The Celtic Collection: Twenty-Five Knitwear Designs for Men and Women (Paperback)

by Alice Starmore (Author), Mike Bunn (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Best-selling author Alice Starmore combines style, practicality, and the mystery of the Celtic spirit in this gorgeous collection of knitwear designs.

About the Author

Alice Starmore is a leading knitwear designer and a best-selling author, whose other books include Fisherman's Sweaters, Celtic Needlepoint, and Sweaters for Men.

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Product Details Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books; 1st Paperback Ed edition (July 1, 1994) Language: English ISBN-10: 1570760055 ISBN-13: 978-1570760051 Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,985 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #51 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Decorative Arts

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	45% buy the item featured on this page: The Celtic Collection: Twenty-Five Knitwear Designs for Men and Women 4.6 out of 5 stars (18) $16.47
	24% buy Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting 5.0 out of 5 stars (8) $16.47
	15% buy Fisherman's Sweaters: Twenty Exclusive Knitwear Designs for All Generations 4.6 out of 5 stars (15) $22.45
	9% buy Viking Patterns for Knitting: Inspiration and Projects for Today's Knitter 4.5 out of 5 stars (24) $16.47

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews 5 star:  (12) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 73 of 79 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart!, January 15, 2002 By A Customer First things first: this is a KNITTING book, not a needlepoint book. Many of the reviewers below have confused "The Celtic Collection" with "Celtic Needlepoint," which is a different subject entirely. "The Celtic Collection" is my least favorite Starmore book. Alice Starmore's collections are usually about evenly divided among Fair Isle and cabled patterns, but the balance here is heavily skewed toward colorwork. If you're a texture knitter like me, this is not the collection for you--get "Fishermen's Sweaters" or "Aran Knitting" instead. Sadly, the few cabled patterns included in this collection are just not up to par. One otherwise lovely Celtic-knot tunic is ruined by an ugly band of ribbing around the waist. Others come in only one size. This is especially disappointing, since Starmore usually provides directions to knit her designs in a generous range of sizes. The one sweater in this collection that I really would enjoy making and wearing would never actually fit me! Alice Starmore's designs are renowned for their beauty and complexity, but the Fair Isle sweaters in this book involve a staggering number of colors--more, I think, than in other Starmore collections. The effect is marvelous, of course, but I can't imagine keeping track of so many yarns at once! The ancient Celts are surrounded by layers of myth and legend, drama and hyperbole, and Starmore really does express this in her bold, flamboyant colorwork designs. 31 of 32 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Another Starmore Coup, March 7, 2002 By  Marilyn Burge (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Although Starmore yarns are no longer available in this country, Jamieson can fill the bill for you. The call numbers are the same, but the color names are different. Starmore books are just too precious to give up, simply because the yarns are no longer available. This book is a work of art, but definitely not for the novice knitter, unless (s)he has unlimited patience and an urge to stretch the wings. 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely sweaters, March 11, 2006 By  Rebecca Haden (Fayetteville, AR) - See all my reviews Alice Starmore is justly famed for her beautiful colorwork and cable designs. These sweaters -- for men, women, and children -- are all about the fabric. The shaping is always very simple, with drop sleeves and boxy shapes. The directions are very clear and finishing is easy. If you can work from charts, you should not have any difficulty making the colorwork sweaters; in traditional Fair Isle style, there are only 2 colors to a row. As is true of the most useful knitting books, this one has many color charts and cables which will look good on other items. As a source for patterns for your socks or motifs for your pillows, this is a book you will pull off your shelf repeatedly through the years. I have combined the colorwork with more fitted sweater patterns from other designers with great success, so a dislike of drop sleeves shouldn't deter you from adding this book to your collection. I've made several things using quite ordinary sport weight and worsted weight yarns, so the difficulty of finding the recommended yarns does not seem to me to be an issue, unless you are determined to match the designer's colors exactly. The book itself is beautiful, though the moody photos of disgruntled beauties in Goth makeup are sometimes too arty to allow the reader to get a clear idea of the construction of the sweater. The landscapes are enough to make you want to go for a visit.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars So Happy! I received this a few weeks back & forgot to leave feedback. I apologize! This was a flawless transaction and I couldn't be happier. Book was exactly as described. Read more Published 7 months ago by T. Albanese 4.0 out of 5 stars simplement fantastique fantastique mais certains modèles ne peuvent plus être tricotés dans leurs laines d'origine, ce qui frustre énormément mais on peut chercher des laines de substitution... Read more Published 8 months ago by L. R. Mme 5.0 out of 5 stars like a textbook I got into fair isle knitting in my own sweet time and count this book as a major inspiration. I've never knitted any of the patterns here and never intend to. Read more Published 11 months ago by M. Rickey 5.0 out of 5 stars How do we love thee Alice, let us knit the ways This book has been available for a long time, and the designs are truly timeless. I've knitted several Alice Starmore sweaters from this and other books, and each is a work of... Read more Published 17 months ago by FiddleLizzie 5.0 out of 5 stars So many Sweaters, So Little Time Alice Starmore is truly a design genius. Don't be fooled by the visual complexity and subtlety of these designs. Read more Published 21 months ago by Irene Pulfer 5.0 out of 5 stars Knit something glorious I actually have two copies of this book. The first was purchased more than 15 years ago, and is a much loved / slightly tattered hardcover. Read more Published on April 24, 2007 by Chicago Peach 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book -- buy it while you can! This is my first Alice Starmore book. I heard about her on a knitting forum site. I believe this is the only Alice Starmore book that is still in print. Read more Published on February 25, 2007 by Carol Mello 5.0 out of 5 stars A visual feast! I got this book on a whim, not knowing much about what patterns I'd find within. When it arrived in the mail, I pored over all the beautiful things inside and then brought it to... Read more Published on March 23, 2006 by Darcy R. Bell-myers 5.0 out of 5 stars A very good Alice Starmore book still in print Alice Starmore is a very artistic and creative designer. Her out of print titles go for prices of $100-$700 on ebay, so order ths one while it is in print! Read more Published on March 20, 2006 by Gadget 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book She uses a range of colors and geometric shapes. The sweaters nearly blend into nature. Beautiful projects are in this book. Published on October 16, 2004 by NYKnit Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books; 1st Paperback Ed edition (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570760055
• ISBN-13: 978-1570760051
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,985 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #51 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Decorative Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart!, January 15, 2002

