Reviews

If this book were a movie, it would evoke Lawrence of Arabia-an epic tale of passion, dedication, and persistence. Here the authors pursue the unwritten knitting tradition of those old-time and ethnic knitters who created well-fitting sweaters using a mental schematic instead of written instructions. There are no patterns or line-by-line instructions. The authors, both experienced in writing about knitting, leave color choices and other frills up to the reader, preferring to illustrate their work with hundreds of clear line drawings instead of the glossy, full-color photos so common in other knitting books. At the book's core are 15 sweater shapes and the tools to construct a well-fitting sweater for any size person using gauge and a percentage system for pattern drafting. This substantial revision of a work published in 1985 drops the section on handspinning (now well covered elsewhere) and uses the space to expand upon intarsia techniques, intrelac, color stranding, and combining knitting and crochet. This landmark title is an essential purchase for serious textile collections in public and academic libraries. Also note that the publisher has just reissued Gibson-Roberts's excellent Simple Socks, Plain and Fancy with a better index in a more reader-friendly format. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.