Review: Beaded Lace Knitting

I’ve been send a new book, Beaded Lace Knitting by Anniken Allis to review. (The book is also available in Amazon in the US and UK). Anniken is one of the most prolific (she had nearly 400 patterns!) current designers out there, originally from Norway she now lives in the UK. While Anniken has a wide ranging design style she is best know for her lace knitting especially her shawls. So it does seem fitting that her first book is on lace knitting.

Digging into the book the first part that struck me was the clear and very extensive technique section. Its all illustrated with photos and it contains several cast-ons and bind offs including Provisional Cast-On, Invisible Cast-On, multiple circular cast-ons, Russian Bind-Off and sewn Bind-Off. Basically if you want to improve your lace knitting skills there should be enough in the book to give you a good boost.

In addition to this each of the projects has a skill rating, with the skill level moving from 1 to 3 through the book. These move from basic lace and beads through to more complex all-over lace with extensive beading. Remember as well though that beads are always optional so most of the knitting in the book can probably be done with or without beads.

Now a quick look at the projects. There are 25 projects in total, ranging from lace shawl and lace garments through to lace accessories. Projects in the book have both charted and written instructions so it’s accessible to a wider audience.

I’ve run through the book picking my favourites from each of the levels, although when I did this I realised that often my choices are determined by colour as much as pattern!

From level 1 I love Alexia. A shallow triangular shawl it’s designed to be easily modified for different yarn amounts. It’s worked in 2 halves so all you need to do is weigh  your yarn before you start and then work half to the widest point and the other half to the end.

Alexia

From Level 2, Helena I think is just beautiful. Worked from the centre out, I love the swirling central lace motif. The edge is finished with a knitted on beaded edging. It would take a while but I think it’s pretty enough to justify the hours worked on it :-)

Finally for level 3; Josephine. This pattern is a delicate crescent shaped shawl worked from the bottom up. It’s got lace worked on both the right and wrong side row along the bottom as well as beading. The body of the shawl uses decreases and short rows to create the crescent shape.

Josephine

Now for the giveaway! Post your favourite project in the comments below and I’ll pick a winner next Sunday (28th June) to send a copy of the book to. I’m afraid that the publisher will only send to the US though, so only US postal address :-(

37 thoughts on “Review: Beaded Lace Knitting”

  1. So many beautiful projects to choose from! My favorite, though, is Helena – simply gorgeous!

  8. Aah, you had me at “beaded!” Looks like a delicious book. If I needed a gift, the first thing I’d knit would be “Eden,” but the first item I’d knit for me would be “Janey.” So many beautiful things.

  10. i love Gillian. Ponchos are great. They don’t fall off or come untied!

  11. What gorgeous patterns…easily able to put 23 in my “to do” pile. I think the one that I would start with is Leah….

  14. Hard to pick a favorite – Josephine and Janey top my list today.

    Thanks for the opportunity!

  15. Alexia is my favorite! Love the idea of knitting half-way through the yarn and then finishing up with what is left…..:-)

  18. I think I have to go with Catalina although Gillian is a close second!

  19. Drape-front vests are my absolute favorite accessory, so Chantelle is definitely my pick.

  20. They are all lovely, but my favorite is definitely Josephine! Crescent shapes are SO versatile!

  23. I love the variety of lace projects in the book. The various levels of difficulty is definitely a plus.

    I love the large circular shawl, cowls and the buttoned shawl. This book will regenerate my love of lace knitting.

  27. I love them all, but I would have go with Josephine! It is so beautiful!

  31. I love Adelaide, tho the lovely purple the sample was knit in may by unduly influencing my choice.

  32. I can narrow my favorites down to Josephine and Lucinda. Thanks for sharing another beautiful knitting book.

  34. Oooooh… hard to pick a favorite, but I’ m leaning towards Macy. Eden and Josaphine are very close… Thanks for introducing me to this book and to Anniken!

  37. All are gorgeous, but I can see myself wearing “Josephine” frequently.

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