Open Mike
True to my word, I’m opening up the blog this weekend to questions for Donna Druchunas about her new book, Ethnic Knitting Discovery.
Here’s my copy, resting on my half-finished, Rhinebeck Not-Sweater:
My copy of the book arrived a few hours before I departed for a trip to Denver (more on that later, including tales of how Wanda and Michaele strong-armed me into buying a wheelbarrow full of back issues of Interweave Knits and Knitter’s magazines). I had a chance to read a large portion of the book on the plane and found it to be an excellent resource for adventurous/advanced beginners seeking to venture into the design process. Here’s some comprehensive and helpful information Donna sent me that really does a good job of characterizing the book:
Donna Druchunas presents traditional knitting designs and techniques from across the globe in step-by-step fashion. She begins with what ethnic knitting is, what you don’t need to know, and color tips. For each geographic location, she offers brief knitting-specific history, instructions for key techniques, and a handful of versatile patterns (texture or color). A small introductory project lets the reader practice new
skills, which are then applied to the knitting of individually designed pullover sweaters.
Features:
Four skill-building small projects and eight sweater projects, each with worksheets geared to three levels of knitting experience—suitable for self-study or group workshops. First of a set of three books introducing traditional knitting techniques in a graduated fashion.
Skills covered include:
• knitting patterns back-and-forth and in the round
• working from charts
• steeks
• puntas
• stitch-and-cut armholes
• centering patterns
• managing repeats
• welts
• half-gussets
• Andean-style purling
You can see more information on the book, including excerpts by clicking here and here and here. So start clicking and then leave a question for Donna in the comments. Her answers will appear here in a blog post on October 20th.
Don’t pass up this great chance to speak directly to the author of a knitting book about her inspiration for the book, or her yarn suggestions for the patterns, or her insights on the design process, or anything else that interests you. I’m off to comment now!
View blog reactions
Susan | books, knitting
Donna, I loved the chapter on Andean knitting, especially the information on working with two colors with the yarn tensioned around the neck. What’s your favorite technique presented in the book?
Donna, I’d like to know how you determined what regions and techniques to include in the book. I’m also curious how you researched the book, did you travel, what sources of information did you use?
I haven’t had a chance to look at the book yet, but I am definitely going to. I am from the Netherlands and very curious about that particular chapter!