| Circular Knitting Redefined - Leave Those Straight Needles Behind |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Author: Kara Gott Warner, editor Date Published: 2010 Review Date: May 3, 2010
Who is this book for? Circular Knitting Redefined is a great introduction to circular knitting for new knitters and a prod for experienced knitters to learn some new techniques. This book goes beyond merely showing you how to do the math in order to convert flat knitted pieces into circular garments. All knitting in this book is designed specifically for circular needles, and many of the techniques challenge knitters to rethink what they know about garment construction. Editor Kara Gott selected a range of fresh and attractive projects, all knit on circular needles.
What’s Inside?
All the garments in this book are completed on circular needles but not all the projects are completed “in the round.” Projects were selected to illustrate the versatility and ease of knitting with circular needles. The editor’s preference is to knit solely with circs, leaving straights behind, as the book’s title recommends. In doing so, she takes readers through a variety of construction methods that have stormed the knitting world over the last few years. This book is a comprehensive summary of new ways to approach your knitting. Over 40 patterns are included in this interesting book. The editor included projects knit in fibers of all weights and types. The garments and accessories are mostly for women and children; there is just one sweater for men. The short glossary section has concise but very helpful instructions on seams, beading and felting techniques.
Using It The book is a collection of patterns by many talented designers arranged into sections based on the construction technique used in the garments. The first chapter is centered on simple back and forth knitting using circular needles instead of straights. These are not all simple garter stitch patterns, however. A stunning entrelac jacket, a couple of mosaic garments, and a mitered baby jacket supplement the garter and stockinette stitch designs. Most are knit in one piece, with minimal finishing required. Next are sections on garments constructed from the bottom up and top down. The final grouping includes a series of patterns knit cuff-to-cuff, a construction method that allows you to work some portions of the project back and forth and other sections in the round, all in one garment. Even though several designers contributed to this collection, all patterns are arranged in the same format. Each pattern clearly states the required skill level, size (including finished measurements) and necessary materials. There are full color photographs to depict the knitting, often including close up shots of design details. Schematic diagrams help to illustrate construction methods and summarize measurements. The editor selected, organized and presented the patterns in an attractive format that will keep readers paging through, probably marking page after page as new “faves.”
Best Pattern With over 40 patterns geared for all ages, seasons and purposes, it’s very difficult to pick the “best” pattern in the book. Perhaps because I’ve been mulling over skirt patterns recently, I am drawn to the Salamanca Skirt on page 61. Designed by Shirley Macnulty, this skirt is a real show stopper. The flattering to all figures A-line shape is knit in painted sock yarn that delivers muted horizontal stripes over vertical ribs. Sized from extra small to large, it’s surprisingly easy to knit and very fashionable to wear. True to the theme of this book, the skirt is knit entirely in the round, from the bottom up. I like the simplicity and clean lines of this skirt. It’s a good project for any skill level. Because it is knit in the round toward the top, this portable project should proceed quickly. The rounds get decreasingly shorter as you progress, so the hard part is behind you as soon as you cast one and knit one round. The simple pattern requires very little shaping (at most, there are only 7 decrease rounds). The designer suggests working with two balls of yarn, changing balls at the beginning of each round to prevent pooling colors in the self-striping yarn. One additional piece of advice: to cast on the large number of stitches needed for the bottom hem (418 – 532), try using the long tail cast on method, but use one ball of yarn for the “top” strand and a second ball for the “thumb” strand. You won’t run out of yarn if you use two balls of yarn to cast on this large number of stitches. When you get to the end of the cast on, knit rounds first with one ball, then the other as the author suggests. Don’t overlook the Aztec top on page 92. It’s a reincarnation of an old favorite, the pretzel sweater. Today, we’d say this is a pattern that has “gone viral”. Part of the attraction for this shapely sweater then, as now, is the fun of knitting it. Increase lines create unique angles and a shapely fit. The knitting flows in opposite directions at “pretzel” corner, and these turns create interesting effects in the lovely self-striping yarns now on the market.
Recommendation Overall, this book is a good value, filled with lots of ideas and good instructions on some of the latest techniques in knitting. Unless you are a serious student of knitting or take every class that your local yarn store offers, you may have missed out on some of the techniques included in Circular Knitting Redefined. For a small investment, you’ll have loads of good ideas at your fingertips. I recommend this book. Overall Recommendation This book earns a #9 rating. It is filled with over 40 attractive designs using a wide range of techniques and priced at a moderate $19.95.
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Title: Circular Knitting Redefined Leave Those Straight Needles Behind
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