The Art of Lithuanian Knitting: 25 Traditional Patterns and the People, Places, and History That Inspire Them

Learn about the traditions and techniques of knitting in Lithuania past, present, and future. Plus find more than 25 mitten, glove, and sock projects to knit! Lithuania is a hub of European textile production and a haven for fiber artists. Visitors to the capital city of Vilnius find the narrow cobblestone streets flanked by hidden yarn and folk-art shops. Tourist markets overflow with hand-knitted mittens, socks, wrist warmers and caps. Museums house rich textile exhibits and collections, and traditional handcrafts are demonstrated at street festivals and open-air museums during summer. As soon as autumn's cool breezes kick up, the streets become a veritable knitwear fashion show. Although Lithuania doesn't have a reputation as a major tourist destination, the country is a knitter's paradise. In The Art of Lithuanian Knitting, you can journey with Donna Druchunas and June L. Hall around the country and learn about all of the fun and fascinating traditions and techniques that they discovered during their travels. Along with all of the stories, the book also includes over 25 patterns for traditional and modern socks, gloves, mittens, and beaded wrist warmers, all worked with Lithuanian techniques, pattern stitches, and motifs. The techniques used include colorwork, texture stitches, lace, entrelac, and more! And we've also included a chapter on how to perform some special Lithuanian knitting techniques.

About the Author :
Donna Druchunas is a writer and knitwear designer with passions for knitting, world travel, and research. She has been visiting Lithuania, where her great grandparents were born, every year since 2007. Donna has been designing knitwear and writing for over a decade and she is the author of award-winning knitting books. She also teaches in the USA, Canada, and Europe and holds retreats at her private studio in a 150-year old farm house. June L. Hall is a local historian and fibre artist, and the author of a book about the native Lake District sheep, for parents and children, Henrietta Herdwick. She was a long-time member the Wool Clip fiber-artist co-operative in Cumbria, which organizes WoolFest one of the largest sheep and wool events in Great Britain and serves as a committee member for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of Cumbria. June has had her articles and designs published in magazines in the UK and the USA

Review :
"Stuck in that same old knitting rut? Join Donna Druchunas and June L. Hall on a trip to Lithuania, a wonderful destination for yarn addicts. You will learn new styles, work up 25 patterns, and access a treasure trove of knitting info." --www.ilikeknitting.com It's so inadequate, but the first word that popped to mind as I pawed through Lithuanian Knitting was "wow.". Wow, because of the ambitious scope of this volume--part armchair travelogue, textile ethnography, tutorial and pattern book--and because of the profound care with which the authors have approached their subject. Filled with personal stories, a rich collection of historic and contemporary photos, knitting techniques and patterns for gloves, socks and more, this impressive tour de Lithuania is likely to bring more attention to this Baltic country as a mecca for textile enthusiasts and source for knitting inspiration. Plus, the book deserves its own exclamation: It's a beautifully rendered object, from the adorable end papers to the attached satin bookmark. Publishers even thought to have it art-directed and printed in Lithuania to support the country's economy. (It's also available as an ebook on Ravelry.)