Tag Archives: lace

Review: Top-Down Shawls

Review: Top-Down Shawls post image

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First, the facts:

Title: Top Down Shawls

Author: Jen Lucas

Published by: Martingale, 2018

Pages: 96

Type: Shawls

Chapters:

Wedge Shawls
Crescent Shawls
Half-Circle Shawls
Design Your Own Shawls

KS: Top-Down Shawls

The In-Depth Look:

Adding to her series of books of beautiful shawls, Jen Lucas presents Top-Down Shawls.

The title is pretty self-explanatory–twelve lovely shawls, divided into three basic categories. There is a wedge shape (either a basic triangle or a combination of them), a crescent, or a half-circle.

All the patterns are nice and straight-forward. None of them seem pointed to a knitter looking for a challenging knit, but rather for one who wants something pretty to wear. That sounds a bit like a back-handed compliment, but I say this in the nicest way. They’re not patterns for showing off your knitting skills as much as there so that you have something actually to show. (What good is an elaborate, complicated shawl if it takes you two years to knit and never gets out of the house?)

There are four patterns for each of the basic shapes, and then my favorite part–the chapter on designing your own. (This, frankly, sounds like the author’s favorite chapter, too.) Here she breaks down the basic shapes and then provides a collection of basic lace stitches for you to insert as desired. Speaking as a person who loves options, I particularly appreciate this–there’s something very satisfying about being given a basic framework and set free to do what you want!

You can get this book at Amazon or at a local store.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Martingale. Thank you!

My Gush: Another solid bookOther posts for this author:

Review: New Heights in Lace Knitting

Review: New Heights in Lace Knitting post image

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First, the facts:

Title: New Heights in Lace Knitting: 17 Lace Knit Accessory Patterns

Author: Andrea Jurgrau

Published by: Interweave Press, 2016

Pages: 142

Type: Lace

Chapters:

1. Materials
2. Techniques
3. The Fine Art of Swatching
4. Projects: Hikes, Treks, and Moderate Climbs
5. Projects: The Seven Summits
6. Projects: The Eight Summit

KS: New Heights in Lace Knitting

The In-Depth Look:

A new lace book from the person who brought me one of my favorite recent lace books, New Vintage Knits.

The lace patterns here are inspired by mountain peaks. She says at the beginning:

“The lore of the seven summits calls to every mountaineer … Summiting a mountain always begins with a few simple steps. And as it is with climbing, so it is with knitting. Basic knit, purl, and yarnover stitches can come together to make lace that is simple but elegant; and, for those seeking further adventures, these very same stitches can unfold into spectacular designs. So I think of this book as a knitter’s approach to the seven summits. It is proverbial mountain climbing for lace knitters who are adventurous; delighted by the basics, yet yearning for more.”

True to her word, the projects here range from simple (hikes, treks and moderate climbs) to “The seven summits,” representing the tallest peak on each of the seven continents, and challenging the knitter accordingly.

The lace here is gorgeous–which didn’t surprise me at all. There are easier projects, like lace mitts or hats that correspond to a gentle hike on a lovely day, but then there are the challenging ones … big, complex, show-stopper shawls that are challenges worthy of their names.

If I have any complaints about this book, it’s that the charts can be rather small. Some of the more complex shawls have charts that span pages in the book, which I think must make them a complicated challenge to knit. The size of the squares and the symbols in the squares makes for its own challenge. I don’t quite see how the book could be published differently, but wish there were some way for a knitter to get an enlarged, easy-to-read chart. Maybe a downloadable PDF with enlarged versions of individual charts? Copy machines and scotch tape can only do so much! (And I mention this because there was a shawl in her last book, New Vintage Lace that I would love to knit, but trying to manipulate the charts into something easily usable is daunting–and I’m not the kind of knitter who’s afraid of charts!)

That said, this is a beautiful book, with some amazing lace projects–most of whom do have perfectly good charts. (It’s just a few that have so-large-they’re-too-small layout problems.) Gorgeous designs, as inspiring as the peaks they’re named for.

