The Complete Book of Traditional Knitting: Review and Corrections

In my previous post, I said that two books (Complete Book of Trad. Knitting and the Complete Book of Trad. Fair Isle) had no color photos. I stand corrected: the Traditional Knitting book contains all of seven color photos, which fact is proudly stated on the dustjacket flap.

OK, enough with the mocking of the poor book. I actually have spent much of today poring over it, and enjoyed it very much. An excerpt from the dustjacket blurb-

Nearly every country has developed its own traditions in knitting patterns and techniques: Fair Isle knitting is worked without seams; Finnish needleworkers favor looped knitting; and in Peru, intricately shaped caps are knitted in brilliant colors. In the Complete Book of Traditional Knitting, Rae Crompton takes needleworkers on a grand tour to sample the unique traditions of knitters from Tibet to Peru anf from Iceland to the isles of Greece.

I have to say, some of my favorite parts of the book would be the examples of very old knitting, such as very old, ornate silk knitted gloves, or a delicate and astonishing lace shawl from Unst. For some reason, I have fallen in love with lace. Old black and white photos people sporting their fancy knitting wear, or old woman, knitting.

My absolute favorite picture is a young woman, perhaps in her later twenties, knitting in Fair Isle. The needle size is wire thin—terrifying, really. Her eyebrows are furrowed in concentration. She is dressed in a white dress that comes to her knees; her hair is dark and smooth and parted in the middle. Other finished items, also in intricate Fair Isle pattern, lay in her lap. It looks like a moment, caught out of time, a brief opening of a life now closed.

An added plus is that one of 18 patterns in the back; a frothy lace scarf, involves no purling. And, it takes a size 7 needle, 7 being one of my favorite numbers. Random, I know.
The needle sizes are in UK sizes, and there is a conversion chart in the back. Also, many of the recommended yarns do not exist, except in someone’s stash. Templeton’s H and O Shetland Lace, anyone? The gauge of these yarns are not given, so this is irritating.

There’s a funny incident connected with this book. I giggled over a ridiculous photo (in color!) which depicts a determined looking man with frizzy orange hair. He’s striking a pose that seems more appropriate for someone about to start a brawl than anything else. The more I look, the more angry he appears. However, that is not the incident.

Perched next to him on the green wooden fence, is what I assumed was another man. Younger, and heavy-set, with golden hair and heavy bangs, wearing a chunky white Aran sweater than only enhances his heavy-setness. However, when Best Friend peered over my shoulder, she said, uncertainly,

”Is that a—I think that’s supposed to be a woman!”

I scoffed, ready to rebuke her for her ignorance. However, after staring at the photo, I was horrified. I couldn’t tell if It was a man or a woman!

For those who are interested in the book, it is Out Of Print. The deadly statement, I know.
Here’s a run down on the contents and the specs.

Title: The Complete Book of Traditional Knitting
Author: Rae Compton
ISBN: 0684178664
Binding: Hardcover

Contents:

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: The Root of the Matter

Chapter 3: Shetland and Fair Isle

Chapter 4: Britain

Chapter 5: Aran

Chapter 6: Iceland and the Faroe Islands

Chapter 7: Sweden

Chapter 8: Norway

Chapter 9: Central Europe

Chapter 1o: Northen Lace {I love this chapter!}

Chapter 11: Echoes from the Past

Chapter 12: Patterns from the East and West

Chapter 13: Traditional Patterns (There are 18 of these)

The current prices on Amazon from third party sellers range from $22-31-47. Better hurry and get one of the lower priced copies, otherwise it will end up this this book.

Alice Starmore: The Scottish Collection, Rare, OOP