Product Description

Discover the secrets of lace knitting with this wonderful collection of 16 projects. Discover the joys of lace knitting with this fantastic new volume, from two leading lace experts, featuring 16 original projects. Worked exclusively in lace-weight and fine yarns, these wonderful projects - including shawls, stoles, scarves, and triangles - are bound to become sure-fire favourites with knitters everywhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104538 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781564778321
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Carol Noble is a knitwear designer and author who has been selling her own custom designs for nearly 30 years. Margaret Peterson is a lace expert from the Shetland Islands, who is well known for the quality of her lace and designs.

Customer Reviews

Not for Lace Newbies
I eagerly awaited the publication of a new book on Shetland Lace knitting in hopes of finding a well-designed, well-written, and well-charted authentic Shetland shawl pattern. It ain't here folks. There are a few nice stole designs, namely Carol's Alice Maud Stole, Carol's High-Country Wrap, and Carol's Alpine Meadow Stole. However, only the Alpine Meadow Stole and Margaret's Cockleshell Scarf speak clearly to the unique lace of the Shetland Isles. Several patterns (Carol's Peaches and Cream Scarf, etc.)reflect the lace of Orenburg, Russia -- not what one expects to find in a book on Shetland lace. All of the patterns are in chart form with written instructions to support the charts. The patterns are not in written format. I have identified several errors in the charts--be sure to check for errata before starting any project.

I strongly discourage new and less-experienced lace knitters from using the patterns in this book for their beginning lace projects. The lead author's (CRN) well-known bias against the use of circular needles and atypical recommendations for needle/yarn match-ups and blocking will leave newbie's incredibly frustrated and poorly guided in the art of lace knitting. Be aware that the CYCA yarn weight numbering system is incorrectly applied to many of the yarns in this book (ie., Jaggerspun Zephyr 2/18 is a #0, not a #2; Matchmaker Merino 4 ply is a #2, not a #3). I suggest comparing yarn to yarn when making substitutions. The recommended needle size for all of the patterns is *much* smaller than is customary in lace knitting. For example, CRN recommends that Doceur et Soie, a fingering wt. kid mohair and silk blend, be knit using US1/2.25mm needles. By way of comparison, Jane Sowerby, author of Victorian Lace Today, recommended a US7/4.5mm needle for the same type of yarn. I suggest that knitters start out using a needle that is ~2 sizes larger than the pattern states (a US3/3.25mm instead of a US1/2.25mm; a US5/3.75 instead of a US3/3.35mm) and make individual adjustments from there. I found this to be successful in swatching several patterns from the book (Carol's Ruffles, Margaret's Cockleshells, etc.).

The author has also taken liberties with the application of the CYCA skill level ratings. Only Carol's Peaches and Cream Scarf merits an easy rating and even that should be elevated to intermediate given the yarn/needle recommendation. Experienced knitters will know how to make the necessary changes to successfully knit from this book, others should look elsewhere for their Shetland Lace designs. In short, I found this book to be a huge disappointment--definitely not worth the purchase price.

What the hell does this have to do with the North Sea?
Okay, so the book isn't horrible. That is, if you want to knit generic lace scarves. That's about all there is. A few shawls and stoles, most of which really are scarves, too. But a Russian pea-stitch pattern? Scarves entitled "Mountain Stream", "Alpine Meadow", "Peaches and Cream" and the most bizarre, MARDI GRAS"??? There are no alpine meadows or mountains in Shetland, and if you want to eat peaches in Unst, they're most likely from a tin. The last time anyone celebrated Mardi Gras north of John o' Groats, Scotland, was, well, probably never. Margaret Leask, a well-known Shetland lace knitter, is mysteriously ghost-like in this book. The introduction, instructions and comments seem to be all written by Carol Noble -- who is from Nevada, and writes that the patterns are influenced by Orenburg knitting. Russia and the American West as inspiration for this book, now that makes more sense. (And by the way, no, Russia does not figure in Shetland's history or culture.) Most telling is that out of the 5 yarn resources listed at the end of the book, 4 are American and 1 is in Shetland. . .with an erroneous web address. That kind of says it all. (The correct address is www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk.) I really like some of Noble's other books-- Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves is wonderful. But this is a major disappointment.

The book is 80 pages long, and they have included the title page and copyright pages in that total. Of the true pages, a full third are photos with no text-- and none of them look like they were taken anywhere near Shetland. You get 16 designs (some of which are lovely), and very little general information and no history whatsoever. And for this you pay $28.

If you really want to investigate Shetland lace knitting, I would highly recommend spending your money elsewhere. . .such as The Art of Shetland Lace by Sarah Don, Shetland Lace by Gladys Amedro, and Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller.

What a letdown...
I was so hopeful this would be the Shetland lace version of "Gossamer Webs", which really is a wonderful book. However, this book is such a half-hearted effort, with drippy descriptions and incredibly uninspired and mostly unauthentic designs, that you would be better off saving up for one of the more authoritative books on Shetland lace. Such a disappointment.