You should look for this book at your local shop–or at Amazon, where your purchase can help support this site!

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Beautiful lace.

Other posts for this author:

Review: New Lace Knitting

Review: New Lace Knitting post image

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First, the facts:

Title: New Lace Knitting: Designs for Wide Open Spaces

Author: Rosemary (Romi) Hill

Published by: Interweave Press, 2015

Pages: 167

Type: Clothing with lace

Chapters:

Introduction: A Love of Lace Knitting
1. Waves and Ripples
2. Diamond Fantasia
3. Leaf and Trellis
4. Twin Leaves
5. Wind and Shore
6. Twining Lilies

KS: New Lace Knitting

The In-Depth Look:

I love Romi’s designs and have more than one of her shawls in my collection, so I was very excited when I heard about this new book of hers.

She says in the intro, “For years, this book has been a tiny pinpoint of an idea niggling in the back of my mind. As I became more familiar with lace knitting, I became more and more fascinated with the way lace patterns were constructed. I loved how the placement of increases and decreases could alter a pattern, perhaps making it wave, and how changes in the types of decreases could transform the look of a pattern so completely. … This book is a collection of themes and variations. The lace patterns are traditional, not new by any means. But I have used them to put together a collection of lace garments and accessories that can be worn today, and any day.”

What follows is a collection of designs–sweaters, wraps, hats, scarves–that all use lace, sometimes (like in the shawls) as the main feature, but sometimes (like in many of the sweaters) as an extra touch, something to make it stand out and be different.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that I like most of the designs in this collection. (I would actually have been more surprised if I hadn’t, but that’s what prior experience with Romi’s designs will do for you.)

Simply, great patterns, great designs, and I think I’m about to go stash-diving so I can dive right in.

You can get this great book at your local shop or order it at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Just great.

Other posts for this author:

Review: Kirsten Kapur Shawl Book One

Review: Kirsten Kapur Shawl Book One post image

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First, the facts:

Title: Kirsten Kapur Shawl Book One: Ten Best Loved Shawls from Through the Loops

Author: Kirsten Kapur

Published by: Kirsten Kapur Designs, 2015

Pages: 51

Type: Shawl patterns

Chapters:

No chapters, just patterns

KS: Kirsten Kapur Shawl #1

The In-Depth Look:

First, the really encouraging thing about this book is that it’s clearly labled “Shawl Book One,” which implies there’s going to be a shawl book two at some point, and maybe a third and a fourth … all of which is great news, because Kirsten designs some really beautiful shawls.

This book is a collection of ten patterns that she’s already published–so do be aware that it’s possible you might have some of them already–but still take a look at this book anyway, because the designs are well worth it.

I’ll say right now that I love Kirsten’s designs. I’ve knitted at least two of her shawl patterns in the past and own a bunch more that I haven’t gotten to yet. (Okay, for full disclosure, I’m actually at the very end of knitting my second one right now. I’ve got about three rows to go. That’s close enough to count as past-tense for the sake of the review, right?) So, you know, I might be biased, but I was lucky enough to see her display of shawls in person at Trillium Yarns just last week and they look just as good as they should. Kirsten has a really nice touch with combining colors in a shawl which is something I think is tricky to do, but I really I like when it’s done well. Her lace patterns flow nicely with the shaping of her pieces, too. I like her shawls. Lace isn’t something everybody can do well, after all.

The ten patterns gathered here cover the gamut of shawls–in shapes, you’ve got rectangle, triangle, half-pi, and crescent. There are two-color and single-color options. Airy confections sit alongside slightly more substantial, cozier shawls. There are stripes. Garter stitch. Lace. Basically, your basic range of shawl variations, with full-circle and square being about the only regular shapes I can think are not represented.

The patterns are Kirsten’s most-popular, the title says, but the photos in the book are all new, taken by the fabulous Gale Zucker, and beautiful as always. The book is nice and glossy and good to look at, as well as a handy size to tuck into your knitting bag.

