Knitting Patterns for the Hand Spinner
by Bev Tilson
Bev Tilson has compiled a nice assortment of knitting patterns geared
towards
the handspinner. Bev is from Christchurch, New Zealand. I really
enjoyed
reading through her book. Being from the U.S.A., it was fun for me to
see
the differences in wordage. We speak English in a different language, I
think! Nothing was difficult to figure out however. Here are some
examples:
Tension = gauge
Jumper = sweater
Waistcoat = vest
Singlet = t-shirt
Pilcher… that looks like a diaper cover to me!
Bev also included a chart in the front of the
book to give the needle size
equivalents for metric, U.S. and British sizes. When she uses a
non-metric
size in the patterns, it appears to be a British number, so U.S.
knitters
will need to refer to this chart for the proper needle size.
Another chart gives definitions for yarn size. The yarn sizes she used
are
not common terms for U.S. knitters, but she gives the equivalents in
WPI
(wraps per inch) so anyone can figure out their yarn
size. This is
especially handy for the hand spinner who maybe doesn’t end
up with the exact
size yarn intended. On page 3 she also includes the gauge (tension)
for each yarn size with the needle size recommended. Of course, we
still
need to swatch!
The patterns are organized in an easy format. Bev has divided them by
size;
baby, toddlers, school age, adult and accessories. Literally there is
something
for everyone. Roughly half the book is patterns for children, the other
half for adults and accessories. The patterns are mostly basic,
tasteful
and appealing with lots of different design elements. There are 60
patterns
total. The book is a half sheet size, soft cover, perfect for
take-along
projects it will fit nicely into any knitting bag.
The only thing I found difficult was matching the photos with the
proper
pattern. All the photos are numbered by category, however, and once Bev
clued me in on that, it was easy. (After e-mailing her about
it, I found
her note explaining it on page 3.)
The patterns themselves are written for knitters. They are concise and
to
the point with no frills. If you do not know how to read a knitting
pattern,
you’ll want to learn that skill before trying the patterns in
this book. Bev includes a page of the abbreviations used as well. The
abbreviations
are identical to what we use here in the U.S.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Bev Tilson’s book, Knitting
Patterns
for the Hand Spinner, you can contact her directly at morecraft@xtra.co.nz.
Prices will
vary depending on shipping. I recommend this book for your knitting
library.
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