Customer Reviews

Wrapped in Lace: Knitted Heirloom Designs from Around the World

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

 

 

So many knitting books rush to market with just a few nice patterns. But then among them are the really excellent classic and timeless books and this is one of them. Stove is well known for her lace knitting and in this book she covers many different types of lace shawls. Here you can find Estonian, Orenburg, shetland, faroese, etc. All the designs call for lace yarn and specifically her own yarn available from her in New Zealand. One pattern is free online and not in the book. In order to knit the shawls you have to read the charts. An important feature of lace knitting is the charting which has developed over the years. The chart symbols used here are only found on the reverse side of the back cover which is useful, but I find it should also have been included inside the actual book. She discusses charting but doesn't say where her symbols come from although they appear to be the ones commonly found today in Vogue knitting, and in Japanese knitting sources. The printing, photos and paper all seem very good and I am just hoping there won't be any or many mistakes. This is recommended for anyone interested in lace knitting and in shawls and is also just good to read even if you never make anything from it. I was quite impressed by the author's modesty as she says she is still on her knitting journey and I hope it will go on for a very long time.

You might wish to add this book to your knitting collection simply because of the beautiful designs. These fine shawls are for the fearless and dedicated knitter with much experience. They are knitted entirely from charts, often very complex charts. If you are unfamiliar with the symbols used on charts, you have to flick backwards are forwards to understand the charts - this is not very helpful when you are trying to follow a complex pattern. You could simplify one of the scarves as a beginner by just knitting the central panel. However, this is a challenging book, full of patterns to show off your skill as a knitter. The patterns are incredible and a credit to Margaret. There is even help for those wishing to design their own shawl patterns. The book is a journey and tribute to heirloom designs. This review first appeared on Karen Platt's book review website.

I received this book 2 days ago and couldn't put it down. While the designs, in general didn't appeal to me I was fascinated by the author's construction techniques, many of which were unknown to me. I don't don't expect to use them very often but I will be happy to have this book as a reference.

There are a few knitting books (and authors) which become indispensable references for the knitting shelf. I believe this book will become one of them. Not because of the gorgeous patterns, even though they are gorgeous, or because it adds new and unique stitch patterns to the lace knitting repertoire, even though it does, but because of the practical and detailed information about constructing and designing lace. The book is an excellent survey of lace knitting from many world traditions - Shetland, Faroese, Estonian, and Orenburg knitting are all covered, and the basics for constructing a shawl in each tradition are explained clearly. The construction of many of the garments is unique - for example, there is a round shawl made with short rows that looks like great fun to knit, and makes a really stunning shawl.

Most of the patterns are for the more experienced lace knitter, but there are a few simpler patterns that a less experienced knitter could accomplish without too much struggle, then progress on to some of the more challenging knits. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs, diagrams and charts which clearly explain each garment.

Ms. Stove takes us on her journey from beginning lace knitter, to designer, and through an exploration of other knitting traditions. What i like best about the book are her descriptions of the New Zealand motifs that she has created for her designs, and the meaning each of those motifs has for her. It is a wonderful reminder of one of the things I love best about knitting lace - that knitters everywhere have taken ideas and symbols that have meaning to them, and to their people, and incorporated those ideas into a garment of delicate beauty.

As soon as I got this book, I went to Schoolhouse Press and ordered "Creating Original Handknitted Lace," an older book by the same author.

As a lover of lace knitting, I really appreciate Margaret Stove's latest book, Wrapped in Lace. It has exceptionally beautiful lace patterns that tempt me with their beauty. She discusses this book as a journey, which she says is the basis of education, and she also includes a picture of her grandmother and mother wrapping her as a baby in a lace shawl. She talks about her own journey as a knitter and towards the creation of this book.

The first pattern in the book is based on the one her mother and grandmother knit for her as a baby. "Working from a photograph and my memory, I created a design that is almost identical to the original pattern". The shawl is knit in a lovely deep purple using laceweight yarn and knit up with size 2 needles. Margaret Stove calls it '1939 Christening Shawl'.

Chapter 2 is about knitting her first shawl, how she chose a pattern, and how her interest in knitting shawls melded with her love of spinning. This chapter also includes some family history and ways of designing a diamond shawl.

The rest of the book is structured like this - a chapter that is a pattern and then a chapter containing personal information and information about creating shawls. It is a lovely way to create this book.

This is a book for advanced knitters and will be an inspiration for other knitters who want to reach the level of expertise so that they can create these beautiful shawls.

I own quite a few books on knitted lace but this one took my breath away. The projects are gorgeous and the construction details are very interesting. It is difficult to decide which project to start first.

beautiful book great tips,lovely patterns.The only annoying thing is that you have to go online for one of the patterns,and the interweave site is a pain to navigate.It took a good half hour to get the download.If I had known I would have thought twice about purchasing.That said great patterns.

Margaret Stove has been very generous with her knowledge of lace knitting. This is a superb book for the more advanced lace knitter.

Remember when you were a little girl and you sat at your grandmother's knee while she told you wonderful stories about her life, all while you sorted through her cedar chest full of beautifully crafted pieces, every one with a story?

No? I didn't, either. But suddenly, I don't feel quite so left out, because that's exactly what this book feels like.

Margaret Stove is a true Expert Knitter, famous for her lace masterpieces. Well ... this book is a masterpiece. She starts at the very beginning, with the christening shawl that her mother and grandmother knit together when she was born. The original had been damaged, but she was determined to recreate it, and from there she tells about knitting her first shawl, designing her first, and so on. It's an autobiography in lace.

The book tells HER story, but in telling it, it explores the beauty of lace-how it is ever-changing yet consistent in its utility and beauty. You can see that Margaret Stove has been captivated by it since she was small, and her love for the craft is obvious. Throughout the book, through all the stories, her awe shines through.

The book isn't ALL stories, though they provide the structure of the book. Each anecdote is punctuated by frankly amazing lace shawls and scarves. Gorgeous patterns. Stunning. Intricate. Beautiful. Some are simpler, some complex, but they are all stunning. (One of my favorites is so elaborate that it requires special, fold-out pages to fit the charts and starts with a row of 1,856 stitches.)

Ultimately, I LOVE this book. It's amazing, just like the lace is, just like the author is.

While the patterns in this book are not quite what I expected the instructions on how to knit lace shawls of different shapes is very helpful.