Andean Folk Knitting

With these attractive ethnic patterns from the Andes, knitters not only expand their design repertoire, they literally knit a connection with other cultures. The fabulous selection of 25 projects includes vibrant bags and other accessories based on the rich traditions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Knit fingerless mittens and a purse from Peru’s Ollantaytambo region. A wonderfully functional Argentinean felt bag fits around the waist and is perfect for holding money and other small belongings; a matching hat makes for an attractive ensemble. Or try making a chic and simple Chilean striped bag and scarf, or an adorable Bolivian purse in the shape of a llama. Every chapter offers interesting facts about the Andean people, history, and culture, too.

With these attractive ethnic patterns from the Andes, knitters not only expand their design repertoire, they literally knit a connection with other cultures. The fabulous selection of 25 projects includes vibrant bags and other accessories based on the rich traditions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Knit fingerless mittens and a purse from Peru’s Ollantaytambo region. A wonderfully functional Argentinean felt bag fits around the waist and is perfect for holding money and other small belongings; a matching hat makes for an attractive ensemble. Or try making a chic and simple Chilean striped bag and scarf, or an adorable Bolivian purse in the shape of a llama. Every chapter offers interesting facts about the Andean people, history, and culture, too.

Offering mitten patterns from around the world, this introduction to folk knitting is followed by a generous section on the techniques of knitting mittens. Among topics covered are gauge, wool selection (including techniques for washing and felting wool), casting on, plait edging, ribbed and unribbed cuffs, and a long section on the ever-elusive thumb. Also detailed are techniques for hand-knit mitten cords, finishing, and sizing.

Lush fiber and dazzling design are the focus of this collection of patterns inspired by pre-Columbian textiles from the culturally rich Andes in South America. Adapted for modern knitters, the ambitious designs offer eye-catching patterns, unique silhouettes, and a palette of techniques ranging from intarsia and Fair Isle to embroidery and beading. Skilled knitters will find plenty of contemporary flair in projects such as a boldly striped geometric scarf, a showy lace cardigan with ruffled trim, and a crocheted poncho embellished with beads. Photographs of the stunning Peruvian landscape and stories about the tradition of Andean craft and the vital alpaca enrich this tour of beautiful art from a beautiful country.

Knitting expert Kari Cornell teaches you how to make your own baby knits in all of the world’s authentic traditions. Baby Knits from Around the World showcases 20 designs by well-known artisans hailing from classic knitting traditions in Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, England, the Baltics, Europe, South America, and North America. The book includes detailed instructions for ever-popular baby hats, blankets, sweaters, booties, pants, dresses, toys, and mitts; while introductions to each pattern detail the history of the technique that the design employs. With over 100 gorgeous photos and diagrams throughout, knitters of all proficiency levels are sure to enjoy Kari Cornell’s hand-picked collection of baby knitting projects.

The Quechua people of southern Peru are both agriculturalists and herders who maintain large herds of alpacas and llamas. But they are also weavers, and it is through weaving that their cultural traditions are passed down over the generations. Owing to the region's isolation, the textile symbols, forms of clothing, and technical processes remain strongly linked to the people's environment and their ancestors. Heckman's photographs convey the warmth and vitality of the Quechua people and illustrate how the land is intricately woven into their lives and their beliefs. Quechua weavers in the mountainous regions near Cuzco, Peru, produce certain textile forms and designs not found elsewhere in the Andes. Their textiles are a legacy of their Andean ancestors. Andrea Heckman has devoted more than twenty years to documenting and analyzing the ways Andean beliefs persist over time in visual symbols embedded in textiles and portrayed in rituals. Her primary focus is the area around the sacred peak of Ausangate, in southern Peru, some eighty-five miles southeast of the former Inca capital of Cuzco. The core of this book is an ethnographic account of the textiles and their place in daily life that considers how the form and content of Quechua patterns and designs pass stories down and preserve traditions as well as how the ritual use of textiles sustain a sense of community and a connection to the past. Heckman concludes by assessing the influences of the global economy on indigenous Quechua, who maintain their own worldview within the larger fabric of twentieth-century cultural values and hence have survived everything from Latin American militarism to a tidal wave of post-modern change.

This book collects 25 fantastic patterns for socks inspired by knitting traditions from around the world. Patterns from top designers including Star Athena, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Candace Eisner Strick, Chrissy Gardiner, Janel Laidman and Anna Zilboorg are featured, along with an introduction from Nancy Bush, author of Folk Socks.