by Esther Rutter
In this well-constructed and thoroughly enjoyable book the author sets out on a project to tour the British mainland and quite a few islands in the course of a year, explore different styles and aspects of knitting in the regions she visits.
Does this sound appealing? Well, the concept appealed to me as a keen knitter and explorer of everything to do with yarn and ‘fibre arts’. The Introduction already whetted my appetite. The narrative is very well written, and is as much a delight from a linguistic point of view as in the actual knitting content. The author is clearly a young, educated woman with an interest in history and the people around her. She is also adventurous enough to undertake journeys and encounters that take her to some unexpected and delightful places. She is, in effect, the person that I might be if I were 30 years younger!
I have really enjoyed reading this book, and have recommended it to others – so much so, that my friend in Alexandria, Virginia, recommended her boss get a copy in for the library where she works. I would love to learn how many people borrow it and what they think of it. The book, and its author, seem to me quintessentially British (indeed, English).
What more can I say? There are twelve chapters, each dedicated to a different part or parts of the country, different knitting technique, local history, facts about yarn and the craft, as well as the individuals who have made their mark. The illustrations are pertinent although not as well presented as they might have been in a ‘glossier’ book. This is, however, not a how-to manual but a history, geography and celebration of things yarn-related. You want not only to see but to touch the different yarns and fleeces, and the artefacts made with them.
Thank you Ms Rutter for this excellent book. I will continue to recommend it, and hope to write to the author also (something I’ve only done once before) to congratulate her on her achievement.
A rug and a book 