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Knitting New Scarves: 27 Distinctly Modern Designs

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Scarves are often the first garments beginning knitters try. Then, when they feel ready for a greater creative thrill, they move on to other types of garments. In Knitting New Scarves , Lynne Barr beckons all levels of knitters back to their humble beginnings and then wows them with 27 spectacularly modern designs, each created using an innovative new technique or a unique take on a traditional one.

This novel approach, which dares knitters to rethink what is possible by simply manipulating knits and purls, leads to a collection of flattering, functional, and fun-to-make accessories. Imagine a scarf that looks like a strand of black pearls or unfolds like an accordion, one that playfully draws inspiration from the famed Chanel jacket or a twisting futuristic high-rise.

Every scarf is shown in its finished form in beautiful still-lifes by photographer Tyllie Barbosa, and, when unusual techniques are called for, up-close step-by-step photos are provided as well. This means every scarf in this masterful collection is both captivating and accessible for all levels of knitters.

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

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Lynne Barr

7 books3 followers

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5 stars
51 (26%)
4 stars
64 (33%)
3 stars
47 (24%)
2 stars
18 (9%)
1 star
9 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Kelly (Maybedog).
3,642 reviews239 followers
March 11, 2009
This is the most creative scarf book I have ever read. This is truly a volume of unique scarf patterns, things I have never seen before. There are several three dimensional scarves, most of them wearable. I can't say I like every single one but the originality makes this book first rate in my opinion.
Profile Image for BookMouse.
232 reviews
March 21, 2008
The scarves in this book are a really cool tangent from traditional knitted patterns. Being an engineer, I just love seeing knitting patterns by knitters who have a fantastic grasp of 'knitting physics' and really push the 'traditional' envelops.
Profile Image for Lain.
Author 12 books135 followers
January 1, 2008
I got this for Christmas and am taking it right back to the store. It is awful... many of the scarves look like biological specimens or growths of some sort. There isn't a single pattern in the whole book I would knit.
2 reviews
May 1, 2020
What?

There’s not a single pattern in here that I would like to knit, because there’s not a single pattern in here that I would like to wear. Or be caught out off the house in. Novelty swatches. Waste of time to flip through. Best that can be said: you might pick up some novelty stitch or shape that you could use when making stuffed toys for Christmas presents.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,536 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2017
Knitting New Scarves is not your usual knitting book, so it may disappoint those looking for traditional scarf patterns. However, Barr's beautifully photographed book will appeal to those knitters looking to learn and practice new skills. Knitting New Scarves offers 27 amazingly creative patterns which are sculptural and artistic. Highly recommended for fiber artists and all adventuresome knitters.
Profile Image for Lauragais.
24 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2012
Dieses Buch von Lynne Barr enthält Strickanleitungen für 27 Schals.
Dazu kommt eine 10-seitige Anleitung für diverse Stricktechniken, die in den Projekten verwendet werden, ergänzt von einer Seite mit Strickbegriffen und deren Abkürzungen. In der Einleitung beschreibt Lynne Barr die Entstehungsgeschichte des Buchs, ihre Vorliebe für den Begriff von Raum in der Architektur, welcher großen Einfluss auf die Form der Modelle hatte.

Die Anleitungen für die einzelnen Schäle enthalten jeweils noch weitere kleinere Anleitungsfotos, auf denen kompliziertere Stricktechniken gut erkennbar dargestellt sind.

Das Buch ist sehr sorgfältig aufgemacht, die Fotos von Tyllie Barbosa sind stimmig und deutlich, der Text verständlich und in gut lesbarer Schriftgröße.

Muster: Alle Schals sind sozusagen Outside-the-Box, oft dreidimensionale Strukturen, optische Täuschungen, dabei fast immer schlicht und reduziert. Der Schwierigkeitsgrad geht von gute Grundkenntnisse (Schal Aria) bis zu sehr gute Strickkenntnisse (Drifting Pleats).

Ich möchte das Buch Knitting New Scarves uneingeschränkt für Stricker/innen empfehlen, die ungewöhnliche Modelle stricken, tragen oder etwas Besonderes verschenken möchten.

This book by Lynne Barr includes patterns for knitting 27 scarves. A 10-page instruction for various knitting techniques used in the projects is also included, plus one page with knitting terms and their standard abbreviations.

In the introduction, Lynne Barr writes about how this book originated and about her preference for the concept of space in architecture which had an essential influence on the shape of the various items. The instructions for each individual scarf further includes smaller how-to-illustrations that are very helpful in demonstrating complicated techniques.

The book has been carefully produced, the lovely photographs by Tyllie Barbosa are precise, focussed and in tune with the harmonious overall setup. The text is easy to understand and read (font size).

Patterns: All scarves are clearly outside-the-box, often with startling three-dimensional structures and presenting optical illusions, while being reduced and unostentatious at the same time.

The difficulty rating starts with good basic knitting (scarf Aria) to very good knitting skills (Drifting Pleats).

I would like to recommend Knitting New Scarves unconditionally to those knitters who wish to knit, wear or make a gift of something very special and unique.
Profile Image for Pamela D.
410 reviews25 followers
October 14, 2013
First Impressions: The patterns look so sleek and sophisticated in this book. I am noticing lots of how-to pictures throughout the book. I wonder, if this means that everything is super complicated.

The Details: This book contains 27 scarves. Although the author states that the book contains a range of skill levels, the scarves are for the adventurous, advanced beginner and beyond for the most part. The scarves take advantage of texture-based stitches and patterns to make them visually interesting. Many of the patterns rely on the knitter knitting stitches out of order or arranging the stitches on multiple double-pointed needles. Looking through the patterns, these scarves have a bit of a more feminine flavor to them; however, they could be made to look more stereotypically masculine with the right color choices.

