Customer Reviews

Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this book with high expectations. What I received is a book explaining how to knit, with stitch pattern examples taken directly from the Mon Tricot dictionary of knitting stitches (I already own).
Several illustrations were of shawls not charted in the book, and they were more interesting than the ones included. Of the 8 patterns given (2 round, 2 half-circle, 2 square, 1 rectangular, 1 triangular), only one was of the quality that I expected (Kerry Blue).
If you know how to knit in the round, have a good stitch dictionary, save your money. I gave 3 stars only because of the completeness of the beginners directions: the book excels in that category.

Shawls are very "in" right now, and nothing is more stunning than a lacy shawl in a great color. Martha Waterman's book is very unique in that it has a little something for every knitter; if you are new to lace knitting, there are some not-very-difficult but really nice-looking shawl patterns. Some are written out row by row if you don't like charts (I do like charts--the symbols are quicker to read for me, but some people do not prefer them.) If you are an experienced knitter, this book is like a toolbox with various shawl shapes (round, half-circle, square, triangle, oblong) and stitch patterns in a small but useful lace library. You can combine the stitches and shapes and make your own creations. So you won't outgrow this book.

If you like to follow patterns, the Kerry Blue Shawl is just terrific. It is a square shawl with various lace stitches, and is knit from the center outwards, with four diagonal "rays" at the corners. This is actually a very easy shawl but looks like an heirloom. It would work as a baby christening wrap also. The Kerry Blue Shawl is written out row by row, for those who eschew charts.

Because lace knitting doesn't need to "fit" you can use all kinds of yarns of various weights. Find a yarn, test out how the stitch looks, and "guestimate" the yards you will need by comparing the yardage and gauge used in the pattern. If you run low, you can make the shawl a bit smaller.

I have quite a few lace knitting books, but I actually use this one the most. I just love this book!

Not obvious from any information in this book is the fact that it is a revised edition with a slightly different title. Having thoroughly enjoyed the original I was interested to see what new information Martha Waterman had to impart only to be rather surprised that it was, for all intents and purposes the same. Not to be put to waste, I was able to pass it on to a friend - a recent convert to knitting and a lover of all things old.

The diappointed reader is Ohio may have missed a crucial point. Lace is very difficult to knit; one typo can throw off the entire pattern, ruining the design as well as discouraging completion of the project. I designed knitwear for how-to publications for over a decade, using charts and schematics for the benefit of the "blind followers" among readers, as well as non-knitting editors and typsetters. Charts are also international: the symbols are universal so you can interpet the knitting designs of any nation, and not be dependent on translations which could be faulty or unclear, at best. I hope the Ohio reader will reconsider her approach. Charted knitting has been used for years now, and it benefits both knitters and publishers to learn how to use them. This particular book is a real gem; the finished projects are heirloom quality.

Before getting this book, my knitting had been limited to Arans and Guernseys.

This book is a great introduction to designing and creating your own lace creations. Starting with triangles, the author step-by-step explains the different shapes in which shawls traditionally are knit. While there are 8 patterns for shawls in the back of the book, I think the author's point in writing this is to get your own creative juices flowing. She shows you that it is possible to be a designer.

For me, the charts of different lace stitch patterns are more of help than hindrance, as the review below suggests. By using the charts and some graph paper, the designer can "see" what the design is going to look like before it is even knitted.

Overall this is a great book!

Ever since I was a small child and saw someone using knitting needles, I became fascinated with the rhythm and movement of them. Ms. Watermans' book has taken this fascination one step further with her history and explanation of these great wraps. These are not your grandma's doilies! They are geometrically complex puzzles that grow to pass on to future generations. Knitters beware! This book will give you the itch to knit one of the beautiful pieces.

My aunt told me once that the best way to learn a knitting technique was to pick a project that you really wanted to do, and then just do it with no fear of the potential difficulty. This is the ideal book for that philosophy.

The comments on the history of knitting and lace shawls are extremely interesting, as are the sections on shawl care and how to wear a shawl. I would have liked to see a little more description of how a traditional shetland lace shawl was made using the old techniques, especially the actual process of "grafting" as that is a new term to me despite 30 years of knitting experience. There is really no discussion of elementary knitting, but that is not inappropriate for an audience of advanced knitters. There are already a lot of books out there to teach how to cast on and do the basic stitches.

There are patterns for eight shawls in this book, but what I found fascinating was the possibility to design an unlimited number of your own unique creations. She breaks the elements of design down into simple steps with advice for choosing patterns for each section and intructions on how to shape and combine the different elements. There are pages and pages of beautiful lace patterns to use for the body, border, and edgings. It's the ultimate yarn puzzle book and it makes me itch to get my fingers on some good one-ply wool.

The shawl patterns are truely beautiful

I was very disapointed when I received my copy of this book, to find that most of the lovely lace patterns are printed in CHART form. I am very much against chart patterns. Anyone can read a written pattern with out having to look at a list to ask, "What in the world does 'K' mean?". Anyone who has spent any time with needle in hand would know. where as one must continually return to a chart to figure out what the heck a certain symbol means.

If I had known this book was printed in this form I would NEVER have wasted my hard earned money on it. VERY disapointing to say the least!