Knitting: Fashion, Industry, Craft

KNITTING: FASHION, INDUSTRY, CRAFT, is a knitting history book that rivals Richard's Rutt's classic,  A History of Hand Knitting . Sadly, the currently available, reprinted editions of Rutt's wonderful book leave out the full-color plates that illustrate the best examples of historical knitting (e.g., the knitted "carpets"--tablecloths or hangings--that were required for a journeyman to qualify as a master knitter in a knitter's guild).But Sandy Black's book does not stint for one second on full-color photographs. It is positively crammed with full-color photographs (along with many black-and-white photographs) of museum-quality knitting that dates from the third century to the present. Of course, there are few photographs of the very earliest knitting, because so few examples of early textiles have survived to be cared for by today's museum conservators.However, there are gorgeous color photographs of (1) a 14th-15th century Egyptian fragment done in brown and black stranded and intarsia knitting; (2) a 1781 Alsatian guild carpet depicting the Dream of Jacob; (3) knitted Tudor caps from the 16th century; (4) German knitted seamless cotton stockings from the 1800s; (5) an extraordinary all-white knitted petticoat from the 1740s that is covered with animals, birds, foliage, insects, and flowers; and (6) a 19th century beaded miser's purse from Britain. These are only a few examples. There are photographs of many, many more beautiful knitted items, both ancient and modern.The book is divided into four parts: (1) History, Tradition, and Mythology (from the Third Century to the Late Nineteenth Century); (2) Livelihood and Industry (Hand- and Machine-Knitting from the Seventeenth to the Twenty-First Centuries); (3) Knitting in the Home (from the Eighteenth Century to the Present Day); and (4) Classics to Couture (Fashion Knitwear from 1900 to Now). The photographs in each part are accompanied by a coherent, easy-to-read text that explains exactly what was happening to knitting and knitted garments during the particular time period: the invention of new tools and machinery, changes in popular demand for knitted items, and dramatic fashion statements made by each era's foremost designers. There are photographs of knitting machines, women in full-body "sanitary" woolies, fishermen wearing ganseys, modern pattern booklets, famous designer pieces (e.g., a Kaffe Fasset coat), and pretty much anything else you can think of that relates to knitting!The book also has an extensive bibliography, as you would expect from an author who is Professor of Fashion and Textile Design at the London College of Fashion. If you're fascinated by knitting history, you will definitely will want to own this book. I also highly recommend Black's previous book on knitting and fashion,  Knitwear in Fashion .

This is an ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL BOOK! Gorgeous colour illustrations, many of things you've only seen in black and white before. Very well written, full of historical information gathered from documented sources. EXCELLENT !!!

This beautifully illustrated book is going to rapidly become a standard reference for those who are fascinated with knitting its history and the development of fashion. It traces the craft seamlessly from the early handcraft origins to contemporary machine made fashion knitting.

I was a bit disappointed with the content, in that it was a history book. I had hoped there would be modern patterns to achieve the historical garments described, but there were none. The photographs were nice, but all in all, this is more of a coffee-table book.

I haven't read the whole thing yet, but what I've read seems well-researched and easy to read. It's the kind of book I will use when working on Master Knitter requirements rather than a stitch guide. All in all, a good purchase and a good read.

I wish this was bigger! With more pictures, which is silly because there were a lot but it just makes me wish desperately to go and explore through the museums and glory in past handicrafts!

There is so much more to know about the craft of knitting and Sandy Black goes a long way to enlightening the hand knitter and commercial knitwear industry about this medium.

For anyone who wants to know about knit this is the perfect book, bought for my daughter studying Constructed textiles as University specialising in knit- was a very comprehensive book.

Best for good clear imagesDownside strongly derivative from Rutt

Bought as slightly jokey retirement gift but a beautifully illustrated and scholarly book.

It is a beautifull book with a lot of historic information.If that is what you like than this book is a hit!

le livre aborde tous les thèmes de son titre; bien illustré et bien documenté, c'est un survol assez large de l'histoire du tricot, avec des modèles contemporains de stylistes réputés.