I am completely in love with lace knitting, but I knew there had to be more than yarn overs (yo), knit two together (k2tog), pass slipped stitch over (psso), and slip, slip, knits (ssk). I had seen such wonderful designs created in lace, using little bumps and intricate designs of leaves and flowers. So far, though, I have been very disappointed by the availability of more intricate designs. So I set out on a mission and browsed through the shelves of endless books at Amazon.com.
Yesterday I received my Amazon.com order containing, “Knitted Lace of Estonia” by Nancy Bush. I was not disappointed. Nancy Bush has outdone herself in more ways than one with this book. The shawls and scarves that are patterened are a dream for any person that truly adores lace knitting. However, my favorite aspect of the book was that not only are there patterns included, but she also gives more charts for pattern repeats not even featured in the previous patterns. With this bit of arsenal in my line up, there are many more possibilities for lace beyond scarves and shawls. For example, curtains completed in lace work will add a romantic air to a dining room, kitchen, bath or bedroom. The lace could also be incorporated into purses, dresses, tops and much more with just a little addition of fabric. Nancy Bush gives the creative knitter an avenue of expression beyond what most other knit books allow.
So what makes the Estonian knitting so special? In my opinion, it is the continuation of the history of a people determined to stay connected through an age-old tradition. Nancy Bush traveled to Estonia to visit and learn from the people who have practiced this craft generation through generation. She bought Estonian shawls and scarves to study their patterns and chart them out, making them available to us in the West. The Estonian methods are so beautiful and intricate that it sends imagination running.
The hardest part will be deciding what project to complete first. I believe that I will attempt one or two of the scarves in the fingering weight yarn just to get my feet wet. Maybe it’s my European background or love of the beauty in Prague, Russia, and other European nations, but I am so excited about beginning one of these projects. The romance is just lingering there, waiting to seduce my hands and fingers with delicious fingering and lace weight silk, wool, alpaca, and cashmere yarns. So I will be posting pictures and introducing you all to the beauty of lace knitting Estonian style in future posts.
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