Alice StarmoreAran Knitting, Expanded Edition

Outstanding Book for Authentic Aran Sweater Knitting! Yes, I did buy her yarns, both in Bainin and her Hebrides 3-Ply. I hate to say this to any naysayers on her yarn, BUT! Her yarns are exquisite! The Hebrides 3-Ply color choices are beautiful. Many actually change overall colors due to ambiant lighting. They hold the cable designs perfectly. I have fallen in love with the yarns and free shipping to US via Royal Mail. I live in Alaska! To get yarns so quickly! I receive the yarns within 2 weeks beautifully wrapped. I am working on two sweaters right now: " Na Craga", her cover sweater in the color she chose- Selkie. The other sweater, knit in Baini yarn color Culmor, a purple, pattern is "St Kilda", from her book, "In the Hebrides" that is also chock full of stunning designs! I have the original hardbound book of Aran Knitting that was released in the 90s. For me, to have an exact sweater made of her outstanding unique yarns from the Hebrides is a priceless feeling. Her yarns are hand dyed and dried outdoors. Her website goes into the process. Waiting for a particular shade that is out of stock IS worth waiting for. It is another reason I find her yarn so precious. This book is a beautiful educational book that shares so much history and technique. Some reviewers have stated she is smug or full of herself. She might be. BUT.....she IS a legend and history will be kind to her with her body of exceptional work in knitting, needlepoint and more. For anyone who doubts buying her yarn....just try it. I showed my husband swatches of her yarns last night. For a man who has seen me knitting for decades and has been blasé about looking at yarns in the past, this time he took time feeling and looking at the choices. In the past with other yarns, he could care less. His reaction last night confirmed my suspicions. To even a novice, her designs and sweaters ARE exceptional. Buy the book. Order some swatches. Watch the magic from your needles. Enjoy!

Like all of Starmore's books, this one is invaluable for designing knitwear. Starmore's books are the only knitting books comparable to Elizabeth Zimmerman's books, but the style is very different. I would say EZ's books are written in a casual, chatty style and leads the beginning knitter into understanding the construction of a knitted garment. Starmore's books take that basic knowledge to the next level. The style is not as chatty as EZ's but conveys a friendly, helpful and confident tone. Starmore has done so much of the work in designing the sweaters in this book that you could easily copy them step for step, if you can get the yarn, but more importantly, you can design your own sweaters with any suitable yarn you have available.There is a new preface to the book, and the first chapter deals with the history of Aran knitting. The second chapter describes Aran knitting patterns in general terms, how to read the charts, and goes into specific cables, patterns etc. The third chapter shows Starmore's design approach to the older-style Aran patterns and the fourth chapter has "Celtic" patterns, which are those patterns Starmore has designed based on the Aran style, but with her own twist.Chapter five is the most important chapter in this book. It shows how to design your own Aran sweater, using the body measurements you plug in, the yarn you choose, etc. If you've ever had the experience of knitting a sweater by the pattern and then being frustrated because it doesn't fit, you need to learn to design the sweater to fit before you begin knitting. Like sewing patterns, knitting patterns are designed to fit a particular model, which probably doesn't have the same shape as you. If you are big-busted, very tall, very short, have wide hips, etc., you need to design the sweater for your body and don't just go by a bust size.Starmore does tout her own yarns in her books and I don't blame her at all for it, but... as far as I know, you either have to order the yarn directly from her or substitute something more readily available.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to knit an Aran sweater. It is so much more than a set of patterns. The photographs are beautiful and the only drawback I see to buying the book is that it is made in paperback. Even that is better than the current hardback bindings, though. I take all my fave softbound books to one of the office supply stores and have them remove the binding and insert a spiral binding.This is one of the best knitting books for the money. I actually own a first edition of this book which is hardback, but chose to buy this book again when it was reprinted. Starmore's books retain their value for many years, because the patterns are so classical and beautiful, which is so appropriate, because a well-made and well cared for Aran sweater is going to last for many years, too.