Guernsey or Gansey, no matter what you call it, they are favorite sweaters to make and treasured sweaters to wear and pass along to the next generation. Meg Swansen invites us along on one of her "knitting vacations" along the gloriously beautiful Oregon Coast (near Coos Bay, I believe, judging from the scenery).

In addition to walking us through the basics of Guernsey construction, history and yarn, Meg takes us along many a side road, into realms of little known techniques, some clever, some simply brilliant. The result is a Guernsey to love and inspiration to carry you on to your next dozen!

Some of the things you'll learn are:

• Channel Island cast-on: a variation of long-tail cast-on that results in a charming picot edge along the bottom of the sweater
• Split lower garter stitch welt
• Indian Corn stitch (one of the most difficult to find documented! [though easy to accomplish])
• gussets - and the value of purl stitches
• texture patterns and some of their unique behavior
• garter-stitch weaving
• knitting-up around armholes
• decreasing to cuffs
• EZ's Sewn Cast Off

Fair Isle Knitting is my all-time favorite Fair Isle book. Somehow, Sarah Don managed to breathe so much life into her portrait of this tradition that every time I pick up my old, worn copy (more than 20 years old at this point), it sets my heart abeating and my fingers flying to find needles and yarn.

Imagine, then, my delight at learning that this great book -- having languished in the twilight zone of out-of-print books for decades -- was being reprinted. And now it's here, to share with knitters once again.

In it you'll find history, and motifs and the information you need to transform it all into a sweater, vest or scarf or hat. You'll also find an infectious enthusiasm and warmth, something with which Don seems to penetrate each of her words. Her discussion of techniques is thorough, yet concise and inviting; and her garment designs are wonderful -- ranging as they do from classic to bold. Perhaps most importantly, what you'll discover is decades of wonder and enjoyment -- just to read Fair Isle Knitting is to feel uplifted. It is just so very good to see this book back in print!!

And if you use a good quality Shetland (we really do recommend our Elemental Affects Jumper Weight Shetland as being the finest available anywhere), you'll rediscover why this wool and the yarn made from it has been so beloved all these many, many years.

Fair Isle knitting is a favorite of mine - I simply love watching the colors emerge as patterns as I knit. Now you can follow Meg Swansen as she shows you not just how to knit a beautifully-designed Fair Isle vest, but any number of tips and tricks for making it exceptional. After your knitting excursion with Meg, you'll be equipped to design your own and will have sufficient inspiration to propel you toward as many Fair Isle knitting adventures as you have yarn and time for. You'll also get a view of some of Wisconsin's most beautiful woodlands, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

A special bonus on this DVD is the "fashion show" at the end where we get to see not only Meg's collection of Fair Isle sweaters (begun by her mother, Elizabeth Zimmermann), but also several sweaters designed by Knitting Camp attendees and loaned for the DVD. Wow! "Breathtaking" barely begins to describe it. Among them is Sarah Don's Fair Isle pullover (jumper) in all natural shades of Shetland, pattern in Sarah Don's Fair Isle Knitting, above. Glorious!

Some of the techniques you'll be treated to are:

• two types of casting on
• corrugated rib
• two-color knitting
• kangaroo-pouches
• v-neck shaping
• knitting-back-backwards
• machine-stitched steeks
• woven shoulders
• pick-up ratio for neck border
• neatening
• final blocking

I have to say that if you can have only one lace book, this is the one to get because it really covers everything and presents each and every tidbit beautifully. Sharon Miller must love not only lace knitting, but teaching and writing equally well, for this book is one of the most sterling knitting books to have ever been crafted.

She invites us into the world of Shetland lace through a door that opens at the very beginning, both of the lace itself and the knitting skill one needs to make it. Although the book's nearly 300 pages are peppered with one ravishing photo of heirloom lace after another, they are also liberally graced with clear photos, drawings, charts and explanations of every single thing you need and want to know. She offers one of the clearest and most detailed discussions of Shetland lace history, tracing the techniques and economy along with an overview of pattern origins and the like. From there, we learn the special cast-ons used on the Shetland Isles for this lace and are showered with all manner of tips for techniques and approaches the author has discovered over time.

And then come the patterns: 120 pages of traditional Shetland lace motifs, clearly photographed, charted and explained. Miller even shares which patterns work well for which parts of a garment (e.g., does a pattern decrease in a lovely way for a mitered corner, or is it best left to the center?).

