I love this book! The cover pattern hooked me...it is one of my favorites. I have found the counterpanes a bit challenging at times but oh, so worth the effort. I consider myself an intermediate knitter and have made many swatches; decided to use the cover pattern for an afghan/blanket for DGD.

The illustrations and pics are great, the patterns are well written...overall, this was a fantastic addition to my knitting library. ( )

Counterpanes are bed coverings. This book focuses on knit counterpanes, although the word can by used synonymously with the word quilt.

Phillips' book is both a historical survey of counterpanes found in museums worldwide and a how-to book, with line by line knitting instructions. The book was supported with a Visual Artists Fellowship Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In her acknowledgments she gives special thanks to the New York Public Library "whose superb collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century needlework books and pamphlets I used extensively". She also thanks a long list of museums as well.

The patterns are divided into the following chapters: (1) Flat patterns; (2) Embossed Patterns; (3) Strip patterns; (4) Fans and shell patterns; (5) Lace and border patterns. Some of the patterns have line by line instructions written out; others are charted. Each is accompanied by a b& w photo. Phillips also provides instructions for joining together panes of different shapes into the overall counterpane.

For the student of fabric creation, this is wonderful book. The knitting patterns are for the more experienced knitter. This is a well written, interesting book. It is not surprising that it fetches such high prices in the used book market. ( )

This amazingly researched book, clarifies the technique of knitting very complex patterns. Illustrations and photography are excellent. ( )