I consider this DVD to be something of a "dynamic duo" of practical knitting. Here, in one place, you'll find a really innovative, highly wearable side-to-side jacket pattern and a smooth-sailing blanket that is also self-storing. Not to mention warm and comfy (notice the cat's happy look).

Meg's Round-the-Bend Jacket will go 'round the bend all by itself, never sending you and your knitting there, too. It's is knit with an Aran weight yarn and sized at 44" or 40", depending on gauge. As Meg suggests, should you wish a differet size, use Elizabeth Zimmermann's EPS system to recalculate the pattern. We recommend the following of our yarns:

Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester Aran - 4 skeins for jacket as written

Fleece Artist Aran Alpaca - 4 skeins as written

Zitron Cambio - 17 balls as written

The Puzzle-Pillow Blanket is acccomplished with sweet 'n' simple garter stitch and bulky weight yarn. Meg teaches us her "sew" as you go technique using dpns (!). When you're finished, do crawl under for a good nap with sweet knitting dreams! We recommend:

Fleece Artist Big Blue - 2 skeins each color for 24"x36"; 3 skeins each color for 28"x42"; and 4 skeins each color for 36"x54"

Meg's Shawl Collared Vest looks great on both men and women, and is lots and lots of fun to knit, too. Full written instructions are included for chest sizes 40", 44" and 48", and Meg's demonstrated techniques make it all come together so very nicely. The Shawl Collared Vest is knitted completely in the round, steeking all the way, and then cut. We suggest our Fleece Artist Big Blue (Bulky Blue Face Leicester Wool) for spectacular results.

Demonstrated techniques include:

• K1b, P1 rib
• Increasing
• Cable with or without a cable-needle
• Kangaroo Pouches
• Steeks
• V-neck Shaping
• Knitting-Back-Backwards
• Machine-Stitched Steeks
• I-Cord Cast Off
• 3-Needle I-Cord Cast Off
• Shawl Collar Shaping
• Reversible Phoney Seams
• I-Cord Tab Buttonholes

There is so much to love about Meg's Lace DVD, that it strikes me as a bit presumptuous to begin with what I like best, but I'm going to do it nonetheless.

What I like best about Knitting Lace with Meg Swansen is that in her very first project (she knits three with us), she starts right out with a technique that is considered "advanced." She explains it clearly, demonstrates it superbly, and somewhere in there you realize that this "advanced" technique is not all that hard to do. In fact, you reason to yourself, if this is deep water in lace knitting, you've got nothing at all to worry about, as none of it is above the knees.

Which is a wonderful gift, because in that one beginning garment Meg shows all knitters everywhere that while lace knitting differs from sweaters and blankets, it is really within the reach of any knitter.

And so, on she goes, and we go with her. Together with Meg, we knit a beautiful lace stole, a Faroese scarf and finally, on to the piece-de-resistance, Meg's delicious Mañanita. The mañanita is a lace poncho which, while retaining all the elegant grace of any lace shawl, is also fuss-free when it comes to wearing. Just toss it on over your head and, presto!, all dressed up. It is a true gem.

There are many things you'll learn during this lacey journey with Meg, among them:

• Cast-on techniques that work wonders in lace knitting
• How to turn a doily into a stunning shawl
• Faroese shaping (and why we all love it)
• Decreasing and Increasing techniques to keep your lace singing
• A demonstration of the difference between knit lace and knitted lace, and why you should consider which you want
• much more
  

Lace knitters everywhere will want this dvd on their shelves - as a reference it is unbeatable!

What a fabulous discovery Meg and Joyce made! They were called upon to review the instructions for kits to replicate Elsa Schiaparelli's fascinating sweater designs, featuring large, full-body patterns. "Intarsia," they said to each other. "Oh, well, I suppose someone has to do it," they privately thought. That is, until they took a close look at the instructions and discovered that there was no Intarsia anywhere in these garments. Instead, a method of trapping is used so that two colors are carried throughout the garment. What's more, the unused color is supposed to pop out a bit behind the foreground color, creating an extremely pleasing "tweedy" look.

The name of this new/old technique is Armenian Knitting, also the title of this wonderful book. It is not known precisely how it arose, but it was used by Armenian women living living in Paris as refuges of the 1915 genocide. They were employed by Elsa Schiaparelli, a cutting edge fashion designer of the 1930s and 1940s who hired them to knit her unique designs using their unique techniques. At the time of printing Armenian Knitting, there are no other known original examples of this style of knitting outside Schiaparelli's work.

