterns, and therefore offer better value (e.g., the Mon Tricot stitch dictionaries, the Barbara Walker stitch treasuries, the Lesley Stanfield stitch treasuries). One very good lace stitch treasury is HARMONY GUIDES: LACE & EYELETS: 250 STITCHES TO KNIT. One general stitch treasury that includes a good sampling of lace patterns and edgings is the Reader's Digest ULTIMATE SOURCEBOOK OF KNITTING AND CROCHET STITCHES. Two excellent books that provide copious instruction on lace knitting and designing, as well as some lace stitch patterns, are Sharon Miller's HEIRLOOM KNITS and Jane Sowerby's VICTORIAN LACE TODAY.

I just received this book and am disappointed. Here are the reasons:

A. It doesn't look like they used lace yarn! Or else the patterns were knit at too tight a gauge.

B. It also doesn't look like they blocked the samples hard enough to open up the patterns. (See pattern 47, "Wave Rider." The points should look like mesh and be all full of holes but they look solid.)

C. Some of the yarn used is rather pale, so the patterns (the holes) don't show up well.

D. A large number of the patterns look like they took some textured patterns and threw in some yo's and called it "lace."

E. This is a personal thing - I don't like the symbols they used for K2T and SSK; the extra little leg coming down makes the charts look "busy." I prefer a simple / or \. Again, strictly a personal thing.

I'll have to judge the patterns by the charts provided, instead of looking at the pictures. Not easy to do. Maybe after I've scrutinized the charts I'll find a pattern or two that intrigue me.

Vogue say: "The newest volume in Vogue Knitting's must have series"
Is it a must have? That's for you to decide. Perhaps this review will help you to make a decision.
The introduction makes clear the distinction between lace knitting and knitting lace. It's all about whether you yarn over on one side of the work or both. When you yarn over on both sides of the work, you are knitting lace.
The latest is in the "Stitchionary" series contains lots of practical information on knitting lace. There are full page descriptions of abbreviations, Yarn Overs, and a glossary.
And while yes, Vogue does not use the lace symbols we are used to, the symbols it does use are actually clearer. Instead of the usual backward and forward slash for K2 tog and SSK, the symbols used has a little dash under the slash. So instead of relying on an aging brain to remember which way the slash is leaning, you can much easier see the direction in which the slash is leaning.
The glossary is definitely up to Vogue's standards of excellence. I especially like the Technique Tutorial on Yarn Overs. Most of the time I manage to execute whatever the pattern demands, but Vogue describes and illustrates what Yarn Overs look like: between two knit stitches, between two purl stitches, between a knit and a purl stitch, between a purl and a knit stitch, at the beginning of a knit row, at the beginning of a purl row, multiple YOs and etc. In other words, they explain every instance in which one might encounter a yarn over.
The photography of the stitch samples is superlative. In fact, at first glance, I actually thought there was white knitting yarn threaded through the yarn overs. That's how crystal clear the illustrations are! The cool blue and gray color palette used for the pattern samples makes the illustrations literally pop off the page.
Eye candy yes, but this book includes lots of new lace patterns. It does not recycle patterns we know from other books. The editors have even managed to come up with new ways to do the basic and all time favorite of lace knitters - Feather and Fan. This is not your mother's or your grandmother's lace book. There are new, different and unusual patterns. And I am happy to see the chapter on edgings which makes lace books complete. Many of the patterns have a full page devoted to the picture of the pattern, row by row directions, and a chart.
The book takes a broad view of lace knitting, including cable and lace patterns and Fair Isle patterns which include lace. Some of my favorite patterns are "peacock tails", "argyle" and the piece de resistance - "parachutes". I had fun playing the game of "How did they come up with the name of this pattern?" Sometimes it is not as obvious as you might think.
So is this a necessary inclusion in one's knitting book library? Again, that's for you to decide. As for me, I adore the Stitchionary series, and I am as smitten with knitting lace as most knitters are these days. I could not imagine my knitting book library without this!

A good book for someone who has very little in the way of lace stitch dictionaries. Nothing really different or new by way of stitches, but the directions are easy to read. The biggest draw back was that some of the samples were knitted in a very dark blue and it is hard to see the stitch definition, which is important in a work of this kind.
If you are interested in stitches, go to Barbara Walker's books.

