Weardowney Knit Couture: 20 Hand-knit Designs from Runway to Reality [Hardcover]

I purchased this book, not because I have any ability to knit, but for my love of Weardowney. It first came to my attention on the company's website, and it was purchased for the coffee table, more than knitting knowledge enhancement.

However, I was surprised at how much this book engrossed me. It begins with an introduction to hand knitting followed by a look into the House of Weardowney, which in itself is intriguing. The first chapter `The Birth and Evolution of Knitting' is written in the style of essays on the Renaissance, complete with its art historical references and literary links, and is an excellent grounding to the rest of the book. After our background knowledge is in place, the second chapter looks into knitwear's move from practicality to high fashion. Coco Chanel, John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood all get a mention as `Knit Couture' sweeps the geographical and historical development of this `medium', and then discusses `Knit Today'. The writing is juxtaposed with luscious pictures of beautiful Weardowney creations, as well as high fashion examples from Kenzo, Jean Paul Gaultier and the like.

`Knit Couture' then focuses on Classic and Diffussion designs, some sparkley, some comfy, all of which are truly stunning! I am told by friends who can knit that the designs are easy to follow, and if it is too much for novices, there is a very helpful section at the back entitled `Starting Knitting' which goes through `Casting on', `Knit stitch' etc.

Unlike Mr Pom, who thought it `odd' that the book has a varied study of designs and patterns, and does not follow any `uniform idea', I found it a truly fantastic in its deviations.

I could not recommend this book more to amateurs or experts. It is an enjoyable, insightful read and a visual feast into a side of fashion which is relatively unexplored. I may as an amateur attempt my own creations, or perhaps just leave the wondrous weavery to the experts!

A potted history of Weardowney then. Two women: their combined histories include, being a former model, then a knitter to John Galliano, now a 'House' to lauded knitwear, as well as running their own knitting classes, and bringing out a biannual magazine which is a magpie of their influences: music, photography, catwalk fashion, and the environment. If you like Weardowney's efforts in these areas so far, you'll like the book.

The first half of the book is devoted to knitwear: its history, new developments and the personae behind the fashionable movement of knitwear. We get essays on John Galliano, Jean Paul Gautier, Vivienne Westwood and Sonia Rykiel and how they changed knitwear. Then, there is a nod to the present new kids on the block like Claire Tough, and an overview on the knitting blogs and how their irreverence has changed the attitude and face of knitting (which is the weakest part of the essay).

Afterwards, there's a short lesson on how one can 'see' the knitting designs take form. On a flyleaf, Downey shows the anatomy of a knitting design - a mini dress/ tunic done in garter stitch scoop neck, vertical eyelet lace with garter stitch bands. Then, you flick over the fly leaf to see the completed design in all its glory. The best design in the book - and no pattern!

In the other half of the book we do get the patterns. Of course, since these women are fashion mavens, the photography is moody. the models contorted into pretzel like shapes to show off a seam, or a particular technique. If you really want to see how the actual designs look on a dress form, go to the back of the book. That's really pragmatic and very forward thinking- a nice touch.

The designs are asurprising mix. In the Weardowney shows, their knit wear is more to do with a sort of quirk in mind. A bit of tongue in cheek, a kind of raspberry to the fashion establishment. They do knitted bloomers, knitted stockings with and without feet. They offer knitted shawl coats, which you throw over a confectionary of a dress so that you don't freeze. In their shops, they sell kits with funky accessories (scarves and the like). I expected to see more of that in this book. The quirk, the irreverence for the grandmother's knits. Instead, we get the flash of fashion with scoop neck tops and pretty eyelet skirts. There are some pretty striking cardigans, and then surprisingly, some really conventional patterns. Two knitted tops for men, and an oversized cabled vest for women. I expected some accessories, like the cape they had on the Amazon cover - but it isn't in this book. The cover I have is also different.

For designers who normally have a 'theme' in their shows, the patterns in the book did not have a uniform idea. Odd.

The patterns come with schematic diagrams. The measurements are on the small side (34 - 40 inches for a few designs). The patterns are mostly done on 3.25 -4mm needles. The yarns are mostly Rowan - cotton glace, bamboo soft, 4ply cotton, 4ply soft and Rowan felted tweed. There is a cool tunic dress of 4ply cotton in white, juxtaposed with a pink lurex shimmer. There is a lot of lurex in this book, but that's their style.

Do I recommend the book? Yes, but with reservations: if you want your books to be nothing but knit patterns, no, don't get this book. If you are a basic jumper and jeans girl, who scoffs at fine gauge materials, look elsewhere. You might want to try before you buy with this one.

Overview:

Pros: Good essays on knitting designers. Attractive display of images, good overview of the knitting culture as portrayed. The gallery of designs at the back is a nice touch. There are a lovely designs that feel 'dressy' in ways that a majority of the knitting designs don't. This is aided by the (relatively) fine gauge of the yarn used.
Cons: Duplicates of designs in some ways. Like, the waffle jacket is almost the same as the jacket with chevrons. The book could have been more 'tied' to their quirky personalities in terms of less conventional jumpers and such.

beautiful, well presented hardback. 1st half is a really interesting history of knitting, with some good pictures. 2nd half of the book is some catwalk-style patterns, many of which (in my opinion) not many people could wear. To be fair, there are couple of big comfy jumpers, and some normal-ish looking cardigans, but I'm not really planning to make anything from the book.

HOWEVER this would make a brilliant gift, and a lovely coffee table type book. The pictures are just so lovely and striking to look at. A really interesting read.

My biggest criticms: some of the photos of the patterns are so 'arty' that it's difficult to see what you'd be making (but there is a normal photo of each garment on a maquin at the end of the book). Also, I would really have liked a pattern for the beautiful green low necked thing that's shown near the beginning (also shown in the photos provided by amazon)

Conclusion - a lovely book, good as a gift, but I won't be making anything from it