South American & Eastern

Designs ancient and modern; colors bold and joyous

Japanese Inspired Knits

Inspired by the seasonal festivals and traditions of Japan, Marianne Isager blends traditional Scandinavian knitting with a distinctive Japanese influence in Japanese Inspired Knits. She helps readers explore beautiful design elements steeped in folk customs with these patterns created especially for women. True to the Japanese ideals of high-quality design and materials, Marianne presents 12 sweaters oriented around the months of the year that are knit using almost a dozen different techniques. With project names like Sake and Soba, Summer in Tokyo, Rice Fields, Flower Buds, and Stone Garden, knitters have inspiration aplenty. In additional to standard knit and purl combinations, the patterns feature double knitting, domino knitting, shadow knitting, lace, cables, entrelac, intarsia, and stranded two-color knitting. All techniques are described in detail with clear text and illustrations, and an illustrated glossary at the end of the book provides additional technical instruction needed for any project. Also included are Japanese ideographs that relate to themes that inspired the projects, a Japanese calendar, plus lush travel photography of Japan that will inspire any knitter.

Inca Knits

Incorporating Incan knitting traditions with contemporary trends, Isager's new collection of knitwear designs features 25 garments that bring the vibrant and geometric motifs of the Andean design to the 21st century. By innovatively combining knit-and-purl techniques in lightweight yarns, the stunning colors, stripes, and zigzags of South American patterns are complemented by subtle textures. All the featured projects are suitable for any intermediate knitter, with instructions and charts for each pattern as well as a glossary to clarify various knitting techniques. Beyond its instructional role, this guide also directs knitters to find inspiration for their own designs by examining the landscape, wildlife, and pottery of the high Andes.

Andean Folk Knits

Many of us with an interest in world knitting awaited the publication of this book with more than a little impatience - when, oh when, would we get to see these amazing designs photographed and explained? How much longer would the gaping hole in knitting literature go unfilled?

I am exhilarated to say that we need wait no longer -- the book is available and the designs are everything we'd hoped for. Included are traditional bags, purses, hats and other items, knit in energetic traditional colors. The motifs have been gathered lovingly, explained from the heart and used with delight throughout the book. The shapes, uses and patterns that form the articles and their designs are strikingly new to those of us raised in northern knitting traditions -- and it is their boldness and exhuberance that draws your attention and holds it. You'll find yourself barely able to wait until you can find your needles before create these joyous accessories. Wonderful stuff, this!

I must, however, mention that there is a disappointing aspect of Andean Folk Knits . In addition to awaiting this book for its designs, most of us were also awaiting its publication for what we thought would be the first clearly explained introduction to the traditional Andean techniques of knitting, most notably, the purl-faced yarn-around-the-neck technique of speeding through this unique style of color pattern knitting. Unfortunately, although there are several photos of local knitters using this technique, all the directions and knitting instructions in the book use standard northern methods.