Uninspired

My copy of Inspired Fair Isle Knits by Fiona Ellis came today. I've looked forward to this book for months since I liked her Inspired Cable Knits so much, and now it's here?

Um. Let's see. You know how your Mom taught you that old saw, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"

Well . . . that scarf on the cover is really lovely. . . . There's a pretty pillow in there, not that I knit pillows. . . . The writing is pleasant, and the little blurbs about different folk tales and legends, scattered through each section of the "elements" (Water, Air, Fire, Earth) are enjoyable . . .

But, um, the rest? Well, you're not going to be hearing any paeans of joy like you did when the Cable book came out.

How do you politely say that there wasn't a single thing in there I really liked? I mean, there's a nice enough tank top, but I never wear tank tops, so that's useless to me. The "Sway" cardigan is about the only thing I remotely liked, but still wouldn't consider making it. There are a couple cute kid knits (but, really, put a cute kid in a handknit and you've got a good chance at a winner, and it doesn't hurt that the one kids' cardigan is the one most "classic" in design). But then there are a disproportionate number of patterns that I found downright ugly, though I will say the color combinations, as a rule, are nicely put together.

I'm all for creative uses of knitting techniques, and using a fair isle stripe in an unexpected place isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, as much as I love knitting tradition, it's good to break out into something new, to stretch the boundaries. Eunny Jang's Autumn Rose sweater certainly isn't a traditional fair isle design, and yet it honors the tradition--it chooses the more fitted shape, the 3/4 sleeves, the scoop neckline as ways of updating the boxy gansey shape. The sweaters here, though, seem more slapdash, thrown together. Fair isle pockets on an otherwise stockinette sweater, but which only manage to look like afterthoughts. Wildly untraditional color motifs undulating up a sleeve or across a sweater that don't do anybody any justice--the designer, the sweater, the knitter or the wearer. Sweaters that are half fair isle and half cabled, so that the two halves seem to be competing rather than working harmoniously together. Wide panels of fair isle weighing down an otherwise light, lacy shawl for no reason I can fathom. And then, the photography, while good enough and artistic enough in some ways, is aggravating in others--You get nice detail of, say, the stitch motifs but not of the whole sweater. Is the model standing sideways/hunched over/arms folded because it was the whim of the moment, or because the photos are trying to hide something?

Ultimately, for a book that uses the four, natural "elements" as inspiration, there are a lot of nasty weather systems going on in here, knocking the roofs off the fair isle tradition rather than freshening the air with a good, stiff breeze. In other words, this review comes down to one word: Disappointing. Such a let down. To me, anyway.

 

Comments

[jess]

I'm with you; I had the same impression when I flipped through the book (sadly). I do like the kids sweater!

[deb]

That's majorly disappointing!! I really love the cable book and had high hopes for this one as well. **runs to take it off wish list**

Thanks for the warning.

[Marina]

Whew! I'm glad I canceled my Amazon order! Though it was actually because of the bad review of Kaffe Fasset's new book. I was going to re-order this with something else but I guess, I won't now.

[Judy H.]

Um... yeah. I do like that last sweater, but I'm not buying a book for one sweater I *kinda* like. Phooey. I was looking forward to this one.

[aija]

What a bummer! Her cable book was so beautiful.

[Deborah]

Ummm, can I say interesting? I'm with you on this one. While I'm not sure I ever will knit a Fair Isle item I do enjoy admiring the beauty of them. However, I can't say any are beautiful to me in this book. Such a disappointment.

[Evelyn]

I've read Maggie Righetti on why to beware of knitwear modeled in odd poses, and unfortunately, this looks like a case in point. (why? because maybe they're trying to hide the fact that the sweater doesn't hang right/fit right/look good on a human being.) That first example you included looks like the model is saying, Oh my, this sweater is falling right off of me! It's not the author's fault that overly-artistic poses are chosen, perhaps, but I wish editors would get the message that while we don't mind some artistic poses to set the mood, we really want to see the sweater, the whole sweater, and the sweater on a person! (I have a book of "gorgeous sweaters" many of which are displayed on wide hangers. Because, as it turns out, those dropped shoulders look like crap on real women, though they do look cool hung up like a kimono.

