Ethnic Knitting: Discovery -The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and the Andes Paperback – Import, 1 February 2010

The best thing about this book is the cover, its got colour and its quite thick and glossy. Inside its cheap paper, and that rather sets the tone for the book. First of all, it needs revising. The copyright is 2007, and it looks very dated, as are the patterns. While there are graphs for the motifs used in the patterns ( the reason I wanted it), the jumpers and other items themselves are old fashioned, and the hand-drawn sketches do not do them justice. In fact, the book does not do Ms Druchanas justice, as she is well known in knitting circles and a respected author.Ms Druchanas has gone to an awful lot of trouble with the patterns. You need to have a more than basic knowledge of knitting as she uses 3 different methods of writing them. The usual way; a sort of shorthand method that relies on telling you to do something but not telling you how many rows or stitches; and a table that sets out the process, but again not in very much detail. Compared to other knitting books covering similar techniques this book seems rather uninspiring in spite of the contents.The publishers pride themselves on making craft books a price that people can afford, and unfortunately it shows that this particular book was done on the cheap, but frankly, for the price, you can do better, and have something you enjoy looking at, handling, and inspires you to get your needles out!

I've always loved anything Donna Druchunas has designed. Her instructions are easy to understand and easy to size. Her instructions are the most sensible I've seen. I've been frustrated by other instructions from other authors, but my results look like Druchanas' when I use her patterns.This book comes with the added bonus of interesting cultural information to go along with each set of patterns. Thoroughly enjoyable to sit and read, even before you decide what you want to knit.

It is original to offer three ways to knit each pattern - using a visual plan (most basic), using planning worskeets (more detailed), or using step-by-step project sheets (most detailed. There are no complete instructions to knit any of the patterns. This might encourage the insecure knitter who follows patterns completely to eventually be able to knit without following a pattern (the more traditional/ethnic method of knitting, we are told). I could not get the book to lie flat, so it will have to be spiral-bound.

The 8 master patterns are all for pullovers with drop shoulder sleeves which is standard for peasant style sweaters. Three different designing ways are given throughout the book: 1, by the seat of your pants designing, 2, planned worksheets, 3, step by step. The book is very much reminiscent of the Gibson-Roberts, Knitting in the old way. That book had many more examples and types. Donna mentions the EZ percentage system and says she has never read her books! One of her advisors was Zimmerman's daughter Meg. There are no color pictures or illustrations included in the book. Three of the illustrations which you can see above in the photo section are on the front and back covers. I am sorry I bought this bookand recommend it only to knitters who have yet to design their own and don't have anything on the subject. And, I have read all the EZ books except her final one. The only section I find different and new for me is the purling the Andean way discussion.

I’m an advanced knitter, but I wanted more information, both on design and execution.