Knitting in Tuscany: Fabulous Design Luscious Yarns Shopping Secrets Food & Wine Travel Notes

Crocheting my wedding dress as per this design. It is beautiful!!! Love all the other designs and patterns. Gave a copy to my best knitting friend!!!

Unlike most of the other reviewers (I think) I have only been knitting for three weeks. I had never heard of Nicky Epstein, and this was the first book of hers I'd ever seen. But I've got the knitting bug bad, and when I saw this book at someone's house, it was so pretty I had to have it. Many of the designs in this book have been simple enough for me to have a crack at them. I've seen other reviewers say there are mistakes in her instructions, and maybe I'm such a newbie I just haven't noticed, but I have two very lovely scarves and a couple of flowers. Not only that, but I'm inspired to knit and knit and knit until I can make all of the other beautiful stuff in this book. Personally, I loved the travelogue. It was a bit random, yes, and I wasn't expecting a knitting book to be full of recipes and shopping trip ideas! However, I've been to every city and town she names in Tuscany, and her photos and stories made me ache to go back to all of them again. So I loved that side of the book. Summary: if this is the worst she does, then I think I'll be buying every other book she's ever written. It's inspiring for a new knitter, it has a range of patterns, and it's 112 pages of eye candy. However, if you want a pure pattern book, this isn't it. (PS: I think the crocheted wedding dress pattern alone is worth the price of the book. ;)

The "Tuscan Sun Shawl" was an easy and fun knit that has garnered a lot of compliments. I plan to knit even more items from this book - love the "Vineyard Bag", the "Carrara Marble Cardigan" and the "Cypress Capelet". I also like the "Siena Rooftop Sweater". It's rare that I would like this many patterns from a single book, but admittedly I am a big fan of Nicky Epstein's designs, even when they aren't suitable for me. [Would that I had the body to wear Bella Bride's Dress!] Besides the lovely photographs, I do enjoy her inventiveness and whimsy which together combine to make this a perfect coffee table book...even if you think this is neither a travelogue nor a pattern book!

After reading the negative reviews of Nicky's newest book, I did not order it when it first came out. I came across a copy, however, in a bookstore and was quite taken with what I saw and bought it immediately. While I find that many of Nicky's designs (especially in "Knitting On Top Of the World"--that Tam shawl was frightening!) are a little over the top, she gives the reader a template of inspiration that will hopefully nudge each of us towards creating something on our own. She is, in my opinion, putting the reader on a path of creativity through her beautiful travelogue of a book--she is playing the role of a teacher here. If you are looking for a book of literal designs to work from, this probably is not the book for you. With a little creative tweaking, I believe most of Nicky's designs would work for almost everyone. The highlight of this book is its gorgeous presentation and the artistic journey that the always masterful knitter Nicky Epstein takes us on. This book is a wonderful addition to my always increasing arts and craft library.

This is a great little book with some fun designs. I plan on taking it to Italy with me this summer, against my husband's best wishes. I will be traveling to Florence and Siena, so the recommendations of restaurants, hotels and shops were very welcome. The photography is stunning. As for the designs, some may think that a few are "over the top", such as the Etruscan Pitcher and Abbondanza Wrap. However, there are some great sculptural pieces, like the Della Robbia Flower Pillows and the Wool Guild Wreath, which is the first project I will be making. (I saw the original in Florence and Nicky's version is a perfect replica. She definitely knows how to sculpt with wool.) For those looking for nice sweater patterns, the Siena Rooftop Sweater, Cypress Capelet and Carrara Marble Cardigan are beautiful and practical. I would wear them to work and I teach in an elementary school. For those looking for glamour, try Dante's Beatrice Shawl or the Bella Bride's Dress. WOW! Molto Bello! All in all an excellent book. I hope there are more in this travel series!