Then follows a 60 page section devoted to design - much to my delight she begins her discourse on charting, laying out, etc. with a discussion of wool and the dear Shetland sheep that produce it. Hand spinners will love her discussion on spinning lace yarn. After these few pages, it's time to get out paper, pencil and ruler and join her in a excursion through lace garment design, including fitted garment (e.g., jacket) design, just in case you thought it would be strictly shawls.

At last, you arrive at her projects: all graded from very beginner to very experienced, and each and everyone beautiful and exciting. There are 8 different projects with complete instructions ranging from layettes to an Unst shawl and Christening gown than are museum quality. Additionally, of course, always remember that as you travelled Heirloom Knitting, you were given all the tools you need to chart your own course and create your own masterpiece. Sharon Miller's life's work will have become your heart's delight.

Sarah Don is one of my all-time knitting heroines, dating from way back in the late 1970s/early 1980s when I discovered her wonderful Fair Isle Knitting (soon to be available again after too long out of print!), a book brimming with lore, how-to's, and some of the most beautiful Fair Isle sweaters I'd ever seen. Fair Isle became a favorite technique, one that I still love today. I owe it all to Sarah Don.

The Art of Shetland Lace came and went during the same time -- and it is every bit as rich and inspiring as her Fair Isle book. It, too, languished out of print for what has seemed like forever, so it is no real surprise that many of us feel like celebrating. It offers a richness of history and technique, replete with black and white photos of museum pieces that showcase an inspiring knitting tradition, one to which we owe some of the world's most beautiful lace heirlooms.

Here, Sarah Don takes us from history to basic design elements, from garment structures through traditional patterns and on to complete shawls, scarves and more that you can make yourself. I find that anywhere I open the book, I am quickly drawn in, captivated, inspired and encouraged to go forward into my own lace projects. The Art of Shetland Lace is just that good - a must have for any lace knitter's bookshelf.

It is hard to believe that a book that boasts just under 50 pages can have so much in it - but it does. If you gather yarn and needles then sit down and open the pages of this petite treasure, you will begin a journey that will take you through all the basics of the Shetland tradition of lace knitting. And then it will take you beyond the basics and into the realms of pure delight and delectible lace.

Here's how Hazel Carter does it, chapter by chapter:

• Introduction and Notes to Beginners (covers charts, symbols, materials, dressing and dressing frame)
• Seven basic patterns
• Diamonds
• Reducing charts
• Interlocking diamonds
• More traditional patterns
• Combination patterns
• Advanced patterns (and she shows you how to use all these patterns to create intricate-looking lace as she goes along)
• Edgings 1-4
• Articles [of clothing] to make (includes more patterns)
• Modern applications and experiments
  

You get the picture - Carter's little book is much bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. A classic and a treasure for any lace knitter!

From very simple to absolutely splendiforous, Inger Fredholm's wonderful book presents the world of Swedish and Fair Isle knitting from its most traditional to its most amazing possibilities. In doing so, Fredholm reveals herself to be a designer of remarkable capacity and creativity. Anyone interested in color pattern knitting or traditional design or how traditional design can transform to match or even lead modern tastes and sensibilities will not just want this book, but once possesed, will barely be able to set it down. It is just that exciting and inspiring.

Beginning with a series of "Simple Swedish" sweater, cap and afgan designs, all easy to knit, lovely and practical to wear, she quickly moves into (again, still simple) some innovative textured and lace garments. Once she has your attention, however, she moves quickly into the less simple (think "intermediate"): an elegant lace jacket, a lace jacket & skirt ensemble; and the not-to-be missed "Tango Dress".

And from there she pulls out all the stops with color, from simple two- or three-color patterning to fantastic and phenomenal 16 or 20 or 21 (or whatever - you get the picture) colors. Now, we all know that the use of many colors can either be kaleidoscopic or catastrophic - I can assure you that in Fredholm's case, her results are exquisite and scintillating. They also take Fair Isle knitting into realms few have travelled and are inspiring and exciting.

There's more: She offers instruction on her own method of carrying two colors, serves up a mouthwatering recipe for Swedish Cinnamon Buns, and tucks bits of history and design considerations throughout her book. This is one book that is a treasure, a classic the moment it left the presses. I guarantee you'll love it, too.

Here's an opportunity to take the mystery (and uncertainty) out of the prospect of creating an Aran sweater. Janet Szabo's masterful guidebook covers everything from history to construction options in a way that is so clear, yet so inviting of creativity that there just isn't anyway I can think of that you could go wrong following her sage advice.