[Evelyn]

I've read Maggie Righetti on why to beware of knitwear modeled in odd poses, and unfortunately, this looks like a case in point. (why? because maybe they're trying to hide the fact that the sweater doesn't hang right/fit right/look good on a human being.) That first example you included looks like the model is saying, Oh my, this sweater is falling right off of me! It's not the author's fault that overly-artistic poses are chosen, perhaps, but I wish editors would get the message that while we don't mind some artistic poses to set the mood, we really want to see the sweater, the whole sweater, and the sweater on a person! (I have a book of "gorgeous sweaters" many of which are displayed on wide hangers. Because, as it turns out, those dropped shoulders look like crap on real women, though they do look cool hung up like a kimono.

[Nancy]

Thanks for sharing your honest viewpoint, esp with photos as back up. Always disappointing to wait, then have the book just not be worth it; I've had a few of those myself. Funny, but I've just started swatching for one of her cabled sweaters in the previous book so I know just what you mean about liking that one. Guess she should stick to cables - this doesn't look like her language.

[Meg]

She's such a talented designer, it's a shame this book is such a dud. Perhaps we'll soon get beyond the notion that we have to push the envelope with every single design, otherwise it's boring.

BTW, I just started listening to "Twilight" this afternoon, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It got me through an afternoon of car repair here, car repair there, car repair everywhere!

[Stephanie]

I'm trying to be more selective about the books I buy and I have to say that the photos you shared completely back up your post. Very disappointing, but I guess they can't all be winners.

[pixie]

ew... those photos are from the book?> dang...

[jessie]

I can definitely see what you mean just by the photos you've posted. It's pretty hard to pull off Fair Isle and cables in one piece and it doesn't seem to work here (not with the colors, either). What's with the first photo of the woman bent over and covering up her sweater? WHY do stylists/photogs/designers do this in pattern books?

The other thing I'm seeing is that the shapes look very boxy and kind of dated. They look like my old pattern books from the '80s. This means that either these are way behind the times or they're avant garde and welcoming in the Back to the '80s trend supposedly coming our way. Hold onto the book; these might look right in a few years.

Not on me, though.

[Bethe]

Ugh. What a letdown. The only project that is cute and that I would even consider making is that children's sweater you pictured. I refuse to buy a book for a single pattern.

[Lizzy B]

Hmmm. A pity. From the photos, I agree with your review. A dear friend and and I share a joke about the model coverup issue concerning the famous and beloved A* St*rm*re. In most of her books, you'll find a LOT of necklines obscured or completely covered by scarves hands etc. There is definitely a reason. :)

Soory to hear it was a bust.

[Cheryl]

I know, what a disappointment! I had such high hopes too because the cover scarf is really nice. That cabled/fair isle monstrosity is really terrible.

[Kim]

Bleh! What is up with that bizarro pose in the first picture? Thanks for the honest book review.

[Risa]

I couldn't agree more about that book. I excitedly opened the box last night (having also pre-ordered it from Amazon :) and was more than underwhelmed by it. I really love the Inspired Cables but find this less than inspirational. I think its going back to amazon (shame I recycled the box this morning!).

I also have to take exception to her definition of "Fair Isle". That while once upon a time it meant one thing, now it means "wherever there are two colors in a row". That's overly broad and can seriously dumb down Fair Isle. Under that definition, Intarsia is FI. It allows those "fair isle" sweaters that are so not fair isle to be sold by Old Navy. Expanding a tradition is one thing, dumbing it down is something else. Eunny's expansion is just that, an expansion, not a dilution.

I'm very disappointed.

[Carol]

How irritating! I hate when an author gets you all wired up and excited for the next book and then it doesn't do it for you.

[Eva]

Hmmm... I see what you mean... I like the cuffs on that first sweater, but that's about it I like from that sweater. Indeed, what are they trying to hide with that 'funny' pose?
I also seem to like the red hoody, but I find it weird that they show the back/side of it and not the front. The grey hoody looks like something Phild@r would have published... at the end of the 70's early 80's (I know as my mom used to have all the books back then as she was a big knitter then).

Good thing I didn't pre-order it or anything.

Cheers Eva

[Jessica]

I saw an advanced copy and totally agree. Such a shame.

[Beth]

Well they certainly put the best project on the cover. :(

[Kathy]

I like the chocolate brown and white sweater. Thanks for sharing the photos from the book - I was just sent a link from Amazon promoting it and was wondering if the cover was the best project. I think this designer has potential - I've seen some of Alice Starmore's earliest designs which makes you realize how much her skills developed over time in her career. Everyone has to have a starting point. Perhaps her next publication will be even better.

[Patricia]

Thanks for the warning. This is what Ravelry and blogging is all about, sharing with your fellow knitters. I am dissapointed and was so looking forward to this release. Guess I'll save my pennies for another time.