As I have taken up knitting only last year after at least a decade of absence, my knitting library was in serious need of updating. I am adding little by little according to the state of my purse and here are my latest acquisitions:
I was really looking forward to this new book from the Rowan Classic collection and I have to say I am hugely disappointed!
Out of the 18 designs featured inside this book I can only find one pattern that caught my eye and it is a scarf which I thought might provide a nice present for somebody.
I usually like Martin Storey's designs but this time I think he could have done better, much better indeed...
Sigh!...
I know, I know... it's an oldie, but I have wanted it for a long, long time, and one must read the Classics.
Now THIS is a different story. I LOVE this book!
A few patterns in this book will definitively end up on my knitting list. I have already a soft spot for Joy, Fleur, Mili, Oriel and the ever so popular Selina...
I still like a lot of others but they might prove a bit out of my reach in terms of experience.
So my advice, if you haven't already got it, is to buy it....
Sadly, this one is to follow shortly, I hope.
I cannot comment yet on this book by Louisa Harding but I have seen a preview and two patterns have caught my eyes:
and 
Hope there will be more...
i really want to get the vintage style, too. it seems like something worth keeping!
Posted by: blossom | September 13, 2005 at 05:20 PM
Oh what a nuisance that the first book wasn't to your liking - it's such a shame when that happens. I was in my LYS store yesterday and they had a copy of the new Rowan book which is called something like Knits for Real Women - can't remember exactly - I had thought that I would love to get a copy of it to do stuff for my Mum, but it was dreadful - I'm so glad I got to look at it first, I would have been so disappointed otherwise - could you not return the book somehow ?
Posted by: Becky | September 13, 2005 at 05:34 PM
Offer it for sale, there might be someone who's after a copy. I love the colour of that Loisa Harding jacket, the electric blue one. I so nearly bought the book today, but decided that certain "things" must be finished first;) Bah!!!
Posted by: Tracy | September 13, 2005 at 06:21 PM
Quel dommage que le Rowan woman ne te plaise pas. ON n'est jamais à l'abri d'un déception quand on commande un livre sans avoir pu le feuilleter. J'aime aussi beaucoup "vintage style". Mais quel est le titre du dernier livre que tu présente ? J'aime beaucoup le petit pull rayé dans les tons bleu.
Et valenciennes ?
Posted by: caro | September 13, 2005 at 07:19 PM
I just bought the Loisa Harding book and some of the Impressions yarn for the Marguerite sweater. The yarn is really pretty and rather light. I am using the shade called Pink Mix and Lilac for the little flowers.
Posted by: Diane | September 13, 2005 at 08:47 PM
i love vintage style! and i can highly recommend salina as a pattern. it has fast become one of my favourite jumpers.
Posted by: jacqueline | September 14, 2005 at 08:21 AM
Francoise, Thank you for your kind words. I love the vintage stylebook too. There are so many wonderful designs. You have lovely taste. Unfortunately, I think many are too advanced for me. I think I will have to pick something on the easier side and take a class to guide me through it.
Posted by: gina L | September 14, 2005 at 02:51 PM
The same 2 from Louis Harding caught my eye, actually. I'll have to start looking for that book. She has a really elegant style.
Posted by: MJ | September 14, 2005 at 08:37 PM
Vintage Style has been on my list for a long time. I have flipped through it several times before and just adored it.
Posted by: Lolly | September 15, 2005 at 09:46 PM
Tout comme toi je suis une fan de "Vintage style". Je ne me lasse pas de cet ouvrage où chaque modèle est à tomber !
Posted by: Dorothée | September 17, 2005 at 07:36 AM
Comme toi, j'adoooore Vintage Style (dont je suis en train de tricoter un modèle), qui est mon premier ROWAN.
Et, d'après les extraitsque j'ai pu voir, Classic Woman ne m'inspire pas spécialement. Mais peut-être pourrais-tu le revendre, non?
Posted by: cécile | September 17, 2005 at 04:05 PM
I have to say that I am "glad" that you feel that way about the RY Classic books. I bought all of them and then promptly took them all back to the shop as I was so disappointed. I hate it when I don't like knitting stuff, it just feels wrong. And taking knitting books back, I didn't even think that was possible.
Posted by: Amelia | September 21, 2005 at 04:40 PM
Sadly, those new Rowan Classic ones are not very good. Vintage Style is lovely, I agree that it's wonderful.
Louisa harding books are nice. The yarns are not too my taste (too much varigation), but the shapes are good and it is very inspiring.
Posted by: P | September 25, 2005 at 12:49 PM