America Knits (Paperback)

by Melanie Falick (Author)
Key Phrases: selvage sts, seed sts, pat using size, Classic Elite, New Mexico, New York City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Not only are the stories a great read, but the photos are so full of color and texture they’ll make your fingers itch to start your own scarf or afghan.”—Glamour (Glamour )

“With a passion for textiles and a love of travel, Melanie Falick is the perfect writer for [America Knits].”—Vogue Knitting (Vogue Knitting )

Not only are the stories a great read, but the photos are so full of color and texture theyll make your fingers itch to start your own scarf or afghan.Glamour (Glamour )

With a passion for textiles and a love of travel, Melanie Falick is the perfect writer for [America Knits].Vogue Knitting (Vogue Knitting )

Product Description
“Not only are the stories a great read, but the photos are so full of color and texture they’ll make your fingers itch to start your own scarf or afghan.”—Glamour

“With a passion for textiles and a love of travel, Melanie Falick is the perfect writer for [America Knits].”—Vogue Knitting

Acclaimed knitting author Melanie Falick traveled thousands of miles and interviewed dozens of knitters, spinners, dyers, and sheep breeders to create this inspiring and revealing collection of portraits and patterns. With profiles of 38 artisans and farmers,175 beautiful color photographs, and 30 original patterns whose difficulty ranges from basic to advanced, from traditional to contemporary, America Knits is the most complete survey yet published on this highly popular and vital art form in America.

First published in hardcover as Knitting in America (Artisan, 1996)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Artisan (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579652875
• ISBN-13: 978-1579652876
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #577,747 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING: THIS IS A REPRINT!, March 31, 2005

By	Susan W. Swartz "beadmomsw" (Highland Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

WARNING!!! This book is a reprint of the 1996 Knitting in America. You'll notice the description of the book doesn't state this. If you already have Knitting in America, do not order America Knits. I am very upset because I thought this was a new Melanie Falick book (i.e., a follow-up to Knitting in America); now I have to return it.

If, on the other hand, you do not already have a copy of Knitting in America, then do buy this book--it is fabulous! The photographs alone will inspire you for years. The stories of the knitters are terrific and the book is also like a travelogue of America. There are great patterns too but most of them are for more experienced knitters.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 38 Artists 26 Patterns, November 27, 2005

By	Ute Larson "Ute Larson" (California, utelarson.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an entertaining and beautiful book, featuring the work and stories of 38 artists. Each artist is given 2 to 6 pages of pictures and write up. In my oppinion only 6 or 7 artists are showing innovative work and they are deffinetly worth seeing. The rest is bulky sweaters and shawls and a few children's designs. If you love oversized sweaters, this is the book for you. A few of the photos are "artfully out of focus" not good for seeing the work. Check it out at the library first or buy a used copy if this interests you. 26 Patterns are at the rear of the book. The patterns are for advanced knitters.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For Serious Collectors Only, September 7, 2006

By	Lois Lain (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

After hearing Falick on a podcast and hearing the "story behind the book," I picked this up at the local yarn store to leaf through it -- and quickly remembered why I hand't bought it the first five times I'd looked at it.

I find the concept of this book somewhat garbled -- is it a pattern book? If so, there aren't enough interesting patterns to make it worth the investment (most are very dated). Is it a profile book? If so, there really isn't enough in-depth info about either the yarn stores or the store owners to make it entertaining.

The photography, however, is gorgeous. So I've finally categorized this book as a "collectible." If you're looking for knitting patterns, don't bother. But if you want something pretty to set on your coffee table -- or if you own every other knitting book out there and need this one to complete your library -- then go for it. Otherwise, leaf through it at the store, admire the pictures, then put it gently back on the shelf and walk away.