Knitting Bazaar

Rating:
Summary: Best of Jo Sharp's collections
Review: Some of Jo Sharp's sweater designs are a bit outlandish for me, since I'm more conservative in dress, although I expect a good number of them, since they are colorful, unusual and eye-catching, can be quite popular. I was happy, though, to find this collection, which has something for everybody and certainly lots for me. Jo Sharp yarn is extraordinary -- quite unusual for our market, these are strong, substantial yarns that knit into luxurious garments on anywhere from the recommended size 6 needle to a size 8 or 9. They are expensive, comparatively, at $6.50 for a ball of 107 yards, but you get great coverage, and the end result is a sweater that is both durable, comfortable, easy to maintain, and versatile, not to mention warm. A whole sweater can cost about $100, which is not bad for the quality that you get. Knitting Bazaar has great designs for single colored sweaters, two colors, or the more complex trademark styles of multi-hued intarsias. Very inventive designs for the new colors added to her palette, and some wonderfully conservative styles that I can wear to work. The best of the collection, though, is Precious Jewel -- a brightly colored intarsia of op-art flowers and scrollwork. The cover style, Boheme, is also very attractive, as is the colorful Paragon. Sharp also gives us a cape, some pullovers (some in stranding or fair isle), cardigans and an attractively cabled jacket, casual wear and formal wear sweaters, cables and intarsias. Some designs are highly appropriate for new knitters, others are simple examples of intarsia or stranding for those just learning the techniques. Precious Jewel looks to be the most complex. In all, this collection is highly inventive, not so much a departure in Sharp's styles but a ripening -- and I think she's gone further into styling that is appropriate for the American market. Certainly she's one of the best designers out there, second in inventiveness only to Kaffe Fassett, who seems to be depleted as far as sweater designs, and comparable to Alice Starmore. Jo Sharp has 3 or 4 previous books, most quite good. Knitting Bazaar is a great collection, a pleasure to browse through, and well-worth adding to your knitting library.