Here is a book you can turn to when you crave stunning design and innovative, fresh construction. Whether offering up a scarf or leading the knitter through the intricacies of a cardigan with all circular lines (you'll want to spend time looking at this one, for sure), Helen Hamann breathes vibrant new life into the possibilities of knit garment design. A fascinating aspect of her smashing designs is that the motifs and over all color schemes are as genuinely traditional as her designs and construction techniques are innovative, modern and inspiring.

This is a book to spend time with, dream with and go back to often. There is so much about design, color, what is old and what is new here that your relationship with this book can only flourish over time. Another must-have for the knitting colorist.

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.

The GOOD news is that we have found a truly terrific video/dvd presentation that details every aspect of this knitting style. Please see immediately below for The Wong Way of Handknitting by Andrea Wong. Combining this video with Andean Folk Knits will give you everything you need to really explore this traditional craft.

I became intensely interested in learning about this technique when I was struggling through the "Pearls of Wisdom" sock found in Socks, Socks, Socks. Because the sock itself is an ode to Pablo Neruda, the designer chose to begin with a large cuff done in purl-faced checks (an Andean design). Never having encountered a purl-faced color pattern before, I naively plunged into it. And plunged, and plunged, and plunged, thinking I'd never surface from this interminable, impossible knitting. There I was, holding each color in a different hand, like the good northern knitter that I am, and having to manipulate the strands backward and forward, in and out of each other's way -- anyway, I did finish the socks and they are beautiful and my poetry-loving daughter treasures them. But I also emerged with a commitment to find out how the indigenous people really knit this color pattern, because I was and am convinced that no form of knitting would survive if it were done the way I was doing it.

The Wong Way of Handknitting was the answer to my quest! Andrea Wong learned these techniques from her Brazilian mother who learned them from a Portuguese friend. Her video presentation guides you through every step of knitting with the yarn around the neck, using the thumb to pop it over the waiting needle point and creating fabric faster than I ever though was possible. Had I known how to do this before starting those socks, I would have been finished in about half the time. In fact, this technique is SO GOOD and SO FAST that I don't know why it has taken until now for us northern knitters to start to catch on.

I have also been told by knitters with advanced arthritis that "Wonging" has enabled them to return to the craft they love. It uses far fewer discreet finger movements and, because the tension is maintained by the neck, there is much less tension in the hands. What a wonderful thing!

Andrea has also invented a little pin that you can use instead of wrapping the yarn around your neck. Look over in the left margin of this page if you'd like to try it out -- I have tried it and must say that I find it to be more comfortable and tidier than working with the yarn around my neck.

Priscilla A Gibson-Roberts is one of the most consummate knitting researchers ever. Her years of research have culminated in this phenomenal sock book for intelligent knitters. The author explains and diagrams construction, provides easy-to-read color charts and teaches us to create within the tradition rather than follow a specific pattern. There is no line-by-line text, yet we learn numerous diagramed construction and design techniques. Structurally, none of the 26 pairs are alike although most start at the toe leaving choice of finish at the top to us. A must have!

See Andrea Wong's DVD to learn the knitting technique that many Eastern knitters use to create such socks and stockings.

From the rural villages of Turkey come these outstanding traditional stocking patterns. Forceful in design and vivid in color, these patterns are as delightful to knit as they are to wear. Included are complete instructions for knitting socks as the Turkish do and guidelines for adapting these patterns to use in sweaters, hats, and anything else you like.

After the dazzling color patterns, the most outstanding contribution of this book is that it offers the most complete, comprehensive and clear instructions on traditional toe-up sock construction. If you have ever been interested in exploring this technique, this is the book for you. Between the excellent line drawings and Zilboorg's crystal-clear text, you'll have no trouble at all learning this technique (and the cast-on that makes grafting a thing of the past!).