I just received an Amazon order containing
Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel. It really is an incredibly beautiful book full of color and vintage black and white photos. It contains 30 patterns for accessories and a few sweaters inspired by objects in the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. Each pattern is accompanied by a photo of the knit or tapestry or painting that inspired it. The book even includes a few recipes for traditional Scandinavian sweets. There are some good photos and diagrams of some interesting techniques like twisted cord and applied twisted I-cord. Also, there is a pretty good section of felted items and felting info as well.
I'm being greedy of course but I would have liked a few more complex stranded designs in the book. OTOH, in the advanced project section the Foolish Virgin Pillow includes some 4 and 5 color rows! And the entrelac sheep are possibly the most adorable knitted items I've ever seen.
If you're like me and seriously interested in Nordic knitting history and technique, this book belongs on your bookshelf. I think my first project will be the Flower Hat with Earflaps and the matching Flower Mittens. Does anyone else have the book yet? What do you think?
Bubbles was hoping to review a few of her favorite phone books but they're just too delicious to stay around for long.