I should add how very much I want to be able to share the photos of sweaters, vests and jackets with you -- the designs Meg and Joyce have created are nothing short of stunning. I didn't expect to be as excited about them as I am, that's for sure. In fact, I am beyond excited -- my fingers are fidgeting in impatience, so badly do I want to knit some of them.

Armenian Knitting is a joy - a new classic of a nearly-lost art.

Meg pulls out all the stops in this DVD. It wasn't until I watched it that I truly comprehended just how deeply and well Meg Swansen understands the craft of knitting. To say that her knowledge of garment construction (when, where and how to use which construction) and of the myriad techniques of knitting itself is vast is truly an understatement.

You'll discover the hidden mysteries of the Russian Prime color pattern (so named because it employs only the numbers 1, 3 and 5 in it's patterning) which are such that they will open the doors to any and all color patterns that follow. You'll also see how to determine where to stop a pattern for best visual effect, how to incorporated a sizing element in a 60-stitch pattern repeat, and all manner of shaping and finishing tricks. Truly, Meg's guided tour of knitting the Russian Prime sweater is like an initiation into the mysteries of the inner temple of knitting: You'll emerge with a renewed and enlightened understanding of so many things.

Among these mysteries, you'll find:

• Long Tail Casting on
• "Casting-On Casting-Off"
• side panels (and why to love them)
• increasing in pattern
• steeks at armholes & neck
• knitting up in pattern
• I-Cord shoulder
• top of sleeve decreasing (and why you might want to use it)
• corrugated rib
• Applied I-Cord and Joyce Williams' wonderful ways with it

Guernsey or Gansey, no matter what you call it, they are favorite sweaters to make and treasured sweaters to wear and pass along to the next generation. Meg Swansen invites us along on one of her "knitting vacations" along the gloriously beautiful Oregon Coast (near Coos Bay, I believe, judging from the scenery).

In addition to walking us through the basics of Guernsey construction, history and yarn, Meg takes us along many a side road, into realms of little known techniques, some clever, some simply brilliant. The result is a Guernsey to love and inspiration to carry you on to your next dozen!

Some of the things you'll learn are:

• Channel Island cast-on: a variation of long-tail cast-on that results in a charming picot edge along the bottom of the sweater
• Split lower garter stitch welt
• Indian Corn stitch (one of the most difficult to find documented! [though easy to accomplish])
• gussets - and the value of purl stitches
• texture patterns and some of their unique behavior
• garter-stitch weaving
• knitting-up around armholes
• decreasing to cuffs
• EZ's Sewn Cast Off

Fair Isle knitting is a favorite of mine - I simply love watching the colors emerge as patterns as I knit. Now you can follow Meg Swansen as she shows you not just how to knit a beautifully-designed Fair Isle vest, but any number of tips and tricks for making it exceptional. After your knitting excursion with Meg, you'll be equipped to design your own and will have sufficient inspiration to propel you toward as many Fair Isle knitting adventures as you have yarn and time for. You'll also get a view of some of Wisconsin's most beautiful woodlands, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

A special bonus on this DVD is the "fashion show" at the end where we get to see not only Meg's collection of Fair Isle sweaters (begun by her mother, Elizabeth Zimmermann), but also several sweaters designed by Knitting Camp attendees and loaned for the DVD. Wow! "Breathtaking" barely begins to describe it. Among them is Sarah Don's Fair Isle pullover (jumper) in all natural shades of Shetland, pattern in Sarah Don's Fair Isle Knitting. Glorious!

Some of the techniques you'll be treated to are:

• two types of casting on
• corrugated rib
• two-color knitting
• kangaroo-pouches
• v-neck shaping
• knitting-back-backwards
• machine-stitched steeks
• woven shoulders
• pick-up ratio for neck border
• neatening
• final blocking

Discover the joys of knitting a yoke sweater. Meg's sweaters offer two style options: a textured sweater using Bavarian Traveling Stitches or a color-pattern sweater evocative of Icelandic designs. She also gives you instructions for either a 42" adult's sweater or a 27" child's version. Not to mention marvelous instruction for techniques as well as some delightful, chatty insights. This DVD is a treat, both to watch and to learn from.

