Knitting book reviews by a knitting designer with a sizeable (and growing) collection… request a review knitting@dearpru.com
Do you prefer digital patterns, magazines, single print patterns, or do you buy knitting books? I mostly buy books these days, and I especially love source books, with lots of textures and patterns that can inspire my designs.
I was especially excited by the release of Anna Nikipirowicz’s book Mosaic Chart Directory for Knitting and Crochet as I am a big fan of Mosaic Knitting and there really hasn’t been a significant source book for this technique since Barbara Walker published her definitive work, Mosaic Knitting, in 1976.
I really like the layout of Anna’s book, putting knitted and crochet swatches of the same motif side by side is genius! I don’t crochet, but I am interested to see the fabric created using the same chart, different technique. For bistitual folk, you will be inspired to try the motifs both ways and see what you enjoy most!
The use of colour and theme in Anna’s book help to awaken the imagination. There’s also a very useful colour chart at the back of the book which would help in sourcing the yarns Anna used, or to assist in finding suitable replacement yarns.
NB: there are no patterns for projects in this book. It is more of a stitchionary, a launch pad for your own designs, or to use in a mash-up with another garter or stockinette pattern.