| Knitting on the Edge |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Author: Nicky Epstein Date Published: Originally published in 2004, first paperback edition released August, 2010 Review Date: August 1, 2010
Who is this book for? First published in 2004, Nicky Epstein’s, Knitting on the Edge: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders, is now available in paperback from Sixth&Spring Books. With this classic reference book, you need never again be at a loss for ideas on how to finish off or trim a piece of knitting. There are ribs, ruffles, lace, fringes, flora, points and picots aplenty that will add the finely detailed touches of couture work to your hand knits. It’s an all-purpose book suitable for all skill levels. As groundbreaking as the original Barbara G. Walker’s Treasury of Knitting Patterns series, this book is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on edgings. Hundreds of edgings from around the world, along with many original Epstein designs are included. As an added bonus, there are instructions for seven projects, each illustrating one of the edging categories in the book.
What Yarn Does it Feature? The edgings will work for any yarn and on any size needle. For clarity, the edgings are swatched in a smooth plied medium weight yarn that clearly shows the stitch detail. Sample projects, on the other hand, are knit in a variety of yarns further demonstrating that any yarn can be used for any one of the edgings. The Resources guide at the back of the book has a manufacturers’ directory for identifying project yarns. Since some of the yarns used in the projects for the original 2004 publication may no longer be available, review Nicky’s suggestions for substituting yarns or refer to Yarndex, the online yarn directory. If it is true that any yarn will do, how can a knitter anticipate how an edging will appear if knit in linen or mohair or even a bulky wool? The short but instructive chapter on texture is an enormously helpful tool for knitters who fear substituting yarn. Nicky uses the same leaf motif knit in a variety of yarns to illustrate how dissimilar the same stitch can look when knit in differently textured yarns. Tightly plied yarns with a smooth finish yield a crisply outlined pattern while fluffy angora and mohair yarns have a softer, less distinct stitch pattern. The 12 swatches are but a sample of the many variations you can achieve simply by changing yarn and/or needle size. Use this chapter as a quick reference any time you're contemplating substituting yarn or trying out a new yarn. A valuable visual reference, this short tutorial will help you understand how the texture of the yarn you choose affects the overall appearance of your project.
What's Inside Nicky Epstein’s personal introduction opens a window into this accomplished designer’s mind. She relates that she has always been fascinated with edgings and borders because of the beautiful way they can enhance a knitted piece. “I think of them as a lovely extension and crowning touch to a knitted design – the icing on the cake, the extra dimension that lends distinction, the piece de resistance that can turn your work into a show stopper.” We couldn’t agree more and are really glad this talented author did all the work of gathering and documenting these edgings so that we can use them, too. A whopping 350 different edgings and decorative borders are amassed in Knitting on the Edge. Each is illustrated by a knit swatch, well photographed in vivid color. Detailed stitch by stitch instructions are provided for every edging. While the book explores minute variations between edgings, Ms. Epstein does not lose sight of the “big picture.” Each chapter features an original Epstein design that uses one of the edgings in the chapter. But, as Nicky suggests, you can substitute a different border of our choosing in any of those designs. Embellish further by adding beads as in the Berry Cluster Pullover, or using bobbles with picot points.
Using It This compendium of edgings is intended to be used as a designer’s resource, not a step-by-step pattern book. The best way to approach the book is to scan through, becoming familiar with the seven categorizations for edgings: ribbing, ruffles, lace, fringe, flora and points & picots. Review the “notes on using this book” to familiarize yourself with the terminology and symbols used in the patterns. You’ll learn that you can tell at a glance whether an edging is knit from the cast on row up, or from the top down to the cast off edge. Some edgings are knit separately and either sewn on or picked up and knit on. Finally, you can tell whether the edging is reversible, equally beautiful from either side of the knitting. Take note of the sample projects selected to illustrate how edgings in the chapter can be used to finish your knitting. Choose the right style for your garment, and then knit a few swatches to help you decide which edging you like best. There’s a glossary of stitches, abbreviations and techniques to help you out if there’s an instruction that’s new to you. The editors seem to have anticipated that readers would be browsing back and forth between the chapters, picking and choosing edgings for their projects. First, the patterns are organized logically into seven chapters. Second, visual cues help separate the chapters, allowing readers to quickly move between categories. The swatches are knit in a range of colors from the coded system – rib: tan to brown and ginger; ruffles: icy blue and periwinkle; lace: raspberry to claret; flora: sage, celery and green; and points & picots: pale lemon to goldenrod. This energetic mix of color, texture and pattern holds the reader’s eye and attention.
Best Pattern (or Best Advice) Embellish your edges! With all the ideas in this bountiful book, get creative and add a designer’s touch to your knitting. Ribbing is so commonly used to edge garments and accessories that we have come to think of it as the “right” or “best” edging. Think about how you want your garment to look. Do you want a tightly cinched bottom or something more fluid and open? Simple changes like a lace edging, fringe, or points & picots can give your garment a customized flair.
Recommendation Unless you consider Nicky Epstein’s sequel, Knitting Over the Edge, there is not another book to rival Knitting On the Edge: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders. Add this book to your knitting shelf, but don’t leave it there. Take if off and refer to it regularly as you add a fine finish to all your knitted edges. Overall Recommendation Don’t be without this exceptional book. It rates #10.
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