Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet

I was skeptical about the idea of a scarf pattern book -- who needs to buy scarf patterns when it's so easy to come up with your own? -- until I actually looked through it. Not only does this book contain beautiful, original, and intriguing scarf patterns that I'm dying to knit, but it also has a "Design Notebook" section with tips and hints on designing your own patterns in the back that is well worth a read in and of itself. I'm sold!

This book is wildly popular for good reason. There are a wide variety of scarves for different skill levels (from advanced beginner, to highly skilled). The pictures are generally good (though some could be less artsy and show the scarves better) and the directions over all are great.

The scarves and shawls in this book are simply gorgeous. I am actually working on one right now and it is deceptively simple. I want to learn to crochet just to make some of the other scarves in the book.

There are some great beginner patterns as well as the advanced patterns. I want to make just about all of them!

Pros: good for beginners and more advanced knitters, has a wide range of styles with something for everyone (kids, men, women, classic, trendy), beautifully photographed, clear instructions. Four or five top-notch designs (Annie Modesitt's leaf scarf, the dragon scarf, the color block shawl, the turtleneck shrug). Cons: aggravating lack of schematics for some patterns, and the pretty photography blurs out some essential details of some scarves. Two or three unoriginal patterns that just sell a designer's yarn (Jo Sharp, Debbie Bliss).

This collection of 31 elegant and ingenious scarf designs tap the expertise of more than 25 knitwear designers who offer new ways to think about this most basic of garments. Designs by Kathryn Alexander, Debbie Bliss, Nancy Bush, Lily Chin, Nicky Epstein, Sasha Kagan, Sally Melville, and Kristin Nicholas are included, representing a varied exploration of techniques that provide innovative ways to think about knitting and crochet. Sections on knitting and crochet basics, making a scarf without a pattern, and a designer's notebook with templates for basic scarves and suggestions for design variations are provided.

Lovely patterns, but the photography let it down. A bit too blurry and made it difficult to see some of the designs properly. A shame as otherwise it's a lovely book.

Some lovely ideas and patterns. A variety of techniques are included: cables, intarsia, lace, color blocking, even crochet (though it seems somewhat out of place). There is something for almost every wearer and knitter, whether your tastes run to large blocks of jewel tones, unusual capelets, or Estonian shawls.