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Alice Starmore's Glamourie (Calla Editions)

by Alice Starmore

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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503509,400 (3.5)None
Glamourie is a Scots word meaning a charmed condition in which everything is invested with magical properties and possibilities. In this unique book, Alice Starmore leads us into the realm of glamourie and -- like the witches of Gaelic folklore -- casts spells with needles and a single thread. Taking her daughter Jade's supernatural stories as inspiration, she uses the art of hand knitting to bewitch and bedazzle, and illustrates the tales with elaborate costumes and accessories that portray fanciful and extraordinary ideas.  In creating these costumes, she has powerfully demonstrated the glamourie that can flow from the twin wands of a master magician. While the first half of this book is an unrestrained flight of fancy, the second half contains full instructions for knitting simpler and more practical garments inspired by each costume, all written with Alice Starmore's trademark accuracy and precision.   By developing each of these patterns from its associated costume, she has revealed how her mind works and how her imagination led her from the initial inspiration through to the final design. Alice and Jade Starmore are from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and its moody Celtic landscape is the backdrop to the stories, costumes and designs they have created. The final stage of Glamourie was to take their creations back out into that landscape to be photographed. They trekked to special locations, far off the beaten track, and Jade's spectacular photographs depict both the sweeping panorama and the minute detail of their beloved native isle. Three years in the making, this combination of photography and fable, of highly conceptual design and practical instruction, will enchant not only knitters but also those in the fashion and costume world and readers fascinated by Scottish and Gaelic legends.… (more)
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This is the strangest craft book ever, composed as it is of at least three books in one.

Jade Starmore is a fantasy author. Alice Starmore, her mother, is a costumer and knitter. Together they have designed this book which is short stories, knitted and sewn costumes to match, and knit patterns that echo, but do not reproduce, the much more elaborate costumes. And, the book is a tribute to Scotland's seacoast.

Ok. I don't read much high fantasy and I certainly don't dress up in elaborate evocations of birds and sea anemones, nor do I wear knitted shrugs and ponchos. So this book doesn't offer much for me personally. But I think it might pique the interest of a budding costumer, if you happen to know one.

Costuming begins with dressing up for special occasion, and moves onward through competitive reproduction of classical garments with numerous side paths into theatre and film (think Outlander wedding dress). Here we are taking the idea from the stories, developing them into a proper costumes as if we were performing, and then simplifying the designs for everyday use (more or less, I don't want knitted feathers around my neck, and a peplum would be unfortunate on my hips).

Ms Starmore Sr.'s costumes are amusing, tending toward deeply dramatic jackets over billowing skirts, all in the colors of fantasy – blues, smoky grey, plum – with embroidered or felted accents. Knitted hats and helmets evoke birds and insects. The everyday patterns that go with them are disappointing in that some of the costume ideas that I enjoyed and might have considered using – like the elaborate collar and sleeves on the Mountain Hare jacket (more tortoise than hare, really), the full body pattern of the Otter costume, and especially the glorious Selkie offset button jacket with the cable on the collar reverse, have been replaced with mundane shapes, except for the fake feathers.

The book cover is particularly disappointing. Rather than one of the more dramatic costumes or an elaborate design like the Selkie jacket, the cover is the Mountain Hare sweater and hat, the most boring and colorless of the knitting patterns.

Unless you have the perfect gift recipient in mind, I'd look at this book in a shop before ordering.

I received a review copy of "Alice Starmore's Glamourie" by Alice Starmore (Calla Editions: Dover) through NetGalley.com. ( )
  Dokfintong | Jul 15, 2018 |
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. I have been a fan of Alice Starmore’s knitting books since the late 1980’s. Her books serve as not only a source of well written instructions for beautiful knitwear but also as a spark to your imagination. Her books give you ideas. Alice Starmore’s Glamourie is no exception, The photographs are wonderful and amazing, the patterns are well written and and easy to follow but this book is the much more. I loved the concept of illustrating the folktales with costumes and then adapting the ideas from the fantastic costumes with knitwear that can be worn everyday but still keeps a bit of the fantastic. These are not quick or easy projects but the designs are timeless and well worth the effort involved to create something special. Publishing Date February 14, 2018 #AliceStarmore’sGlamourie #NetGalley ( )
  nmgski | Mar 9, 2018 |
Alice Starmore's Glamourie by Alice Starmore
Book starts out with a table of contents: projects and notes, then patterns, techniques and abbreviations.
Introduction where the author talks about where she grew up, story behind the stories and patterns.
Love what Glamourie is and how she weaves her stories and dreams into her knitting.
Have read other works by this author and this one I found so inspiring, no rules and so adjustable for any size.
Not only is this book about knitting but she weaves a story in the background so I feel like I'm getting two books in one.
Very high quality photos showing not only the designs but the landscape where they meld into one but have enough contrast to show off the designs and patterns in the garment. Super photography!
So many different types of animals, my favorite would be one of the birds, Like a bit of everything from each one.
Each of the costume patterns start out with designer notes, about the animal they are representing in the knitted garment and a bit about them.
Pattern starts out with color photos from various angles showing the angles and flare. Sizes are given, knitted garment measurements, materials: yarn and needles, tension measurements and then the start of the actual knitting. Easy to work on, as each row is described. Love chart where it has the decreases marked out in cell form that you can check mark off once you've completed them.
Diagrams show finished dimensions so you can line them up to finish the final seams.
One thing I did not notice was the level of experience you'd need. I'd suggest high rating as it's going to take a bit of time to do and keep everything straight.
Some of the patterns are using charts for color changes so be sure to read through at least once before making them.
Credits and resources close out this book. What a treasure.
The pictures shown do not all have corresponding patterns.
Received this review copy via Dover Publications via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion. ( )
  jbarr5 | Feb 15, 2018 |
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Alice Starmoreprimary authorall editionscalculated
Starmore, JadePhotographersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Glamourie is a Scots word meaning a charmed condition in which everything is invested with magical properties and possibilities. In this unique book, Alice Starmore leads us into the realm of glamourie and -- like the witches of Gaelic folklore -- casts spells with needles and a single thread. Taking her daughter Jade's supernatural stories as inspiration, she uses the art of hand knitting to bewitch and bedazzle, and illustrates the tales with elaborate costumes and accessories that portray fanciful and extraordinary ideas.  In creating these costumes, she has powerfully demonstrated the glamourie that can flow from the twin wands of a master magician. While the first half of this book is an unrestrained flight of fancy, the second half contains full instructions for knitting simpler and more practical garments inspired by each costume, all written with Alice Starmore's trademark accuracy and precision.   By developing each of these patterns from its associated costume, she has revealed how her mind works and how her imagination led her from the initial inspiration through to the final design. Alice and Jade Starmore are from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and its moody Celtic landscape is the backdrop to the stories, costumes and designs they have created. The final stage of Glamourie was to take their creations back out into that landscape to be photographed. They trekked to special locations, far off the beaten track, and Jade's spectacular photographs depict both the sweeping panorama and the minute detail of their beloved native isle. Three years in the making, this combination of photography and fable, of highly conceptual design and practical instruction, will enchant not only knitters but also those in the fashion and costume world and readers fascinated by Scottish and Gaelic legends.

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