You can get this book in digital format, print format, or both, and is sold through Kirsten’s website. Here’s the link at MagCloud.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by the author. Thank you!

My Gush: I already knew I loved the shawls, so what’s not to love?

Review: Sock Yarn Shawls II

Review: Sock Yarn Shawls II post image

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First, the facts:

Title: Sock-Yarn Shawls II: 16 Patterns for Lace Knitting

Author: Jen Lucas

Published by: Martingale Press, 2015

Pages: 82

Type: Patterns

Chapters:
Introduction
Choosing the Right Yarn
Using–and Moving–Stitch Markers
Small Shawls
Midsize Shawls
Large Shawls

KS: Sock Yarn Shawls II

The In-Depth Look:

We all love sock yarn, right? I mean, I can’t be the only one with a stash that—let’s face it—is never going to completely turn into socks. It’s just all so pretty and tempting, though, and so we pick up a skein here, a skein there, and next thing you know …

Um, right. Lots of yarn.

So what do you do? Well, this book is a good place to start. Not satisfied with her first book (Sock Yarn Shawls), Jen Lucas is back with more.

She says in her introduction:

“When it came time to start thinking about my second book, I just couldn’t get shawls out of my head … I kept thinking about all the shapes and sizes of shawls that I didn’t hit in that first book. … Sock-yarn shawls don’t need to be made from just one skein of yarn. Sure, the one-skein projects are great for quick knits and perfect for wearing under your coat on a blustery winter day, but sometimes you want something more substantial. It made sense to explore knitting shawls that use more yarn. … Maybe that will help me get the yarn stash under control!”

The sixteen patterns here are divided into three groups by size—small (<450 yards), medium (450-900 yards), and large shawls. Some are single-color, but others give you the opportunity to mix, match, and play with your yarns to bring out your own combinations.

There’s plenty of variety to play with, too. The shapes of the shawls cover pretty much all the possibilities—triangles, circles, crescents, rectangles. Some are started at the center, some at the bottom edge. Some are shaped with short rows, some with the stitch pattern. Some have their borders knit perpendicularly onto the edges, some are simple, some are complex.

Like I said, there’s definite variety. The 16 patterns here all feel different from each other, which can’t be said for every book of patterns out there. They’re attractive, practical, large, small, easy, challenging … practically a perfect collection, because you’ll almost definitely be able to find something inside you want to make.

You can get your copy at your local shop or order it here, at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Martingale Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Beautiful shawls made from sock yarn–what’s not to like?

Review: Everyday Lace

Review: Everyday Lace post image

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First, the facts:

Title: Everyday Lace: Simple Sophisticated Knitted Garments

Author: Heather Zoppetti

Published by: Interweave Knits, 2014

Pages: 144

Type: Lace clothes and accessories

Chapters:

1. Lace-Knitting Essentials
2. Warm
3. Transitional
4. Cold

KS: Everyday Lace

The In-Depth Look:

Lace is one of those techniques that can be great fun to knit, but which people avoid … not because it’s hard, but because they think that they’d never use it. It’s so easy to think of lace as “fussy” or something to be pulled out for special occasions.

The author writes of lace shawls that, “Although they’re fun and knit up relatively quickly, I find that I rarely wear them. To me, they’re a bit too fancy for everyday wear .. The projects in this book support my belief that lace should be liberated from its confinement to shawls and be incorporated into everyday garments and accessories. A bit of lace–be it a simple trim, a narrow panel, or an interesting edging–can bring sophisticated femininity to a wardrobe without overwhelming fussiness.”

Accordingly, she fills this book with an assortment of patterns that are lace without being lace. Nothing your grandmother might have put around a handkerchief or draped over the back of a chair, but actual things you can make and wear now. Sweaters, socks, hats … and not a shawl to be seen.

