His sources include oral traditions, documents, family albums, and photos. Pearson combines a social history of the villages and the living history of these crafts with detailed patterns and practical instructions for knitters. Richly illustrated, including 32 pages in color.

    Sheila McGregor's in-depth treatment ranges from the regional styles of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to those of the North Atlantic Islands of Faeroe and Iceland. Vibrant patterns for an array of garments include jerseys, gloves and mittens, stockings, and caps. Illustrated with 191 black-and-white and 20 color pictures, this volume is well known and prized among longtime practitioners of the craft. Its return to print will delight a new generation of knitting enthusiasts.

    Simple in cut and decoration, they feature distinctive vertical and horizontal effects and unique imagery. You can make dozens of these beautiful traditional patterns with the more than 100 graphed designs featured here! This pictorial overview not only gives readers patterns to follow, but suggests way of adapting the styles to individual tastes. Every technique is covered. Try purling, openwork, multicolored knitting, and casting. Create narrow and wide ribbing, zigzags, and decorative patterns. Make typical designs, with the fine touches that distinguish Nordic knitwear. Knit sweaters with a stockinette stitch, damask shirts, raglan sweaters, coarse yarn sweaters, and small jackets such as farmhands once wore. Make a Norwegian peasant coat, with its wide yoke, cloth edging, and slanted ribbing. Stay warm all winter with knitted mittens, caps, socks, and leg warmers. For something more delicate, use lacework for pretty blouses, shawls, and scarves. Bonus: details on caring for your handiwork to keep it in great shape! Lark 128 pages (8 in color), 260 b/w illus., 8 x 10 7/8.

    Above all, it is a superb collection of the varied and intricate patterns of the British Isles, whose origins date back centuries.