#circularshawls

Circular Knitting Workshop by Margaret Radcliffe

I am a fan of Margaret Radcliffe's books because she explains technical details in order to allow you to master what is needed to create knitting patterns on your own. This was also true of vintage knitting books which assumed we would and could change up stitches, details, etc., as we knitted. So a good artisanal tradition to keep alive. Of course, if you are feeling wary, you could just knit any of the handsome projects included in the book.

This book is a workshop because it builds on the knowledge it imparts, working its way up through simple to complex projects in order to allow you to master one technique at a time. So, after a section on the basics of casting on, and the various ways to work circular needing, you get applications of techniques. First, a project, like simple tubular scarf, plus some other options, then the helix hat, (which is working two spirals and which you see here in the pinky colors), circular shawls, etc. She works you all the way up to a sweater. For all of these projects, she has a section called "Any Size, Any Yarn" to explain the calculations you will need in order to launch yourself into a different version with confidence.

Radcliffe also notes common problems and their solutions along the way. An appendix illustrates all the basic stitch techniques used. She is fair enough to acknowledge the pros and cons of knitting in the round even while she explains how you can convert a flat pattern to a circular one. There is a lot of information in here, but you can easily skip to the section which most interests you, or to a project that highlights the technique you especially want to learn.