The patterns range from items you can wear in warm weather (anything from a lace headband to a shrug to wear over a sleeveless top) to cold weather items like hats, cowls, and sweaters. There are socks and arm warmers, too.

All the patterns come with schematics and lace charts, as well as notes for things like stitch patterns or possible modifications. The pictures are clear, showing the actual shape of the items (which isn’t always true in knitting book photos), and the instructional bits about blocking and using lifelines are well explained.

All in all, this is a nice collection of patterns. You can get a copy of this book at your local shop or at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Lovely lace that’s wearable.

Review: Wonderlace

Review: Wonderlace post image

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First, the facts:

Title: Sleepy Eyes Knit: Wonderlace

Author: Gina House

Published by: Signature Book Printing, 2013

Pages: 80

Type: Lace patterns

Chapters:

A listing of patterns rather than chapters.

KS: Wonderlace

The In-Depth Look:

This charming book of lace patterns is a self-published creation of the author, Gina House. It’s actually her second book. Her first was the small, spiral-bound “Dreamscape” in 2009, and the greater publishing experience shows in the new book. The new book is hardcover and more a “real” book in terms of heft and detail, filled with glossy photos and nice, large charts for knitting.

All the patterns (13 of them) come with written instructions as well as charts. The charts themselves are helpfully, generously sized–no need for squinting or magnifying glasses to read them. The key for the symbols is included on each page, too, to make flipping back and forth to the glossary unnecessary.

The patterns are all fairytale-inspired lace projects, mostly shawls, though there are other things, too–socks, a hat, fingerless mitts … even a washcloth and little black bag perfectly sized for carrying tarot cards or a cell phone. (And, speaking of tarot cards, there’s also a knitting-inspired card spread to try for readings, if you’re into that kind of thing. I can’t remember the last time I pulled my own tarot cards out, but there’s something nice about the idea of a card spread designed just for knitters, don’t you think?)

Gina has also produced her smaller, earlier “Dreamscape” book of 12 lace designs. I actually like the small, spiral-bound size because it would be easy to stash in a knitting bag. (How often can you ever say that about a knitting book?). I like the designs here, too–a lot of hats and scarves. I’m not fond of the dark, moody photos, though, which I think take away from the projects. You can see them clearly enough, but, well. I’ve never been a fan of over-artistic photos of patterns in knitting books. The important thing, though, is that the text and charts here, too, are easy to read.

I love that this Wonderlace is a Kickstarter-funded project, as well–something I hadn’t realized until I saw the list of backers lovingly named at the end of the book.

Wonderlace can be found at Amazon.com or at Gina’s Etsy page–you can get either hard-copy or PDF versions of either of her books.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by the author. Thank you!

My Gush: A book the author should be proud of!

Review: New Vintage Lace

Review: New Vintage Lace post image

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First, the facts:

Title: New Vintage Lace: Knits Inspired by the Past

Author: Andrea Jurgrau

Published by: Interweave Press, 2014

Pages: 143

Type: Lace

Chapters:

1. Materials
2. Techniques
3. The Fine Art of Swatching
4. Projects
5. Doily Dissection–A Little Geometry and a Lot of Fun

KS: New Vintage Lace

The In-Depth Look:

I love a good lace book, and when you add in knitting tradition as well? Even better.

The author writes, “This book is about embracing knitting tradition without being bound by it. … Fortunately, large collections of what I consider to be the finest knitted lace doily and tablecloth patterns have become available in the past few years, including those by German designers who knitted during the first half of the twentieth century. This style of lace, called kunststricken, translates to ‘art knitting.’ Herbert Niebling (1905-1966) is my favorite of these designers. … For New Vintage Lace, I set out to reinterpret kunststricken for contemporary appeal. Although I take pleasure in knitting doilies and tablecloths, I wanted the projects in this book to attract a wider audience. Maybe I was simultaneously channeling Grandma Rose and her sister Helen when I started envisioning ways to transform these classic lace motifs into wearable pieces for today’s lace knitters.”

