Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50170 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781933027678
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Not worth the wait
The book is a disappointment for Nicky Epstein fans. In one of her projects she chats up taking an old sweater she had knit for a magazine layout--she cut it up, felted it, and made it into a really silly handbag. Her earlier book, Fabulous Felted Handbags, offers a rich assortment of wonderfully creative and stunning patterns--this recycled trifle pales by comparison. The projects in Knitting on Top of the World lack the Wow Factor that Epstein has delivered in most of her other books--the afghan book was a failure in my opinion too. The limited photographs fail to capture all the details of the pieces. The open-in-the-back lace sweater pattern is bizarre. Epstein is at her best playing around with the small details of projects, embellishments she calls them. Her 'edge' books have good ideas and are inspiring. In this book, she proves she is not a designer. Epstein is best when she explores details and the possibility of nuance. Who else puts those fab feathers on a sweater?

I was so disappointed
I own all of Nicky Epstein's books and am a total fan..HOWEVER, the designs in this book certainly do not live up to her prior ones...She is beginning to recycle old designs and that is NOT ok with me...or publish absurd ones like shrugs with no back, etc...so sad...

Fashion Forward Folk Knitting
Since I am a purist when it comes to folk knitting, it was hard for me to appreciate these fashion forward designs (ie. a cape based on two giant Fair Isle tams). It looks like the author/designer really enjoyed making these unique designs and they are beautifully photographed. Most of the colorwork patterns are very simple, some paired with very simple designs - which seemed out of place in the book when compared with the more sophisticated designs. Alternatively, some of the more sophisticated garments incorporated very simplistic color work patterning that detracted rather than enhanced the overall design. Out of all the folk knitting inspired designs, there were only two that I felt combined the best of both worlds, Nicky Epstein's unique, inventive and whimsical flourishes blended with a hint of tradition from the past: the "Tyrolean Leg Warmers" (they didn't look like they were inspired by traditional Tyrolean knitting at all except perhaps the cuffs but the Victorian inspired boot buttons running up the side of the leg look beautiful (very vintage inspired); and the Londonderry Rose Coat based on a cable pattern that is reminiscent of a gentleman's waist coat with a flourish of roses around the collar. There are a few unique designs here that I enjoyed the most that have all the signature features of Nicky Epstein designs which turned out to be designs that were not influenced by Folk Knitting at all - I think these designs showcase the designer's best efforts in this collection: La Belle Cardigan (think Knitting Beyond the Edge, Knitted Flowers etc. etc. all coming together in one gorgeous, feminine and elegant sweater...also keep in mind that the cost of the yarn to make this will be extremely expensive if you use the yarn in the sample), the "Mongolian Warrior Pullover" (honestly there is nothing Ethnic about this sweater, very unique design construction of woven strips of fabric reminiscent of a knitted rug made out of woven knitted strips of yarn), and the "Parisian Entrelac Wrap" which is a wrap and sweater in one, very unique and beautiful. Hai-Riyo, the fire breathing dragon, is also really cute and well done, classic Nicky Epstein. All in all, if you love Nicky Epstein, you'll probably love this book, but if you are looking for traditional Fair Isle or Norwegian/Northern European and Brittish designs, you won't find them here.