Knitting in the Old Way by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts and Deborah Robson, softback published by Nomad Press in the USA. Price 27.95 US dollars, ISBN 978-0-9668289-6-2, available from www.nomad-press.com
This book takes you back to knitting before charts and line by line instructions became the norm. It looks at traditional knitting from around the world and teaches the designs and techniques of ethnic sweaters. It is suitable for beginners and advanced knitters alike.
There is a reason for being – an introduction to the origins of knitting, methods and techniques, which along with the basic patterns take up a third of the book. The latter have all been drawn to the same size so that you can mix and match.
We then go on lessons of discovery around the world, starting with Norway, we then visit Sweden, Great Britain, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Samiland, Canada and America to discover different motifs, patterns and ways to use colour stranding. Catch your breath for we are now on an adventure of a different kind to discover intarsia, this time in Denmark, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Austria and Germany. A briefer look into geometric patterning takes us to Denmark, Scotland and Finland. Finally there is a Finnish sweater combining crochet and knitting.
At the beginning of each section, there is a brief introduction to the history of the technique in the given country. There are examples of typical sweaters. Charts are given for the motifs. It is up to you to take it from there – will you follow the traditional style and colouring, will you adapt? Will you take it beyond the boundaries of the norm?
This is my favourite of all Nomad Press’s knitting books – it encourages discovery. You gain a sense of history, a basic dictionary of stitches and motifs, a basic book of pattern shapes. Most of all you learn that knitting is a path of discovery that can take you anywhere. The versatility of this art is present in this book. The 312 page black and white book with line drawings is well worth the price. I would not let go of mine for ten times the price.