Silky Little Knits: Luxurious Designs and Accessories in Mohair-Silk Yarns - Softcover

Alison Crowther-Smith teaches successful workshops for Rowan, a British yarn company. She is a former design consultant for the company and the author of "Shibori Knitted Felt."

It’s uncommon that a knitting book deliberately chooses to concentrate on one type of yarn (not to mention one very specific brand), which is exactly what instructor-author Crowther-Smith espouses. The material featured is a combination of mohair and silk, admittedly not the cheapest or easiest wool to work with because of its airy fibery-tendril characteristics. Yet mastering its use is relatively painless, asserts the author; to ensure success, she not only provides upfront tips for the mohair mix—how best to handle and unravel the yarn, for example—but also embeds techniques throughout her twentysomething patterns. And, oh, what a selection! These deceptively delicate offerings—many accompanied by gift bags—range from a sturdy flower trellis scarf, using mohair as accents against a knitted worsted weight yarn, to glamour-drenched shawls with beads and/or sequins. Advanced or beginning knitters will welcome easy-to-understand directions, great romantically styled color photographs, indicated level of difficulty, and specific cast-on instructions, so critical in the finished look of a piece. --Barbara Jacobs