After covering the basics of history, fiber, needles, and so forth, Janet moves into the realm of cables and honeycombs, diamonds and ribbing. It is here that she shines enormous light on the how-to's and whyfor's of Aran construction. Her examples are so well-chosen that she really does cover the enormous range of the design possibilities offered by the realm of Aran knitting. Her tips and thoughts about placement of various types of cabling are stellar, and her sample design sketches not only help clarify the design concepts, but also inspire beyond what is shown.

By the time you reach the sections on actually designing full sweaters and vests, you are empowered with a wealth of knowledge. Her design methods are pain-free and wonderful. I was able to sketch out three possible designs in about 10 minutes. Were I to knit them, I would, of course, review and refine a bit, but you get the point: her teaching is so extraordinary that the design phase of your Aran will simply flow out of your mind and onto your paper. Needless to say, once you've mastered Aran design, there is an enormous amount you can apply to all other sweater designs, too.

This is a must-have resource for any knitter who wants to enter the world of sweater design.

What a treat to find this classic back in print! It is to Dowager Lady Gainford that we owe this sparkling collection of traditional Scottish stocking top turn-overs and cuff designs, gathered by her from her friends and neighbors in the countryside surrounding her home. Some of these are just breathtaking in their combination of beauty and design - really, you'll want to make yourself a pair even if you never want to be seen in a kilt. As a sourcebook for sock knitters, it belongs on every shelf, maybe even in every knitting bag - it is just that inspiring.

I should add that if you are very new to the world of sock knitting, you will want to read Lady Gainford's instructions closely. Her manner of presentation is not as intuitive as we have become accustomed to, though her instructions are complete, once you grasp how she conveys them. And, you will need to simply trust your own common sense as to gauge -- she never once (that I've found, at any rate) gives a suggested gauge for a stocking, though she does give suggested needle size ranges in some places. However, you must also remember that she uses English sizes, not American or metric. So, when she says, for instance, to use "nothing larger than a 10 or smaller than a 13," please translate that to "nothing larger than a US 3/3.25mm or smaller than a US 1/2.5mm."

With those few things in mind, you will quickly find yourself happily ensconced among some of Scotland's greatest knitting traditions, able to knit stunning stockings with ease. Maybe you'll even develop a craving for bagpipe music, who knows? (I love the stuff myself, but, then, I grew up on it.)

There must be something wonderful about the Isle of Lewis, where Alice Starmore grew up. I've never even seen pictures of it, but I'm convinced that the countryside must be filled with a myriad of the most subtle colors imaginable, and as many textures for the hand and forms for the eye. Perhaps the Gaelic spoken there is one of those languages where there are hundreds of words for, say, 'blue,' so vast do I believe its design pallette must be. How else can you explain Starmore's ability to mix and blend so many colors and fibers into sweaters that are as cutting-edge modern as they are traditional?

Whether or not the real Isle of Lewis matches the one of my dreams, the designs in The Celtic Collection are breathtaking and inviting. Some are misty color blends, others almost wildly vibrant. Each of them beckons your hands and needles, and there isn't a one of them that isn't a celebration of graceful style, that wouldn't be just wonderful to wear.

Fishermen's Sweaters is a delicious journey through the fishing communities of Scotland, England, Ireland, then across the Channel into Norway, the Faroe Isles, the Baltic Sea and back to Breton, France; and then Alice Starmore takes a leap across the Atlantic and creates new "traditional" sweaters for New World fishermen, as well. In each of these sweaters, in her amazing way, she has picked up elements of design that really speak to the places and people she contemplated. Then she transforms them into something very new that carries those traditions into the present, beauty and purpose intact. I just love see the ways Alice Starmore plays with designs, always keeping a wonderful, lively balance between the old and the new.

This collection is so inspiring that not only do I want to knit each and every one of the sweaters, but I am already playing with ways to create new designs, new directions. Fishermen's Sweaters is one of those design books that goes well beyond just offering patterns and directions for lovely sweaters - Starmore's world comes alive in it and you'll find you're able to travel a ways down the road with her, creating as you go.

Beth Brown-Reinsel has produced a beautiful tribute to a beloved classic sweater style, and in the process actually carried on and expanded upon the work of two of my favorite authors: Gladys Thompson, who brought us Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arans (below) and Mary Wright, whose classic Cornish Guernseys and Knit Frocks is, alas, still languishing out-of-print. If you are at all interested in exploring the magnificent world of gansey knitting, Knitting Ganseys is a must-have.

