cover image Knitting with Icelandic Wool

Knitting with Icelandic Wool

V%C3%A9d%C3%ADs J%C3%B3nsd%C3%B3ttir. St. Martin%E2%80%99s Griffin, $29.99 (264p) ISBN 978-1-250-02480-0

If you%E2%80%99re looking to expand your Nordic knitting repertoire, look no further. This comprehensive book looks at a wide array of contemporary Icelandic hand knits. After opening with a brief history of Icelandic knitting, J%C3%B3nsd%C3%B3ttir, veteran knitwear designer and head designer for %C3%8Dstex yarn, introduces 65 beautiful new patterns that enhance and extend Iceland%E2%80%99s knitting tradition. The traditional patterned-yoke sweater is featured throughout, with beautiful colorwork variations that range from the geometric to the pictorial. One-color, striped, and lace sweaters also make appearances. Projects include "%C3%A1rni," a zip-front men%E2%80%99s sweater with a beautiful geometric design, "%C3%A1sa," a fun, heart-patterned, hooded girl%E2%80%99s sweater, "fa%C3%B0mur," an elegant lace open-front cardigan, and "lj%C3%BAfa," a lightweight A-line striped sweater with bell sleeves, among many others. Sweaters make up the majority of patterns, but dresses, hats, socks, vests, mittens, and other items are also detailed here. There%E2%80%99s even a darling yoke-patterned dog coat. This book has something for everyone, and a smart index catalogues which patterns are for men, women and children, making it easy to find the project you%E2%80%99re looking for. Easy-to-follow instructions, charts for colorwork and lace, and beautiful photographs of the finished item make this book a pleasure to browse. For anyone enticed by a large collection of hand knits, especially those partial to colorwork sweaters, this book makes a cozy companion. (Jan.)