Folk Shawls: 25 knitting patterns and tales from around the world (Folk Knitting series)

Book contains classic shawl patterns that can be hard to find.

Hope to knit new shawls!

I enjoy taking time out from my other projects to make something delicate and decorative. My teenage daughter loves shawls and wraps of all kinds. We were both excited to get this book. I'm still excited to dive in and start. I just have one bone to pick: the yarn. There are 25 patterns, using 15 different yarns. For only 3 of those were any kind of yarn weight indication given. Not too terrible a problem, and rather common. I usually spend some time right after getting a new pattern book going through and marking the yarn weights. I've found a terrific internet tool that gives me the weights for all kinds of current and discontinued yarn. Except most of these yarns weren't in it. And gauge is not a good indicator when you're knitting lace. Well, that's what we have the internet for, right? But some of the yarns did not even have a manufacturer listed. Many of the yarns were from overseas sources, which do not use the same terminology we do. For two or three of the yarns, all I could find was an 'Ends Per Inch' measurement, which I discovered is for weaving, not knitting. In all, I spend over 90 minutes researching 12 yarn weights, and had to guess at three of them. I understand that yarn is sometimes discontinued between writing and publishing a book, and I firmly believe the author is entitled to use and recommend any yarn she likes, regardless of where it is produced or how popular or obscure it is. But some sort of hint as to yarn weight is important if you want to duplicate a pattern, which is the entire point of having a pattern.

Nice collection of folk shawls for the ambitious knitters. All beautiful and nicely curated.

I resisted buying this book for quite a while because I had been disappointed by an earlier purchase of a book about knitted shawls. I'm SO glad I gave in and ordered it! This book had what I missed in the other book - descriptive histories of the particular style or origin of shawl traditions from many countries (mentioned in other reviews). The historical perspective is fascinating and inspires thought about the day-to-day reality of the women who knitted them and the role that shawls and knitting played in women's lives. The shawl is perhaps one of the oldest of garments, worn by women in all kinds of rites of passage: as christening blankets, wedding veils, winding sheets, in celebration, in work, in prayer and in mourning. Surprisingly, while the shawls pictured are faithfully drawn from the traditional style of each country, none of them look dated or dowdy - all are superbly wearable today. The photographic presentation of the shawls is excellent - modeled by the author in a manner to focus on the shawl itself, its drape, its pattern, its construction. The shawls range in knitting challenge from beginner to advanced; from simple garter stitch to intricate lace pattern. The construction variations are fascinating - rectangular, triangular, square, butterfly-shaped, pieced. Each shawl pattern is presented in photograph and line drawing with both line-by-line and charted knitting directions. It is clear that much research, thought and love went into this book. Even if you don't wear shawls ("you just haven't met the right shawl", says the author), this book is a must-have for every true knitter's library.

One of the few sources for bottom-up Faroese shawls. If you have an older edition (mine is from 2000) be sure to look on the publisher's website for the pattern erratas. There are several so I printed them and put the pages with the affected patterns.

I am part of a shawl ministry and am gathering shawl patterns. I wanted to be able to do more than a plain shawl--hopefully cables, other patterns, and lace eventually. Some of these shawls are too fancy for our purposes, but my friends and family would love them. I especially liked the written instructions as well as the "graphed" instructions, the range of shawls from beginner to advanced, and the "fashionableness" of these shawls. They look good. I have almost finished the "Simple Garter Stitch Prarie Shawl". Despite its simplicity, the author said it "was a joy to knit"--and so it is. (I learned KfB and YO on this pattern--you see I am really a beginner.) I think my next shawl will be the Lace Prairie Shawl or the Aran Pocket Shawl. My goal is to do the Wool Peddler's Shawl and the North Sea Shawl and the Rebozo and .....you get the picture. If you like to knit shawls or just want one for yourself or as a gift, I would seriously consider getting this book. These are some lovely ones.

I bought this book after admiring a shawl knit by someone in my knitting group(The Wool Peddler's Shawl). I simply had to have it.There are 25 patterns in the book and stories about each shawl and how they came to be. The shawls illustrated are beautiful and show the craftsmanship and design skills of knitters around the world.The directions are clear and easy to follow, no matter what level of skill you have. In addition, the beginning of the book shows techniques one needs in order to knit the various shawls. The book illustrates triangular, square and rectangular shawls.I have enjoyed reading this book to see how various shawls came to be and I can't wait to begin the Wool Peddler's Shawl and show it off to my knitting friends. It's well worth the price and a good value.

This is a fantastic book! You would imagine a book of shawls might be stale and old fashioned even irrelevant nowadays. The cover may be a bit uninspiring but the contents are anything but!! Really amazing patterns, not the lacy unwearable type but really robust shawls/wraps with a rich history and intricate designs mainly designed for using regular yarn/wool. The opener says if you don't wear a shawl you haven't found the right one and I have to say I think the book is right! Great patterns to choose from and they would make wonderful heirloom gifts. Really original and beautiful pieces of art.

Am about to embark on my first project in this book. If I have one criticism it is that the shawls are HUGE! However the photographs are lovely, the charts and instructions are clear and the patterns are fabulous. I am about to make the Bird's Nest rectangular shawl from my own handspun yarn. Each project gives the yardage required so it is easy to substitute yarn- really helpful.

Ack! My favourite shawl knitting book of all time. Chock full of great projects and tips, along with cultural background and shawls modelled by the charming author. What a craftswoman. Love it so much I bought one for my sister.

I awaited this book from the USA and I wasn't disappointed. There is a section about how the shawls developed and easy to follow instructions. Can't wait to get my needles out and try some of them. One of the nicest shawl books I've bought.

What a beautiful collection. The only problem is which one to start first, and should I finish my WIPs or abandon them for a while. Hmmmm