Synopses & Reviews
Delve into the history of your favorite pastime with this detailed, lavishly illustrated, and definitive book. Knitting Around the World follows the emergence and popularity of knitting around the globe, providing the story behind favorite techniques and styles like Fair Isle, Peruvian Ch’ullas, Swedish Bohus, Norwegian Setesdal, and more. Trace knitting’s trail, from its purported origins in the Islamic world up through Spain, into Western Europe and beyond, and, eventually, across the ocean to our own shores. Along with the rich history of the craft, Knitting Around the World includes profiles of historically significant knitters and modern knitters who are using traditional techniques today, historical patterns that exemplify knitting styles from around the world, plus more than 250 photographs. Knitting Around the World is a book every knitter will treasure for years to come.
Review
Knitting began in the 12th century in the Arab world but spread quickly. Nargi (Astounding Knits!) takes knitters on an around-the-world tour of traditional knitting. The history is the heart of the book, but there’s so much more here, including interviews with well-known knitting experts, descriptions of unique yarns and techniques, and projects focused on each region’s styles and traditions. This excellent—and very readable—reference to global knitting traditions belongs on the bookshelf of any knitter interested in the history and development of knitting. - Library Journal XPress
Synopsis
Here is the history of knitting around the globe, examining styles, techniques, and particular styles countries and regions--including England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Japan, Australia, Canada, United States, Peru, Bolivia, and more. Highlighted are 20 profiles of historically significant knitters who are using particular techniques today--plus 20 patterns that exemplify knitting traditions from around the world.
Synopsis
Knitting Around the World presents the history of hand knitting and, in some instances, some of the conflicting opinions about hand knitting history in the various countries where knitting has found a toehold throughout the centuries. It also attempts to follow knitting’s trail, from its purported origins in the Islamic world up through Spain, into Western Europe and beyond, and, eventually, across the ocean to our own shores. Mostly, though, it seeks to present the knitting traditions of these places in all their particularities. What makes the knitting of Sweden (or Estonia, or Peru) so distinctly Swedish (or Estonian, or Peruvian)? Herein lie answers—some old, some new, and, hopefully, all inspiring.
About the Author
Lela Nargi is the author of Around the Table: Women on Food, Cooking, Nourishment, Love . . . and the Mothers Who Dished It Up for Them and Knitting Lessons: Tales from the Knitting Path. She is also the editor of The Farmer's Wife Baking Cookbook, published by Voyageur Press. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. www.lelanargi.com