Wearable pieces. That’s what makes this book so appealing. I love lace and find knitting it a pleasure, but … I’ve never really had the urge to knit doilies. I also prefer a slightly bigger gauge. I mean the fact that my grandmother used to crochet lace edgings onto handkerchiefs with impossibly small steel crochet hooks still amazes me–even in my 20’s, seeing where to insert the hook was hard, and even if I find it a little easier to knit lace than to crochet it because you’ve got your stitches nicely separated on a needle, still … I prefer yarn to thread, you know?

Besides, who’s ever going to see your doily collection?

Shawls, though? Well, hello, beautiful.

The book starts with some techniques you’ll need to know–knitting with beads, circular cast-ons, basic lace-knitting stuff. Then there’s a discussion about the importance of swatching, but then the fun begins. The patterns.

They aren’t all shawls, the patterns in this book. In fact, the first few are for hats (or hats and/or matching doilies). Then there are a couple scarves, all of which are lovely, but to me, the real stars here are the shawls, because they’re stunning. They range in shape to half-circle to wedges to full circle. (Yes, most but not all of them are some variation of round rather than triangular.) The fact that much of the lace is based on delicate doily or tablecloth motifs is pretty easy to see, too, but that’s all to the good. We get so used to having certain expectations about shawl patterns. We’re so accustomed to the top-down triangular shape, or the slightly curved, semi-circle, we see them everywhere. These patterns, though, are unique … and it’s a delicious irony that that is true because in many ways that’s because they’re old. Or at least the motifs they’re based on are.

The book sums up with a final chapter about how you can take a classic doily pattern and turn it into your own shawl pattern, along with tips and a chart and one more pattern so you can see the process to its end.

All in all, I like this book a lot … and I have a feeling that I’ll be knitting one of the “Blue Dahlia” shawls myself one of these days, because it’s just too gorgeous not to.

This lovely book is available at your local shop or at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Lovely lace.

Finished Object: Crystallize Beret

This lovely hat is the second I've made of its kind.  My friend, Amanda, over at Dilettant Knits designed the hat originally for Knitscene.  When the design rights reverted back to her, she updated the pattern adding multiple sizes, and I was able to test knit it for her.  I gave away the first test-knit as a gift, and finally finished this one for me!





Pattern: Crystallize by designer Amanda Bell
Size: small
Yarn: madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light

Finished Object & Giveaway!

I just finished two knitting projects that I'd like to share, and one I'd like to give away.

First, the finished test knit...
I just finished a knitted beret/slouch using a pattern by my friend, Dilettant Knits.
A nice tip when you're blocking a beret.  In order to shape the beret, you can wet block it over a plate balanced on a cup.  The curve of the plate opens up the lace patterning, and the cup allows the ribbed edge of the brim to shrink back so it'll stay on your head.

before blocking, the lace is still a bit contracted
Beret: wet blocking on a plate
Beret: wet blocking on a plate balanced on a cup
The other "knitted" project I finished is this spiral scarf using a novelty yarn product made by Rowan.  Rowan, the maker of KidSilk Haze yarn, also made this limited edition product called Kidsilk Creation. KidSilk Creation is a kind of tubular mesh novelty yarn using KidSilk Haze, but the problem is that it's not a very easy product to work with, and Rowan's team only came up with two projects to make with it... the same spiral scarf in a knit version or crochet version which are practically identical.

In any case, a friend gave me a hank in "smoke" color, and I used it to make this scarf which I now offer to you as a giveaway.  The quality of the yarn is great as it's 70% mohair and 30% silk as per the usual KidSilk Haze yarn, it's soft as a kitten, and light as air.  It would make a lovely holiday gift, and it's warm as can be!
Here are loads of people wearing their lovely scarves.

Shown wrapped once around
Shown folded in half and the ends threaded through
If you would like to win it, just leave a comment below, and confirm your entry using the rafflecopter widget!  This giveaway will close on Wednesday of next week.  Thanks for stopping by!

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