By A Customer

First things first: this is a KNITTING book, not a needlepoint book. Many of the reviewers below have confused "The Celtic Collection" with "Celtic Needlepoint," which is a different subject entirely.

"The Celtic Collection" is my least favorite Starmore book. Alice Starmore's collections are usually about evenly divided among Fair Isle and cabled patterns, but the balance here is heavily skewed toward colorwork. If you're a texture knitter like me, this is not the collection for you--get "Fishermen's Sweaters" or "Aran Knitting" instead.

Sadly, the few cabled patterns included in this collection are just not up to par. One otherwise lovely Celtic-knot tunic is ruined by an ugly band of ribbing around the waist. Others come in only one size. This is especially disappointing, since Starmore usually provides directions to knit her designs in a generous range of sizes. The one sweater in this collection that I really would enjoy making and wearing would never actually fit me!

Alice Starmore's designs are renowned for their beauty and complexity, but the Fair Isle sweaters in this book involve a staggering number of colors--more, I think, than in other Starmore collections. The effect is marvelous, of course, but I can't imagine keeping track of so many yarns at once!

The ancient Celts are surrounded by layers of myth and legend, drama and hyperbole, and Starmore really does express this in her bold, flamboyant colorwork designs.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Starmore Coup, March 7, 2002

By	Marilyn Burge (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although Starmore yarns are no longer available in this country, Jamieson can fill the bill for you. The call numbers are the same, but the color names are different. Starmore books are just too precious to give up, simply because the yarns are no longer available. This book is a work of art, but definitely not for the novice knitter, unless (s)he has unlimited patience and an urge to stretch the wings.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely sweaters, March 11, 2006

By	Rebecca Haden (Fayetteville, AR) - See all my reviews

Alice Starmore is justly famed for her beautiful colorwork and cable designs. These sweaters -- for men, women, and children -- are all about the fabric. The shaping is always very simple, with drop sleeves and boxy shapes. The directions are very clear and finishing is easy. If you can work from charts, you should not have any difficulty making the colorwork sweaters; in traditional Fair Isle style, there are only 2 colors to a row.
As is true of the most useful knitting books, this one has many color charts and cables which will look good on other items. As a source for patterns for your socks or motifs for your pillows, this is a book you will pull off your shelf repeatedly through the years. I have combined the colorwork with more fitted sweater patterns from other designers with great success, so a dislike of drop sleeves shouldn't deter you from adding this book to your collection.
I've made several things using quite ordinary sport weight and worsted weight yarns, so the difficulty of finding the recommended yarns does not seem to me to be an issue, unless you are determined to match the designer's colors exactly.
The book itself is beautiful, though the moody photos of disgruntled beauties in Goth makeup are sometimes too arty to allow the reader to get a clear idea of the construction of the sweater. The landscapes are enough to make you want to go for a visit.