Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls

by Martha Waterman

Timeless and beautiful shawls from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in an array of shapes with openwork, textured stitches, and lace edgings. Everything you need to know to design and knit your own shawls is provided, including detailed instructions for eight shawls.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Summer Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

This is a good overview. But it doesn't have many patterns to follow. It's mores like a recipe for how to make a traditional shawl

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice

[April Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book for those looking for a lace resource.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the history, structure, lace patterns, design and finishing of shawls. Primarily focusing on British and Shetland shawls, Martha Waterman guides the reader through the process of planning shawls. I consider this an excellent knitting book because it offers patterns for specific projects (Gate and Ladder Circle Shawl, Fan Stitch Half-Circle Shawl, Cat's Paw Square Shawl -- to name a few) as well as charted individual lace patterns for creating a shawl of your own design. Clear photographs along with drawn illustrations enable the reader to visualize what is being described in the text. I revisit this book any time I am considering a lace project.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is less a book of shawl patterns (although there are a few) than a collection of stitch patterns for the body and edgings to design your own shawls. Directions are clearly given for various shapings of shawls [circular (Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Pi" Shawl), half circular, wedges (triangles), squares and rectangles:]. It also contains a chapter on various ways to drape a shawl. Blocking and storage are also covered. This is a very good reference book on creating your own shawl designs. There are plenty of attractive stitches to choose from.Directions and explanations are clearly written. I recommend this book to anyone serious about knitting shawls.

[Probibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably use this book more than any of my knitting books, as there is a small stitch dictionary in the back with stitches grouped in various ways: garter versus stocking stitch grounds, non-curling texture stitches, and different lace types. It gives directions for many shawl shapes in a chapter discussing them. It also has complete instructions for some shawls and I have knit one and daydreamed about others. Its small size is not intimidating and convenient to carry around in your knitting bag. The shawls for which complete directions are given cover a full range of knitting skill levels and are pretty.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains traditional techniques for knitting Shetland shawls of various shapes, using different construction methods. Very clear writing.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more of a stitch guide and shawl construction guide than a collection of specific patterns.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dog-eared from my thumbing thru it so much.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful things in here.