Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting
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Book Overview
Scotland's Fair Isle is celebrated the world over for its distinctive, stranded-color knitting, and Alice Starmore is famous for her expertise in designing and instructing knitters in this appealing regional tradition. Starmore's richly illustrated guide offers both beginning and advanced knitters a complete workshop in the Fair Isle style. It not only explores the art's history, patterns, and traditional techniques but also encourages knitters to develop their own creativity. Starmore explains the traditional Fair Isle techniques of circular knitting and presents detailed tutorials on incorporating classic motifs, exploring color schemes, and creating unique patterns and designs. She shares fourteen of her own original designs, including patterns for cardigans, vests, fishermen's sweaters, hats, gloves, and mittens. More than 250 photographs, drawings, and easy-to-follow charts illustrate sources of inspiration, simple instructions, and spectacular results. Knitting devotees agree: If you have only one book of Fair Isle patterns, this is the one to have!
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0486472183
ISBN13:9780486472188
Release Date:August 2009
Publisher:Dover Publications
Length:208 Pages
Weight:2.08 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 8.2" x 10.8"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
You already know about Alice Starmore and Fair Isle Knitting
Published by bernie4444 , 5 months ago
This book is a classic for anyone serious about Fair Isle Knitting.
First, it covers the history and environment of what Fair Isle Knitting is about in “A brief history”.
Partial table of contents:
A brief history
Pattern
Color
Technique
A wardrobe of patterns
Creating your own designs
There are maps and pictures of Fair Isle.
An Essential Reference
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This stellar book manages to answer every question I ever had about Fair Isles Knitting, as well as a whole host of questions I hadn't even realized I should have been asking. Profusely illustrated with breathtaking color photographs, this book fills me with the mad inspiration to create every single time I open it. The charted designs are abundant and varied, the technical information is incomparable, and Starmore does an excellent job of making this highly detailed and specialized form of knitting accessible to beginners and experienced knitters alike. If you want to expand your knowledge of stranded multicolor knitting, this book is a MUST HAVE.
A must for knitters
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
If you own ONE book on colorwork, this might just be the best choice. While Starmore deals with Fair Isle style knitting only, the techniques are useful for all kinds of knitting design.In addition to the history of Fair Isle knitting, Starmore explains the use of OXO patterns mixed with "peerie" or bands of small patterns that are mixed with the larger patterns and provide a pleasing rhythm to the design. The fact that only two colors are used per row is hard to believe when you look at how Starmore mixes subtle color changes to yield some amazing results. She also shows the inspiration for the colorways, from a handful of wet sea pebbles, to a moor landscape, to a flea market display of bric-a-brac. You can find colorways all around you once you get an eye for how Starmore looks at the world.The book has useful charts for OXO and peerie patterns and a section on how to construct classic pullovers, vests and cardigans. This is one of my most favorite knitting books.
Outstanding fair isle primer
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book will lead you through the history of fair isle knitting, designing, pattern and color selection, knitting with two or more colors, steeks, and finishing. Fair isle is magnificent and quite unlike anything else I'd done before. The concept of intricate color patterns done seamlessly with Shetland wool was and is quite appealing. I was able, with this book to become proficient in this marvelous style of knitting, creating a masterpiece my first go-round (pun unintended!). It also includes outstanding patterns. I literally wore out my first copy, the pages finally came loose from the binding and I am now on copy #2. I own quite a few books on knitting but consider this my fair isle reference.
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