Gansey sweaters were standard wear for 19th Century British fishermen. With their intricate knit-purl patterns, dropped sholders and easy fit, these sweaters have remained an all-time favorite - still beautiful and a pleasure to wear even in our modern, urban world.

In Knitting Ganseys, Beth Brown-Reinsel teaches you how to design and contruct your own ganseys. You'll discover special cast-ons, cables and increases, shoulder straps and gussets, and more. She even includes instructions for a miniature sample gansey, which will allow you to experience all the techniques in a matter of a few hours.

When you're read to knit a full-sized gansey, you can choose from six of the authors designs, or use her instructions for creating your own original design. There's plenty of information on sizing, graphing, and technique, as well as blank graph paper and a terrific worksheet (thorough beyond belief!).

Knitting Ganseys is a book to treasure and use and use and use - as classic as the sweaters it showcases.

After languishing for far too many years in the misty realms of out of print books, this classic reference and guide is once again back in print. The original title of this comprehensive manual devoted to one of the world's favorite forms of textured knitting was The Complete Book of Traditional Aran Knitting. Though I personally prefer the new title, I have to acknowledge that the old title may well convey the breadth and depth of this work better, for Shelagh Hollingworth misses nary a beat when addressing her subject and us.

Inside you will find a short history of the Aran Islands, and a concise overview of the history of Aran knitting and its patterns. Then, the author introduces the yarn, the tools and the techniques used in creating and Aran sweater.* There is also an excellent (really excellent) chapter on Designing an Aran Sweater complete with diagrams and a beautifully clear explanation of who to marry the stitch patterns you love with the construction necessary for a sweater.

And, with that introduction under your belt, away you may go to discover 76 Aran stitch patterns followed by 20 complete patterns for everything traditional fisherman's sweaters to family sweaters, cardigans, coats, hats, mittens, even cushion covers (which double as great stitch samplers!). All of which is presented so clearly and simply that you can just jump right in and start knitting in full confidence of a wonderful result.

This is a must-have book for anyone who loves this tradition and textured knitting in general. There is a such wealth of information here that a knitting library without it would be very deprived indeed.
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*I will say that Hollingsworth's detailed instructions, complete with photographs, for creating seemingly complex cables, while excellent in its overview, is from our perspective 20 years later, a bit old school in that it uses a cable needle for even very narrow cables. If you haven't already discovered it, Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen have a brilliant section on knitting cables without cable needles in A Knitting Glossary. This technique is so much easier than using cable needles that I strongly urge you to make it your own.

Sheila McGregor's Traditional Fair Isle Knitting introduced me to the world of color-pattern knitting. I remmeber what a wonderful breakthrough it was for me when I learned to carry one color in my right hand and the other color in my left hand for smooth non-stop knitting. If you haven't learned that technique yet, I can assure you that it is easier to do it than to think about doing it, and that you'll be sailing along with two colors in no time.

I also remember marvelling at the Celtic inventiveness that discovered a way to double the thickness of a wool garment while creating beautiful colored designs that make the heart rejoice. I'm still in awe of the knitting techniques that allowed these handknitters to develop speeds of 2 and even 3 stitch per second. Whew!

In this definitive guide, McGregor shows how any circular knitting technique can yield the Fair Isle patterns. There are more than 70 pages of designs, so you'll have plenty to choose from. Additionally, there is practical advice on garment design and the use of color. Back in print after too many years' absence, this is probably the best source of authentic Fair Isle patterns ever written. Enjoy!

This is one of the first "specialty" knitting books I purchased when I began my own knitting adventures about 30 years ago. I still have it, still use it, still love it.

I love these sweaters whose patterns are named from the sea. Then there are the stories of the different styles of sweater, changing from village to village and from family to family. Some of the stories Thompson relates of how she came by the patterns still make me smile - following fishermen around while taking notes about the sweaters they were wearing! And the photos of the fishermen! My!

Thompson's instructions for the knitting patterns are crystal clear. The garment instructions are also clear, but an original editor decided that knitting in the round (the way these sweaters have traditionally been made) was too much for American knitters, and broke the instructions for the full garments into flat pieces to be worked back and forth, then stitched together. If you prefer circular knitting, as I do by far, it is really not at all difficult to make whole what has been separated and proceed as though that editor had never touched this book. See Knitting in the Old Way for "translation" instructions from flat to circular construction.

This is a book that will travel with you and your knitting for years and years to come.