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Lace Style Traditional

by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Interweave Press, Publisher, 2007

$22.95.  For those of us who love and adore wool, we sometimes forget there are those who are allergic to animal fibers. No, not the dyes or the chemicals used in the preparation, the actual fibers themselves.

Amy R. Singer is such a person and found out she was allergic to wool soon after she began knitting at age six. Since then, she's submerged herself in the pleasures of non-animal fibers and No Sheep For You is one result of years of dedicated triumph.

This knitting book is also a primer about all non-wool yarns - cotton, linen, soy, silk, bamboo, Tencel, rayon, hemp - and their origins, history and characteristics. The history is fascinating as is how the various fibers evolve into yarn.

And the patterns? Those are luscious! Bacardi, designed by Barbara Gregory, is a thing of Fair Isle beauty in cotton. Tuscany, Singer's own shawl design in silk makes me want to Start Right Now. For the hip, there's Kristi Porter's edgy Intoxicating mosaic sweater and a nod to the wavering traditionalist is Holli Yeah's Drunken Argyle sweater.

That should be enough to whet your desire; go knit!

Amy R. Singer is Editor of the e-zine, Knitty, and writes a column for Interweave Knits. She's the author of Knit Wit and co-author of Big Girl Knit.

Some of the loveliest Merino wool in the USA comes from two former Manhattanites whose farm was started when Margrit found a chicken running across Riverside Drive on the upper West Side. In 1977 she and Albrecht, her husband, purchased and named Morehouse Farm in Milan, NY as a weekend getaway. A few years later, they decided to raise Merino sheep because they "wanted Morehouse Farm to become a mecca for knitters".

Now, almost three decades the Morehouse Farm name is synonymous with quality both of their Merino sheep and their Merino yarn. They offer different

weights of yarn from lace to bulky and in over sixty colors.

Margrit grew up in Switzerland where her Mother taught her to knit when she

was four years old. She learned the basics from a book which gave her the foundation for her approach to both knitting and designing. Margrit says, "Make it up, design it yourself, figure it out -- then cast on and start knitting!"

Morehouse Farm Merino Knits is filled with lush photography of the sheep, the farm, the humans and, of course, the knitting. The patterns are all useful and easy enough for the novice knitter but interesting enough for the experienced knitter. Items such as chair pads, pillows, blankets, throws, scarves, sweaters, hats, mittens and more dance across the pages, leading the eye from one lovely piece to another. The best way to decide which pattern to cast on the needles is toss a coin!

Margrit Lohrer's book is delightful to both the farmer and the knitter but, especially, to the knitting farmer. There's a wonderful and special synchronicity to knowing the yarn from beginning to end and only those who have followed this logical path truly have a feel and knowledge for the finished knit piece.

Morehouse Farm Merino Knits is a delightful book; I'm hopeful for another.

Inspired Fair Isle Knits is divided into the four elements: water, air, fire and earth and the yarn colors are reminiscent of each element. 

The Woman's Raglan Sweater has Fair Isle only on the sleeves making it an easy introduction to beginners of Fair Isle knitting. More experienced knitters, or those wanting a bit more challenge, may knit A Cable and Fair Isle sweater. For the traditionalist, the Classic Fair Isle Turtleneck has a snowflake/star design that would look wonderful in an urban setting and serve to keep one warm while checking lambs at the barn. Pleated sleeves on a cardigan add a bit of sexy swing in the Air division while the Lacy Wrap with Fair Isle Borders is a luxury wrap anyone would enjoy knitting and wearing. A Sun kissed Halter Top, in colors of the sun, naturally, is cool in cotton. For the home, a Petroglyph Pillow provides an earthy touch in a hemp blend yarn and a Canyon Felted Bag brings to mind the American southwest.  

Fiona Ellis is a British trained designer and infuses traditional patterns with flair in the form of cables and lace. Sprinkled throughout the book are fascinating tidbits on Greek mythology, festivals, legends, wind horses, etc. and make interesting reading.