Loop-d-Loop: More than 40 Novel Designs for Knitters (Hardcover)

by Teva Durham (Author), Adrian Buckmaster (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this collection of often ingenious designs, Durham, formerly an editor at Vogue Knitting International, promotes the uniquely geometrical style of garment construction featured on her Web site, Loop-d-Loop.com. The book is divided into three sections: Cycles, Planes and Waves. Each concept is explored through a series of illustrative garments. For example, the designs in Cycles focus on circular or tubular knitting, while the designs in Planes produces architectural planes and angles using textured stitches. The patterns encompass everything from charming sweaters and hats for children to high-fashion creations for the young and hip (a cashmere lace blouse, a zip-off color-block yoke sweater, etc.). The sizing of the patterns tends to run small, and the designs range in difficulty from easy to quite challenging. Fortunately, the author has included a section of technical tips and a glossary of techniques and abbreviations. In addition, helpful remarks are distributed throughout the text, which is generally easy to follow. Durham's designs offer up unexpected textures and unusual symmetries and asymmetries, all artfully captured in the photos here. The result is a gorgeous book that will tweak the imaginations of the most adventurous knitters.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
Teva Durham began knitting as a hobby. It wasn't long, though, before she became mesmerized by the craft. Now, as an extraordinarily innovative designer, Durham is at the forefront of the widely heralded new era of knitting. In Loop-d-Loop, she presents more than 40 fresh, modern designs for adults, children, and the home, a mix of simple projects with high-fashion impact sure to inspire beginners and more complex projects for those who want to test and expand their virtuosity.

Focusing on a wide range of clever technical applications, the patterns include a spiral scarf, a cardigan with a "dreamcatcher" web carved out of the back, a buckled tartan kilt, and a slipcover that transforms a folding chair into a throne. With more than 70 lush color photos and a thought-provoking text that brings together eclectic references to philosophy, art, and popular culture, the book creates a contemplative, enchanted realm that resonates with beauty and meaning. For knitters who enter the Loop-d-Loop world, the way they knit-and think about knitting-will never be the same. AUTHOR BIO: Teva Durham founded loop-d-loop-an innovative line of handknits-in 2000. She is a former editor at Vogue Knitting International, and her writing and designs are featured in major knitting magazines as well as the books Weekend Knitting (STC), Scarf Style, Knitting Lessons, For the Love of Knitting, and several Vogue Knitting On the Go titles. Durham has taught knitting at yarn shops as well as at the Open Center in New York.Adrian Buckmaster is a portrait, fashion, and landscape photographer who lives in Manhattan. He has worked extensively in New York and London for various magazines and is a member of the Art Workers Guild, founded by William Morris.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584794143
• ISBN-13: 978-1584794141
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,885 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your grandma's pattern book, April 19, 2005

By	A. Bish (central PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish Elizabeth Zimmerman was still around to give us her opinion of these patterns. The conversational style of writing about knitting reminds me of EZ, but the patterns are from another world all together. They are edgy and like nothing you will find at the mall. While there are only one or two of the patterns I can ever see myself making, I loved this book for how it opened my eyes. The pictures, diagrams and instructions are clear and well written. If you are looking for a pattern to make a sweater that looks like you got it from L.L. Bean or Lands End, or if you are a plus size, this is NOT the book to get.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular vision, practical shortfalls, January 9, 2006

By	A Memphis Reader Writes... (TN, USA) - See all my reviews

One amazing thing about this book is how passionately knitters either love or hate it, with little in-between. I suppose I'm a little closer to in-between than many - I got this book for a song, and love it, but would I shell out to replace my copy if I lost it in a meteor strike? Maybe, maybe not.

It's a gorgeous book, if you can mentally erase the sour-to-spacy visages and terrifying hairdos that other reviewers have already described in lurid detail. I'm not even talking "Vogue Knitting" scary or mere runway model scary; we are talking about something that is close to visually disturbing. It's off putting, and for every argument against homoginizing the "vision", there's an equally valid argument for making art accessible to ordinary people (and knitters - grin), and I think it's the art that matters most to Ms. Durham.

I say that because the practical is sometimes given short shrift in this book. As with Suss Cousin's "Hollywood Knits", the size range for many of the patterns is pure fantasy. I don't care how stretchy a garment is, when an adult "small" is 24 inches and "large" is 33 inches, guaranteed that many women at a very healthy weight for their height, frame, and age need not apply, unless they are expert at pattern modification. And then there are the "waif pattern" - close fitting tunics with no ease in the hip and so on that really won't translate to any but the thinnest and most boyish figures. (The author explained on the Knitting Review site that she has concerns about health when considering extended size range - a silly and disingenuous rationalization, if you are going to create patterns best modeled on human coathangers.)

There are also some pieces that are rather conventional save for some daring detail like a mid-bust series of stiches dropped aaaalll the way down - great eye candy, maybe party wear, but probably not for most of us. Can't begrudge that too much, it did serve the (I think) intended purpose of challenging knitting conventions and expectations.

And there are some real revelations in this book, both in terms of construction of knitwear and some things I've just never seen before - the "dreamcatcher" panel of delicate not-lace webbing on the reverse of one sweater is what really made me buy this book, but there are half a dozen others I might consider. (Really, how many of us buy knitting magazines for just One Great Pattern? It's not necessarily a question of how many patterns in a book or mag we would never knit, but how many we *might*.)

This book is an original, in the best sense of the word. It remains to be seen whether the author's attention turns to other forms of expression, or whether she'll continue to develop as a knitting designer. If the latter, I'll hope that she'll give us more accessible patterns, maybe even for those "portly" women with discernable curves...knitters are a practical lot, but will doubtless meet this new designer halfway - assuming she's willing as well.

70 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth ten stars, April 29, 2005

By	Cikk "cikk" (Malta) - See all my reviews

I have been waiting eagerly for this book, and am overwhelmed - it's even better than I thought it would be. Fabulous, all the way. Great patterns, clear photos and explanations of unusual techniques, interesting writing - it's THE ideal knitting book.

The patterns are incredibly cool. I want to make all of them. There's a variety of stuff here, including chair covers which transform an ordinary folding chair into a beautiful objet d'art. Some patterns are for adults, some for kids, and some are sized for both. There are jackets, shells, cardigans, sweaters, capelets, a kilt, a really cute pair of gloves, a hat..... for a preview, you can hit her website, and that should convince you. (google loop d loop).

Some of her patterns use thick yarns, and some use fine, so that will appeal to those lucky knitters who have the patience to use fine yarn:)

Although her designs are really hip, there are a number which would suit the more conservative - just look at the two on the cover.... beautiful stitch patterns, shapely but not OTT.

I highly recommend this book. Much more worth it that Tricoter's newest, which has very few patterns and way too many ponchos. I had it on preorder before I even saw the pics on her site, and would have paid twice as much for it.

I REALLY hope she publishes more in the future.