Folk Style

Folk Style
By Mags Kandis
Published by Interweave Press, distributed in the UK by Search Press
ISBN: 978-1-59668-020-3
Price: £17.99
Reviewed by Fi Reed

Folk Style is a colourful collection of hand knitting patterns for clothing and accessories for women and children. The 16 designers each take inspiration from elements of the global village, and give their own individual twist.

The complexity varies from the Modern Quilt Wrap based on log-cabin patchwork using basic knitting techniques, to a Patchwork Jacket using both fair-isle and intarsia, and the intricately shaped Shanghai Surplice.

Many of the designs are further embellished with embroidery, needle-felting, tassels, or buttons.

It is an American book but the yarns are all available in the UK, although I could not find the slipper soles for the Bunad Mukluks. Some of the patterns are felted in the washing machine; this requires frequent checking, more suited to a top-loading machine. However, one pattern gives an alternative method using hand washing.

This book is bound to inspire you to create your own designs; a Design Notebook encourages you, showing how to use colour and texture, putting your ideas on paper and experimenting.

A perfect book for the knitter looking for a creative, contemporary take on traditional cultures.