Knitting from the Netherlands, Traditional Dutch Fishermen's Sweaters (Hardcover)

~ Henriette Van Der Klift-Tellegen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From picturesque fishing villages of the Netherlands come historic sweater designs collected for this treasury. Part of an oral tradition, these patterns have never before been written down. Besides being a superb collection of patterns for hand knitters, this is a fine pictorial tribute to one of Holland's loveliest traditions.

Language Notes

Text: English, Dutch (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (June 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937274178
• ISBN-13: 978-0937274170
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #927,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dutch sea sweaters in a comprehensive volume for knitters, March 12, 2006

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

While many knitters associate fisherman sweaters with the Aran Isles and Guernsey (one of the Channel Isles), the knitters of the Netherlands make similar sweaters to Guernseys in many wonderful patterns based solely on knit and purl, with occasional cables and lace (yarn-over) designs.

The basic structure of the Dutch fisherman's sweater is a patterned or textured yoke with a plain knit body. The structure is a tube with drop shoulder sleeves, similar to Norwegian sweaters. Color is not used, instead, indigo dye or natural wool is used.

The sweaters bear a strong resemblence to British sweaters, due to a strong trade route between the Dutch and British trading Dutch cured herring for sweaters in the Shetlands. Since the Shetland knitters came from Norway originally, this accounts for the similar construction.

This book has many stitch patterns, the method to construct an authentic fisherman's sweater the Dutch way, and many photos of Dutch fishermen and children wearing the garments in vintage photos as well. A rare book, well worth adding to any serious knitter's library.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A firm favourite, April 14, 2007

By	Guide Mum "Lexina" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

Although we live in New Zealand I have married into a Dutch family. I kept borrowing this book from our local library and was lucky enough to spot it when it was put in a withdrawn library books sale. I couldn't believe my luck!

This is not a fancy book, which adds to it's charm as the jumpers were designed to be practical and solid and warm. The history and photos alongside the patterns, and the instructions which make it possible to create a jumper all of your own makes this one of my favourite knitting books to leaf through.

I also particularly like the way the patterns are placed in their geographical settings. I eventually plan to design and knit my children jumpers out of this book, when they are a little bigger so they don't grow straight out of them. While the tiny place their Oma grew up in is not in the book there are enough hints at the styles for that area to make me feel confident I can do something that is representative of that location.

It is an absolute gem of a book.