Knitting Classic Style by Veronik Avery translates iconic fashion trends into modern knitting pieces. Influenced by the history of fashion for men and women, ethnic prints and pieces and sportswear, the book updates and rethinks classics from the military jacket to the tie to the 1920s halter-style swimsuit into fashionable and wearable knits for today.
Projects from the Archives
Veronik Avery admits to a passion for the history of fashion, as well as the history of knitting. She writes in the introduction to Knitting Classic Style that it was an interest in fashion that drew her to crafts such as sewing and knitting, rather than an interest in crafts that blossomed into a fascination with fashion.
"For me, both fashion and knitting serve a common purpose--the opportunity for creative, wearable self-expression," she writes.
The book begins with a brief history of the fashions that most influenced Avery and the patterns in the book, which is filled with 35 patterns inspired by the history of womenswear, menswear, ethnic-inspired fashion and sportswear.
The Patterns
The patterns are fun plays on different fashion pieces, some more literal than others. Argyle socks, for instance, influence a sock pattern in which the "argyle" is embroidered on after the sock is knit. A French sailor's boatneck sweater is converted to a child's size, and the Victorian-era corset cover becomes a tank top that can be worn alone or over a long-sleeved shirt.
The cashmere twinset is reimagined as a knit T-shirt with graphic print on the front and a matching cabled sweater, both in a wool-cashmere blend. Knit ties get a new look when knit in moss stitch, and classic Norwegian pulse warmers are fancied up with beads.
There are Afghan slippers meant to keep feet warm on cold floors, a warm Russian shawl and Japanese tabi socks (where the big toe is separated from the other toes) embellished with a modern, lacy pattern.
The patterns are mostly suitable for knitters with some experience, and there is little in the way of knitting instruction if you don't understand a particular technique (there's a three-page glossary of techniques and a page of knitting abbreviations).
These patterns really are modern classics, from a fun take on the beret to a lovely Faeroese sweater. You'll enjoy looking at these interpretations of the classics, and hopefully knitting some of them as well.
For a preview of the book's projects, check out Avery's blog.
Publication date: September 2007.
