This is my favorite kind of knitting book. A section on arcane knitting techniques I've never seen before, a stitch dictionary using those techniques, and a section of patterns to show you the possibilities. There's even some history in there at the beginning, like the cherry on top of my own personal sundae of knitting book perfection.
Detail, you ask?
Okay. Brioche is a technique popular in the Low Countries of Europe. It and Fisherman's Rib are the same in terms of path-of-yarn, but the construction is different. Brioche involves knitting every other stitch, and with the other stitch, slipping it with the yarn over the needle along with the stitch. Fisherman's Rib is simply 1x1 rib, in which you knit flat, working into the row below on the knit stitches on both sides. From this fairly simple-sounding beginning, Marchant has built an amazing repertoire. Increases, decreases, multiple colors, pattern variations, you name it.
The patterns are also well-designed. A great range of sizes, all triggering the ooo-I-wanna-make-that response. They're even made with easy-to-find yarns.
So, there you have it. Definitely a book worth adding to a personal library. I've been knitting twenty years, you all know I am a researching fool, and this book is FULL of things I've never seen before. I can't praise it more highly than that.
10 comments:
And then, if you poke around on Ravelry, she started messing around with brioche lace.
Brioche knitters on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/brioche-knitters
Sounds like an interesting book
Yes - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2-color-under-dutch-skies-brioche-shawl I think mind-blowing is often overused, but not in this case!
I also liked Reversible Knitting by Lynne Barr - I bought both books at the same time, needless to say I was walking around going 'bu... wha... *bibble*" for a couple of days afterwards.
I almost never buy knit books, but this sounds like a worthy investment. And will there be a brioche boom now? Like Clapotis, will everyone suddenly decide to brioche? Time will tell, but if you reccommend it, it's gotta be good!
I bought the book last year and I'm revisiting it. The kromboomssloot snood is a favorite.
You would probably enjoy her website also.
http://briochestitch.com/brioche/
Brioche is gorgeous, especially in colour, but it is a sloooooow knit. I am (not) knitting a reversable cable scarf designed by Lily Chin from an Old Knitters' Magazine. Very lovely, very slow, mind numbing to fix if there is a mistake. I wish I had started with better materials. It will be gorgeous when it is done, even with the average materials I started with.
OKay, I just saw a lovely pattern on Knitty featuring a brioche ripple... it was soooooo purty.... so good to know!
This book is on my Amazon wish list for a whilw.
May have to break down and buy it soon.
Totally unrelated to your post on brioche but I really thought this blog post was right up your alley...
http://needled.wordpress.com/2010/11/06/the-sound-of-knitting/
Blow me down that's a co-incidence. Just today I have been squishing some alpaca thinking 'I wonder whether brioche stitch would be the go for this yarn? I think you knit in the row below for brioche stitch. Note to self: investigate brioche stitch' - and here you are talking about brioche stitch.
Must be a sign. I think I'll have to buy that book..
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