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Knitwear designer Louisa Harding is known especially for her adorable designs for kids. In fact, if you knit and you have kids—or grandkids—her Miss Bea books are a must. But her latest book, Modern Classics, features designs for grown-ups who appreciate timeless style.
The book is rooted in the basics: the plain cardigans and turtlenecks and pullovers and twin sets and jackets. Harding provides patterns (using her own line of yarn, of course) for some of the simplest of styles. Then she modifies them and gives them a bit of a twist. She adds lace to her basic V-neck cardigan pattern, and she adds some Fair Isle work to her basic pullover. She adds cables and textures and lace. She switches up the neckline and adds some side shaping. And the results are (for the most part) beautiful designs that will spend several seasons in the wearer’s wardrobe.
The twenty-four patterns in the book are arranged according to the weight of yarn they use (double knitting, worsted, or aran), and each is rated for its level of difficulty (beginner, intermediate, or advanced). Each pattern gives plenty of information, so you’ll know the exact measurements (bust size—ranging from 32 to 42—width, length, sleeve length, etc.) of the finished product. And the patterns are especially detailed, with charts and graph where necessary. There’s no guesswork here!
While just about every knitting book has a pattern or two (and sometimes many more than two) that make you ask, “What was the designer thinking with this one?” Modern Classics doesn’t really have many. Granted, there are a few designs that I wouldn’t personally wear (mostly because I don’t really like turtlenecks)—but there’s only one design in the book that I can’t see a friend or a family member or some woman who’s doing her Christmas shopping at the mall wearing. The sweaters in this book truly are classic designs. Add to that the beautiful textures and colorways of Harding’s signature line of yarn, and you’ve got a book full of beautiful sweaters that will be well worth the time you put into knitting them. If you’re looking for a book full of great basic pieces, look no further.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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