Some of the techniques you'll discover:

• Two kinds of cast-on
• Phoney seams
• Hems
• Short Rows & Wrapping
• Knitting Back Backwards
• Mirror-image increases
• Travelling stitch
• Weaving
• Sewn Casting Off

I have looked for a knitting journal I'd want to offer for a long, long time. Despite about two years of "test driving" a variety of journals, none of them really spoke to me as being what I was really looking for. Until now, that is.

Meg Swansen has designed an beautifully useful knitter's journal - with lined pages, blank pages and graphs of different sizes. None of which makes A Knitter's Journal much different from any of the other available journals. What makes it a stand-out, hands-down winner is that in addition to all the pages for you to use for your notes and designs, there are shining pearls of information tucked throughout the book that offer the knitter all sorts of help, support and inspiration. Here's a bit of what you'll find:

• a page filled will common abbreviations and symbols
• EPS (Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage Sytem) schematics for both yoke and drop-shoulder sweaters
• clear drawings for many, many essential techniques
• short gems of insight and inspiration by Elizabeth Zimmermann
• the full instructions for Elizabeth's "Wearable Art Socks"

Regardless of which cover photos you choose, the inner contents are the same. The book itself is an invitation to create and delight in your knitting. And it is the journal I have been waiting for.

Join Meg for a Southwestern knitting adventure! Inspired by a pottery design typical of the Mimbres region of New Mexico, Meg takes off on a color-pattern knitting expedition that will have you following your pattern from every imaginable direction until you arrive at the end of your travels with an exquisitely designed and finished vest, ready to wear on your next adventure.

This all-over patterned vest is worked on circular needles from the lower edge to wanted length to underarm, where a pair of steeks are established. Continue to the base of the scooped neck, insert another steek, then onward to wanted shoulder height. Shoulders are united and the steeks are machine-stitched and cut. I- Cord borders are knitted directly onto the edges of the armholes and all around the periphery of the vest.

Techniques include:

• Long Tail casting on;
• following the chart (this is more of an adventure than usual, but enormous fun as well);
• trapping the carried color (demonstrated with both a Continental-style two-colors-in-one hand and, later, with one color in each hand);
• kangaroo pouches;
• steeks (you will benefit by first watching the entire DVD - Meg makes a discover midway through that you will almost certianly want to use at the beginning);
• machine stitching and cutting;
• 3-needle I-Cord cast off;
• EZ's Applied I-Cord (a wonderful demonstration of the technique!);
• neatening the cut edges;
• blocking.

Filmed on location in New Mexico and Arizona.

What a delightful presentation! And, delightful projects, too.

We begin with Meg showing us some charming double scarves - knit in the round, of course. The earliest of them was made by Elizabeth Zimmermann and sports a perfectly concluded hem at each end. But later on Elizabeth discovered that what's good for the foot can be good for the scarf - voilá! - the Sock-Toe closure and a really graceful design is born. There are loads of tricks and new ideas that are revealed in this simple accessory, and much good knitting abounds.

When done with the scarf, Meg moves on to the Dubbelmössa - and what a hat and knitting opportunity it is! There is room on it for practically every color pattern you've ever loved, the construction is easy as pie and Meg makes it even better by 'unventing' the best-yet technique for 'jogless jogs'. Really, if you don't know this technique already, you'll want to learn it. It's an easy-to-follow process that results in a nearly imperceptible merge from round to round.

So, gather your yarn and needles, sit back, and join Meg for some lovely good knitting!

Filmed on location along the spectacular Oregon coast, Cardigan Details concentrates on knitting a Norwegian style drop-shoulder, scoop neck cardigan in the round. Meg covers every single technique you need, and does so in her usual warm, engaging and ultra-clear way. It's like having an expert knitting buddy helping you along, right in your living room.

The sweater construction is classic for the style: the body is knit in the round from lower edge to shoulder, with a steek up the center front. The sleeves are knit in the round from the cuffs, and a lovely Norwegian color-pattern (from Traditional Scandinavian Knitting!) tops the shoulders. Armholes and center-front are cut open and the sleeves sewn in. All of which ought to give you a good idea of the vast array of techniques Meg covers every so beautifully and completely.

