Michael R. R. Pearson

Fascinating, factual, informative, current and historical information related to Gansey, Fair Isle and Aran knitting fills the pages of this book. With over fifty years of knitting so far under my belt I have learned a GREAT deal that I did not know before. Original knitting guild members were male, knitting became a way to augment income, women were able to knit a sweater much faster than I am able to, special devices I had never heard of were used by knitters to facilitate the process, show more people carried their knitting with them almost everywhere, Gansey sweaters have purl stitches that form patterns while Aran sweaters use knit stitches to do so instead, gussets were made under the arms, reworking sweaters was easier using the methods and patterns described in this book…I could go on but I have to say that this is one very intriguing book and I am thankful to Net Galley and Dover Publications for the opportunity to read and review this book. show less

Big improvements in Photos, charts and patterns, very well laid out compared to first edition.

Repeats romantic story that Aran knitting is very old, for better history read Alice Starmores Aran book.

An absolute must have source book for anyone interested in the history of knitting, knitting and social history, or just the origin of aran, fair isle and fisher gansey patterns.

Well illustrated, plenty of background, charts of the patterns.