Andean Folk Knits: Great Designs from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador & Bolivia

This is one of my favorite books to leaf through just for design and color inspiration. Most of the patterns are for delightfully colorful bags, although there are a few other accessories, like the scarf I made. Knitters looking for a challenge will enjoy these projects. The author also lived in South America, so there are some stories of the people there and the geography. This is a beautiful and informative addition to the library of any serious student of knitting. It also looks good on a coffee table.

This is such al lovely book in all aspects! Marcia gives us, devoted knitters, not only a lovely range of completely original knitting patterns, but also she tells al lot of really interesting things about the countries she visited. She gives interesting explanations about the symbolism of the motivs and their background and gives a lot of information about the materials and the various animals they come from. The book has a very appealing layout and the many foto's and explanations makes it interesting even to people who don't knit. One of my daughters (no knitter) spent a whole evening reading and enjoying it. But if you are a knitter, this is a must have. There is a tradition of making intricate pouches (all with their own symbols and meanings) in Northern South America that is thouroughly explained and there are many lovely challenging projects in this book. It's great to use leftovers in your stash. And it's inspiring to try variations on the themes that Marcia Lewandowski presents. It's certainly the best book with knitting patterns I bought in a long time.

The knitting projects in this book can expand your knitting horizons beyond sweaters and socks to interesting bags and purses. The designs shown are all derived from the author's observations of objects knitted by men and women of the Andes. The beautifully designed book describes the role of these knitted objects in the lives and customs of the Andean peoples.

There is a wonderful book on Andean Knitting (LeCount's worthy volume) that is now out of print, so Marcia Lewandowski's book is long overdue on the knitting scene. The Andean knitters, some of them, well a lot of them men, do patternwork of fine detail in glorious colors. They use a lot of embellishment. Typical garments are the well-known chullo hat but they also make wonderful wrist bands and leggings. For pure colorwork and inspiration for the knitting designer, this is a must-have in your library.

I purchased this book about a month ago and still have not put it on the shelf -- I can't resist picking it up and looking through it every now and then. It is full of colorful and charming projects, all of which are beautifully photographed. The author also provides plenty of background information on the various regions and cultures represented along with photographs of the people and countryside. Most of the patterns are for small bags, but also included are several patterns for accessories such as scarves, gloves and mittens, and socks. The multi-colored designs are ideal for using up leftover bits of yarn. The instructions and charts are very clear, and special techniques are thoroughly discussed. This book is, without a doubt, one of the most attractive and enjoyable knitting books I've ever seen. Any knitter is sure to find inspiration in its pages. Very highly recommended!

This is a beautiful book full of history and gorgeous photos. The designs are fantastic and explained well. A must have for any knitting library.