The first is that, like Gilda Radner, "I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch. " So I tend to laugh at high fashion far more often than I lust for it. So I am not the best edge of cutting trends or stylish quirks.
Second, I in no way mean disrespect to Ms. Epstein. She's probably forgotten more about knitting than I know and I love her edging books. (You know, Knitting Beyond the Edge, Knitting Through the Edge, Knitting Over the Edge, Knitting Above the Edge...although only two of those are actually real.)
But really, this book --
just gives me a gigantic WTF sort of feeling. I was going to start off with a little rant about the cover scarf, but I realized that really a lot of the reason I don't care for this one is the colors that are used. I just don't go for those 70's appliance colors. But done in shades of blues with maybe some circles in a bright yellow or pink....well, it might be sort of interesting. Unusual.
But then there are things like this:
Now really...I don't know about any of you other knitters, but the idea of spending hours working on a scarf only to felt it and let my five year old cut out shapes with nail scissors...well, I can't say I like it.
And there's Hot Wheels, based on an old afghan pattern of Ms. Epstein's grandmother.
I'm sorry...nostalgia cannot excuse this mess.
Tumors, anyone? There's actually another shibori scarf in this book called Classic Shibori which is even more tumorous...so much so that it sort of creeps me out to look at it. I know, I know, shibori is an art form. And some stuff can be cool. I think, for me, a little goes a long way though.
"Hey, lady! Autumn just threw up on your scarf!"
And here's another autumnal one...but really...do you want to spend time kntting pretty leaves only to felt them into oblivion?
I think this scarf might be eating the model...
Actually, most of the scarves are really heavy looking. Some of them even fasten in the front to mimic the look of a vest. But there are some (few) nice scarves. Tudor Lace, for example,is pretty.
Another interesting one is Celtic Glory. It's modular, so I suppose that you could enlarge it for a shawl that might be pretty.
And there are design ideas in here that might come in handy. Nicky is nothing if not inventive.
But this....no, this is just wrong!
6 comments:
Gack. Well, you just saved some big $$ on what's probably an expensive book.
Thank you! So glad I'm not the only one who is completely confused that N.E. still has a career. Her taste and mine are MILES apart.
A perspective from a non-knitter...the lavender one with the lacey pattern doesn't float my boat either...it looks like everybody's mythical Irish grandmother, but all that lacey-lacey stuff always does to me anyway. I rather like the monster leaves eating the model...that might be autumnal in feel...might....
Hmmm...I guess I know who not to knit a lacey scarf for, don't I? :^)
and those pom-pom things....I've NEVER understood those. Sometimes you see them on very expensive sweaters...when you could have a lovely cable, somebody goes in and makes little yarn rocks all over the place...I never got those either. Profoundly 1960s.
Yeah, it's a rare bobble that is deployed successfully.
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