Final Impressions: These scarves are gorgeous. They look like they should be in a museum, not on a person. Although I want to wear almost all of them, I am concerned that they all look fiddly to knit. If you love to knit scarves and like to try new techniques, this is the book for you.
Profile Image for notgettingenough .
1,082 reviews1,387 followers
October 15, 2009
I've wavering between lots of stars and a totally mean number. I am expecting to learn a lot about technique from this book, but in the process I will acquire many weird, unwearable scarves. I just don't know...

When I bought it I wrapped it up and put it under the Christmas tree. Yes, it is a sad story, but it is true. I was dying to open it before the big day but eventually I forgot it was there...and so it was an exciting surprise after all. And yet. I started looking at it in a new light. I started thinking maybe even the book my partner of the time had bought me - which was something he should have known I didn't want - wasn't so bad after all.

Have you ever had that thought about Christmas presents? Nobody who wanted me here would have bought that? Sort of a book equivalent of buying a drill set for your girlfriend. Sort of a message?
Profile Image for Cheap and Lazy.
712 reviews9 followers
November 10, 2013
A very pleasant surprise. Suitable to a wide variety of tastes. Some to protect from the elements, others just accessories. Some appear easy enough to knit, some very challenging, most somewhere in between. A wide variety of yarns used, but all smooth (no fun fur). It's easier to convince oneself to stretch a skill level for a scarf than for a sweater or jacket (it helps that there are two photos of each scarf and excellent technique info and photos). It's rare these days to find projects that are artistic and fun to knit that one can actually WEAR even if you don't live in New York or attend gallery openings. Granted, scarves are more flexible in this than sweaters. Yet I've been disappointed in scarf books in the past. Many thanks to the author for combining fresh and wearable in her designs.
Profile Image for Abbey.
641 reviews73 followers
August 3, 2016
BOTTOM LINE: Very odd grouping of "interesting..." scarves, not at all my cuppa, your mileage may differ.

Far too many over-the-top and quite peculiar designs made this not at all to my liking, although several of them were unusual (and intriguing) patterns/construction. Author has a marked fondness to take one idea and run with it ad nauseum, unfortunately though. In this case it seems to be that of working holes, overlapping bits of knitted fabric, peculiar ribbing constructions, and suchlike. Not at all interesting to me but if you like experimenting with newer things you might find this more appealing.
Profile Image for Andrea.
9 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2012
This book introduces 27 truly "New Scarves" that are unusual, playful, you could even say they are a bit arty. I find the the techniques introduced here inspiring, and can imagine applying them to give other garments, like jumpers, some fresh details.
I have knitted 6 of the scarves so far. All went to good friends, who appreciate things a bit out of the ordinary.
I have to admit that I'm a technical knitter, and this book fulfills my love for challenge and unusual or, in some cases, unexpected outcomes.
2 reviews
July 23, 2008
Wow - can't believe there hasn't been more 'buzz' about this book and the interesting stitch combinations. Many of the scarves have a sculptural quality and best of all, most of them work as both art and scarf.

At this point I haven't tried any of the patterns, so perhaps my 'wow' might be tempered by that experience. However, the overall look of the instructions (many with photographic explanations) leads me to believe they are well-written.
Profile Image for Dharma.
265 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2013
Very interesting construction ideas, just few that interest me in terms of a finished project. Many would be cool to try just for the process knitter in me. However many of the photographs do little to showcase the actual finished project. The opening page of every scarf is nicely laid out but the actual direction pages are a small font.
Profile Image for Gail.
79 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2015
I wanted this book ever since Grumperina wrote about it in her blog. I have no great desire for most of the patterns, but I loved reading about them and knowing I could make them if I wanted. This is where I would get my patterns if I was knitting for someone who enjoyed innovative design in scarves.
Profile Image for Laurel.
Author 1 book14 followers
November 19, 2009
While there are definitely some interesting new patterns in this book, the scarf I was most interested in trying had no definitive pattern. Argh! All in all, it seemed like a lot of effort for most of the patterns, and I'm not sure a more traditional scarf wouldn't be just as well-received.
20 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2011
Wow! A lot of these aren't completely practical for warmth, but boy, are they cool! I want to make about half of them. No, I don't need that many scarves. Anyway, someone is very creative, and this is definitely worth a look for some fashion inspiration to wear around your neck!!
Profile Image for Mary Ann.
1,773 reviews
September 16, 2015
Another knitting book. This one showed some new ways to make scarves that are fun and different. But I think there were only one or two that were good for little girls (esp those who just throw their scarves on the floor and use them to pieces) or a husband who likes utilitarian.
Profile Image for Jen.
19 reviews
January 23, 2008
This book takes scarves out of the box and gets your brain working - on a scarf! Which of course is an excellent and necessary accessory :)
Profile Image for Erica.
112 reviews26 followers
October 24, 2009
Definitely a lot of innovative techniques but not a single one I'd actually want to knit/wear. Being clever doesn't make you likable.
7 reviews4 followers
October 30, 2009
Lots of beautiful and creative scarves. Many just use one kind of yarn so it is the design and shape that really catch your eye. Lots of pictures to explain the interesting techniques.
Profile Image for Pihla.
193 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2010
Ihania huivimalleja, selkeät, kuvalliset ohjeet ja termien selitykset. Sormet syyhyää jo lankoja hypistelemään...
Profile Image for Julia.
58 reviews
March 9, 2013
Cool structural scarves. Worth returning to again.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews