Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters

This book is more of an education than a book of lace patterns. If you are looking to learn about the arctic, the yarn, and the people, this book is for you. The lace deigns are simple, and would be good for new lace knitters. If you are looking for complex lace designs, pass on this book.

Book as described quick shipping. Happy with seller. Great book if you want to learn about native knitting and knitters. And musk oxen.

Even a non knitter would enjoy this book. A beautiful historical telling of the work of the indigenous groups of the Artic. The photos bring their work to life!

I must say I absolutely love this book, not only did it have great pattern ideas, it also had a great historical overview (which to me made the book more important). I can't believe I bought this book "used"!! It was an absolutely perfect condition, I couldn't be happier!If Seattle Goodwill industries ever has a book I'm looking for again, I will get it in a heartbeat!!

Don't be afraid to try lace! Even if you've never picked up a pair of needles before, you can start knitting lace with just this book alone. It includes clear, complete instructions with pictures of how to cast on and off, work even the most basic stitches, backgrounds, and borders. There is a very helpful discussion of pros and cons of yarns suitable for knitting lace, then a lace knitting "workshop" discusses straight and circular needle materials and size, yarn weight, full chart reading instructions, and leads you through 3 progressively harder lace swatches. All patterns are charted which is very combination knitter friendly.This wonderful book is full of tips to practically ensure your success in learning to knit lace even if you've never knit before. One of the best features is that it includes full instructions for making your own lace patterns with a library of lace stitches to use and tips on making your own charts. A variety of easy projects will get you started if you're not feeling adventurous enough to try designing your own yet.There is a lot of interesting information about the native Alaskan co-op and musk oxen where the luxurious qiviut yarn comes from, as well as pictures (but not patterns) for each village's signature lace pattern. Although the pictures are black and white, it really doesn't detract from the book and the high contrast makes the lace patterns are very visible. This is one of my most treasured knitting books.

Unlike the other reviewers here, I am afraid I was a bit disappointed in this book. While the history, etc. is interesting, I am first and foremost a knitter, and I don't buy knitting books for their prose. I am most interested in patterns or regional designs I can integrate into other projects, and unfortunately, I found precious little of that here. There are really only about 8 projects in this book, only one falls outside the realm of very basic hats, scarves and mittens. The only sweater-type garment even attempted is a rather sad, boxy vest-like garment similar to a style I wore once in middle school and decided it was too woefully out of date even then.The other thing I did not like was that one had to wade through over 80 pages of prose (and I am afraid it did not really hold my attention) to even get to the patterns, and then half of what is actually devoted to knitting is wasted on explaining basics. As a very experienced knitter, I don't need a review of casting on, though others may appreciate the tutorial. I would have liked to see more on the techniques of lace making rather than simply basic knitting.More than anything, this book makes me sad for its wasted potential. When I think of the beautiful tablecloths, shawls, or even lacy sweaters or skirts that could have been integrated from larger swatches of pattern to create some truly unique and outstanding patterns with a regional/ethnic flare, the exceedingly simple scarves and hats offered instead dim by comparison. And, of course, you have to wade through pages and pages of run-on prose to get to the very meager rewards this book has to offer.

My wife, Robyn, has been interested in craft work for the fifty four years I have known her and without fail we always visit the Craft Exhibition at the many agricultural shows we attend each year. However I had never encountered the word 'Qiviut' and the intriguing crafts made with this incredible yarn! In fact my 1982 copy of the 'Macquarie Dictionary' does not have the word listed and my overseas travels had not assisted me. The world of the Musk Ox and the skill of the knitters of Oomingmac impressed me to the extent that I had to purchase a skein to try to understand its qualities. One month later and $176.00AUS and I now understand the beautiful colour, minimal weight and the desire to own a garment made from quiviut and all this information gained from this very readable, well presented and enjoyable book. Unfortunately there was no voucher in the book to purchase travel tickets to Oomingmac! Buy the book, you won't be disappointed. Kind regards, Barry Hibbard, Hobart, Australia.

I really enjoy this book. It is a unique and fascinating look at handwork in a part of the world I know little about. The lace patterns are sweet but VERY basic so if you were thinking that you would advance in your lacework, you won't get that from this book. I also felt that some color photos would have punched up the book an awful lot.The north star tam is a unique pattern and if you are a hat knitter,this book is worth it for that alone. I was quite impressed that the author bothered to show the hat in both a conventional wool and qiviut. Nice touch!Don't be put off by the qiviut discussion...the author handles this well and these designs can be worked up in fingering or laceweight yarns easily.

A truly lovely book

I ordered in the middle of december and unfortunately the first copy of my book got lost but well this is a risk you always have when you order from abroad and without tracking number. The essential thing for me is how such a situation gets solved and so my stars go to the team of this lovely british bookstore who were really friendly and offered me a replacement copy. It arrived just today and Im already in love with this book. It will be my new bedtime story and I really like to combination of history background and modern adaption of pattern which are explained easily so that even beginner can follow them.So I wont waste any more time but will jump to my needles and will try if I can master the first easy pattern :)

Un bellissimo libro in lingua inglese che racconta della produzione di questo pizzo oltre a fornire le spiegazioni per realizzare i capi che si vedono nel libro.

Amazing patterns in this book.

Great Book!