Book Review: KnitKnit by Sabrina Gschwandtner
I begin with a confession: I bought KnitKnit: Profiles + Projects from Knitting’s New Wave because I wanted Anna Bell’s Bridie pattern, and buying KnitKnit is the only way to get it. Really, can you blame me?
Thus, when KnitKnit arrived, I had no particular expectations about what else it might have to offer. I was pleasantly suprised to discover in an afternoon’s reading that KnitKnit is a really neat book. As the subtitle promises, it is a collection of profiles of people who work in art and knitting — knitwear designers of a variety of types, artists who use knitted fabric in their work, artists who knit radically or in unusual ways, bloggers and zine authors who write about knitters, and so forth. It’s a bit hard to classify this group, but Gschwandtner — herself an artist/knitter, as well as the compiler of a popular knitting publication of the same name as her book — has done an excellent job of identifying an inspiring cross-section of subjects.
The book is oversized and beautifully laid out, with interesting photographs by Kiriko Shirobayashi. A typical profile takes up about four pages, balancing images with descriptive text. The profiles all include a full-page photograph of the artist taken in his or her work environment, a few pages of text, and a pattern by the profiled artist. This picture shows the first two pages about Catherine Lowe, a designer known for her elegant designs and her lengthy, extremely detailed patterns, which focus on couture detailing.
Many of the patterns included in KnitKnit strike me more as bonus material than as a reason on their own to buy the book. There’s an interesting mixure of avant garde and more wearable garments, of accessories and giant concept pieces, but there are only a handful of patterns (in addition to Bridie) that I would consider knitting. One is this pretty pullover by Joelle Hoverson, who owns Purl in New York City:
I’m also intrigued by the shape and construction of this jacket by Risto Bimbiloski, which is not for me, alas, but might inspire some future design.
Though a number of patterns are too “conceptual” or “outright strange” for me, this, too, is in keeping with the book’s purpose and character, and I like it.
I’d recommend KnitKnit to those interested in knitting’s role in art and fashion, as well as to anyone with a taste for doing interesting or conceptual work with their knitting needles. I’m also planning to recommend it to my friend who teaches textile art to undergraduates, as I think it could be a source of inspiration to budding textile artists.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
R — You have a type–”abbout”"–in the third paragraph. Not too cool for an editor. Love, Dad
October 5th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Looks like an interesting read. Lately I’ve been disappointed with the patterns in books. I like to look at them for inspiration, but when push comes to shove, I don’t want to pick up my needles and start knitting them. So the text itself has to be interesting, or I feel I’ve wasted my money.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
It’s so refreshing to read your thoughts about a work like this one — one I might never buy, and one that may not ever be in my local yarn shop. It’s fun to see what you’re considering! And how you’re evaluating the author’s approach, the pattern’s wearability, the designs’ possibilities for your own future projects. Thank you! Thank you! Great addition to your blog inspiration features!
October 7th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Great review, Ruth. That cardigan with the crooked buttonband reminded me a bit of the asymmetrical cardigan in Knitting Nature. I look forward to seeing how it turns out - if I made it though I’d be tempted to keep pulling it into symmetrical shape!
That Hoverson photo is lovely, isn’t it?