Wednesday 26 May 2021

Book ~ "Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary" (2014) Wendy Bernard

From Goodreads ~ Stitch dictionaries are to knitters what Webster’s is to a writer. 

Within the pages of these inspiring reference books are the endless variations of knit and purl stitches that produce the fabrics of all knitting. But in the "Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary", designer Wendy Bernard does something no other author has done before - she presents instructions for working 150 popular stitch patterns four different ways: top down, bottom up, back and forth and in the round. 

This hefty collection, ranging from lace and cables to colorwork and fancy edgings, is loaded with beautifully photographed swatches of each pattern, plus charted and text instructions. To showcase the stitch patterns in action, Bernard also includes instructions for eight garments as well as her famous formulas for knitting garments without a pattern. 

This is an invaluable go-to resource, sure to inspire legions of knitters to use stitch patterns in new and exciting ways.

I've been doing a lot of knitting in the last year or so making quick projects, mostly mittens and dishcloths.  This book caught my eye because I thought it would be fun to learn some different stitches and patterns.  I tried a few, making them as dishcloths as practice.  It was a fun way to learn and some I can see using as blankets, scarves, etc. someday.

There is a picture of each stitch (similar to my finished dishcloths), instructions if you are making it flat (so back and forth) or in the round (circular or double pointed needles) and some projects using some of the stitches.

The chapters include:
  • An introduction on how to use the book and read the patterns
  • Knits and purls
  • Ribs
  • Textured, slipped and fancy
  • Yarnovers and eyelets
  • Cables
  • Lace
  • Colourwork
  • Hems and edgings
  • Projects

I liked the way the book was laid out, with the stitches and accompanying pictures so I could see what it was supposed to look like.  The instructions were explained well.  Some stitches were easy and others were more complicated and it felt like quite the accomplishment when I finished them.

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