Among the many, many things you can learn or revisit are:

• k1b, p1 ribbing
• increasing - this particular technique was new to me and is the most graceful I've seen
• short rows
• steeks
• color pattern knitting
• machine-stitching for cutting
• cutting
• attaching sleeves
• I-cord cast-off
• 1- and 2-row buttonholes
• finishing the cut edge
• and much, much more

Meg Swansen created a contest for her annual Knitting Camps one year: Over the course of the following year, campers were to take pure Shetland Wool (which comes in 167 colors) and using either Fair Isle or all-over designs, create new and wonderful sweaters, vests and hats.

The 38 sweaters in Sweaters from Camp are the results of this assignment -- and, my oh my, what designs! I have learned more from this book than I can recount about the way color and design interact; about what creates movement and what makes for a still, settled feeling; about how to set the rules aside and let the forms and colors tell you what they need.

And I have smiled and laughed, too. The stories some of the campers tell about how their sweaters sprang into being (or were dragged, struggling, into being) are a delight -- and further inspiration to continue working at color-pattern knitting, and life itself.

It is, however, the techniques chapter that bowled me over and left me awestruck with admiration. I have not found a single color-pattern technique, traditional or newly-discovered, that is not here. And the way they are described is exceptional in both clarity and usefulness. For instance, the 2 pages on Steeks, those wonderful bits of knitted space that allow you to continue knitting in the round right through the sleeve holes, is the best ever and should convey enough confidence that anyone who ventures into color knitting will happily try it.

An adventure in color - a wonderful book!

Meg Swansen's Knitting is a delicious "coffee table" book that will never just sit on the table looking pretty (although it is beautiful!), but will be constantly thumbed through, gazed at, and worked with. Like all Elizabeth Zimmermann/Meg Swansen books, this one holds a lavish array of eminently sensible and ingenious knitting advice, woven through with cozy excursions into family history that gave rise to each invention or design.

Meg has taken color-pattern design to its zenith, blazed trails with textured knitting, and plumbed the depths of construction techniques. In Meg’s hands, ordinary corners and intersections become sacred niches, where designs meet in captivating geometry. Several simple cardigans, suitable for a less confident knitter, are included as well. Meg shares all this with a generosity of spirit and a warm clarity, putting it between the covers of this luxuriously designed book.

Cat Bordhi tells me that this is the book she goes to most often when she wants to research a technique or just browse for inspiration. This is not surprising -- with the exception of actual knitting and purling, which Meg does expect you already know how to do, there is so far no technique that I have thought to look up that is not fully described and clearly illustrated. Even the most advanced knitter will find some new tricks, such as Meg’s PWYC – purl when you can – a method of avoiding fabric curl. You’ll also find a comprehensive collection of I-cord methods and applications, including a 2-stitch I-cord cast-off, a 4-sided/ 3-stitch I-cord, and an empirical method of determining how to make applied I-cord match the edge it travels along. One technique not to be missed is the sewn cast-off, which gives an elastic and beautiful edge, guaranteeing comfortable necklines, cuffs, etc. All this is nestled up to the gorgeous fashion-plate photography of Meg's remarkable designs.

And, as if that weren't more than could be reasonably expected. Meg gives us lovely vignettes about the world of knitting, about Elizabeth Zimmermann (Meg is Elizabeth's daughter), life in rural Wisconsin, and some very entertaining "stories behind the stitches."

A great book - one to be used and cherished.

Paging through this magnificent book is like strolling through the world's loveliest gardens. At every turn, in any direction there is something unexpected, something that beckons you to look closer, something that invites you share in its secrets, to make it your own. A feast for the eyes, inspriation for the hands, nourishment for the soul.

Meg Swansen called upon 34 lace knitters to share their favorite projects, many sharing more than one. Every style and way of using lace is represented at its zenith, photographed in all its glory, and accompanied by clear, well-illustrated instructions. It's hard to imagine wanting anything more. Beautiful, lavish, useful!

One of Meg's many gifts is that her designs are always innovative, her techniques always work (and are clearly explained!), and every nook and cranney of her knitting patterns has applications far, far beyond the "pattern of origin." If you want to explore knitting construction and design and, after your new projects are off the needles and being worn everywhere, have an inspiring reference book to return to time and again, Handknitting with Meg Swansen belongs on your bookshelf (and in your knitting bag!).