Everything retro is in again – probably more than ever before… and most especially when it comes to fashion. It’s no secret knitting has gained a well-deserved resurgence this past decade – its calming effects are well-known, and the satisfaction of creating a beautiful garment with our own hands is something women are learning to treasure once again.
This beautiful hard cover book by Lise-Lotte Lystrup could have easily fallen off a library shelf from the late 1940s, yet it’s barely a year old. The book is superbly designed and uses a clutch of divine vintage photos that add the perfect retro feel.
Patterns are inspired by the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Lystrup has taken classic ‘recipes’ for time-honoured knitwear and redrafted them to fit modern techniques, using modern yarn and most importantly – modern sizings. These 21 patterns have not only been updated, they’ve been simplified and provide knits in six different sizes.
I’m truly loving the pieces the author has covered in Vintage Knitwear. A matinée style jacket with befeathered trim. A fantastically textured double-breasted jacket with frog fasteners. A lollipop rainbow chevron striped scarf, complete with pointed ends and pompoms. A softly-sculpted Chanel inspired cardigan.
There’s also a tube top and bolero, evening wrap, a silky twinset, a divine high boat-neck shell, a stunning leaf scarf and a light-as-air lacy wrap. There’s even a boucle hoodie with front pockets. It’s just vintage heaven.
The book is beautifully styled with softly faded photos showing the inspiration for each piece, giving each item an extra special must-knit quality. Instructions are simple and well-laid out, and the book is in a smaller format meaning it travels well and props openly neatly as you knit.
Older knitters will ooh and ahh over the K1 P2 memories while younger knitters will strap on their skates and rush in a frenzy to the nearest yarn store. Happy knitting!
Title: Vintage Knitwear for Modern Knitters
Author: Lise-Lotte Lystrup
Category: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Thames Hudson
ISBN: 9780500514207
RRP: $29.95
Publication Date: Feb 2009