I own the first three Stitchionaries and go to the first two fairly often (#3 - meh). A volume about lace should have used laceweight yarn, well blocked - even though I never knit in laceweight, it would have shown the patterns better. Between the yarn weight and the pale blue of some sections, it's hard to tell some patterns are even lace. As with the other Vogue Stitcionaries, there is no photo of the reverse side. The only pattern that grabbed me that I haven't seen elsewhere was #133, Reversible Frost Flowers. There is little or no garter lace, which makes scarves and shawls reversible. There are no top down edgings for those of us who knit sweaters top down, which is becoming increasingly popular.

If you work from written patterns and not charts, get Barbara Walker's Second Treasury or the Harmony Guide's Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches instead. The Reader's Digest Guide has charts only, if you prefer charts. I'd rather chart written patterns myself (and do) than buy this book. I'm giving three stars for the charts - I wish the earlier Stitchionaries had them.

Volume Five (of a series I really like) has some great stitches, but serious, serious photography problems. Most of the swatches shown are either so dark or so big that they are almost useless.

Worst by far are the swatches that are too dark. Strangely, many swatches in this book were knit in very dark blues--so dark that without strong direct lighting (and in some cases, even with it), you can't see the stitches. The navy blue swatches in particular are just dark blobs with white holes in them. You can't see what the pattern looks like at all.

The stitches in the lighter blue swatches are easy to see, but again there are problems. Many of these swatches were photographed so close that the stitches and patterns are huge. I mean, bizarrely huge. You can see the stitches all right, but you have to hold the book at arm's length to see what the pattern would look like on a real garment.

Very frustrating! This series is from the "Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine," but apparently the editors were AWOL when this volume was created. Save your money!

I always say "your knitting is as good as your knitting reference." Vogue Knitting continues its standard of excellence with this volume of lace knitting. Of super importance to me are the photographs. It's the photo that makes me want to create the stitch. Once I see the stitch, then my creative juices begin to flow. The photos within the book are large, colorful, modern. Written instruction, charting and stitch key follow and are included on the same page as the work. This series is well put together. I agree, that if you can only afford one really good series, it would be this one. I own many other stitch dictionaries. While each series has great stitches (Original Harmony Guides, to name one) the layout of some books can be convoluted. I find myself constantly turning pages searching for keys etc. . . I don't have this problem with the Vogue series. Sure, certain dictionaries may have more stitch patterns; quantity doesn't always mean a better book. The book must be functional, (lay flat, explain and illustrate proper technique) stitches must call out to the knitter. I must see unique stitches that aren't in my other books. That's what this lace stitch dictionary brings to me.

The swatches within the book use Zarina from Filatura Di Crosa, an extra fine merino wool. I've used this yarn before and think it is a good choice to show off the definition of the stitches as opposed to a lace weight. The yarn used is very thin and lace knitting is about the technique used, not so much the yarn. Note that this book is a stitch dictionary, not a book of patterns. There are approximately 5 models in the book modeling garments that I have seen within Vogue magazine pages, but there is no reference to these designs or where you may find the pattern. They are in the book to give the knitter inspiration for the lace stitches. If you've ever had doubts about lace knitting, perhaps thinking it is too intricate, this book will ease that notion and inspire you to pick up your needles and get to knitting those yarn overs!

I love this book and I am very excited to have charts for stitches that are new to me or new to me in chart form. To make the book more usable, I wonder whether the pages could be oriented in portrait style and the book spiral bound (or similar) so that the book could be flipped open and stood up on a table. . . like a steno notepad or a typing-class instruction book. (Anyone remember those?) Also, I would love to see larger charts for any that have enough space on the page.

This edition of Vogue Knitting is more than I could have wished for. Clearly written directions, great photos, and detailed directions that make sense. An experienced knitter will find it quite easy to understand how gauge and yarn will work with these stitches. Thank you Vogue
P.J. Today

Stitch pattern books are among the most popular books libraries check out, probably because of the possibilities they create. Vogue Knitting has recently released its fifth of a series of "Stitchionary" books, Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Five: Lace Knitting: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine. What is refreshing about this book is three-fold. First, the patterns include both row-by-row written instructions and charts. Second, the photographs of the patterns are very clear and placed on a white background so they stand out nicely. Finally, some of the patterns are not square, but are round, hexagonal, etc. If you work with lace I highly recommend you take a look at this book; page through the book and get your creative juices flowing.