Product Description

Nicky Epsteins blockbuster Edge titles have sold more than 125,000 copies; shes a needlework star whose every book is eagerly anticipated and snatched up. Now Nickys giving devoted readers her most important and wide-ranging collection of patterns yet: a worldwide tour of knitting traditions and techniques, including colourwork, cables, lace, intarsia and more. She explains the origins and traditional uses of each one and then goes on to reinvigorate and recombine all these beloved styles in her inimitable way. The result: over 40 all-new, innovative designs collected in an attractively designed book with a handy ribbon marker. Theres a Celtic Pullover with braided twisted rib strips; a Snowflake Tunic from the Far North; a Felted Tyrolean Capelet with applique, cord, and balls; a Spanish Rose Pullover with lace accents; a colorful Peruvian skirt; and an oversized, zipped Navajo Blanket Jacket. Colorful maps and historical photographs make this collection a visual treat, as well as an invaluable tool for knitters seeking new inspiration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130255 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

Customer Reviews

Lots of big-scale projects.
I have been looking forward to this book since it was first listed as a 'pre-order option'. Ms Epstein has a formidable reputation in the hand-knitting community and is known for her innovative ideas.

The book itself is beautifully produced and generously illustrated with lavish, full-page photographs. The charts are clear and are a good size from which to work. The paper is of good quality and the colour rendition clean and true. Almost fifty different knitting patterns are included.

The book opens with a page of design tips by Ms Epstein and is followed by the various sections. She deals with knitting tradition around the world: the Far North, UK and the islands, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and the Americas. Each area is prefaced by two or three pages showing traditional designs and techniques, and a discussion of its knitting history. These introductions are followed by Ms Epstein's interpretations and the patterns.

If you love thick wool and over-sized garments, this is an excellent book. There are patterns for sweaters, jackets, cardigans, accessories and even a toy dragon. Some of the colour combinations seem a little obvious and harsh to me, but of course a knitter can adapt that as personal taste dictates.

I found the some of the garments, especially in the UK and European sections, appealing and wearable but the incongruity of a close-fitting, aran-weight evening pullover embellished with pearls and ostrich gave me pause. I doubt it would be comfortable in a warm room, and not too flattering to anyone over a size 6. There is a pattern for a capelet featuring two enormous tam'o'shanters as the front bodice. A quirky idea and amusing, yes, but it has to be a good joke to stand telling every day.

My main observation is that there is insufficient variation in yarn thickness, with little (apart from the cover garment) that is graceful or delicate. It is disappointing that the garment designs seem mostly for the slim, tall woman and would not be as becoming on an average figure.
The model on the back cover, an attractive, reed-like blonde, looks like the proverbial sack of potatoes in her super-chunky, super-sized Navaho jacket; I don't think the rest of us would stand much chance of looking even as good as she does.

The book concludes with a helpful and comprehensive section on techniques. The various interesting ways to add a personal finish to one's knitting are very useful and would adapt to many projects.

There are ideas and starting points in this book that I know I will use and enjoy; I might even knit one or two of the patterns. It is an interesting and thought-provoking collection but it has not made me race to my knitting bag to get started.

designer disasters
Beautifully illustrated with clear instructions, American knitting designer Nicky Epstein takes us on a tour of the world to find traditions, techniques and design in knitting. Nicky interprets each tradition in her own way to provide knitting patterns.

Knitting is truly a world phenomena. This book is divided into chapters, taking the world by area - Far North, Windswept Isles, Old World, Mediterranean, Far East and New World. Each chapter has an overview of knitting history and techniques, given the space for this, the intro to each chapter is fair and interesting. In each of these chapters, there are between five and thirteen designs. The book features forty-eight designs in all. The largest section is the one dearest to my heart, Great Britain and Ireland, so I am going to look at this section only.

From the inspiration of the Isle of Aran, Nicky has produced an attractive beaded Aran sweater, given an evening touch with a boa feather trim. Then she looks at Aran meets English Rose - her design for the chunky Aran has an innovative, but to my trained eye not pleasing style and it is finished with a rose collar in autumn colours. The Sanquhar Bonny Socks inspired by Scotland, look lumpy. The Simply Smashing Cardigan might look better in another colourway, as it is it looks like mustard meets dull and boring. The Cowl Collar Jumper, which is dress length does nothing for me, neither do the Hunter's Argyle Socks, ditto for the fair-isle socks. The Highland Fling Plaid jacket is promising, but again I think not enough attention paid to the colourway. The Celtic Hooded Coat is just too oversized, which completely spoils the effect of a timeless design. The Edwardian coat is superb, although I have reservations about the back. The book then deteriorates into fair-isle tea cosies and sweaters for your toy fox and the penultimate design is baffling - a tam o' shanter design translated into an over-sized capelet - the mind boggles. Finally, back to Aran and what looks like a reasonable cardigan design until you see the back - this does not work.

The same can be said of the other designs, it's like the highlights and lowlights of designer knitting. It reminds me of pop groups signed up to produce x number of albums in x number of months -the content suffers. I can't think that many people would want to wear such designs let alone spend hours knitting them.

Very disappointing
I so looked forward to this book and pre-ordered, but what a disappointment! Other patterns by this designer have new, interesting ideas but are still wearable. These designs are the continuation of 'Art School Fashion' for me. Beautiful coat in thick yarn - the front is gorgeous but the back finishes at the waist! Buy this book if are prepared to adapt patterns or if you want inspiration to create your own designs as many of the designs have appealing features. On the other hand, some are downright ugly and unflattering (the tam o shanta garment - what was she thinking!)