Top-down Shawls: 12 Lace-knitting Patterns

Five-time author Jen Lucas returns with a dozen lacy shawls to knit three ways: some are wedges, some are crescents, and others are half-circles. And they all start at the top! Cast on just two or three stitches and watch your shawl grow row by row. Both charted and written instructions for making each shawl are included, so you can choose your favorite way to follow along. Next, unleash your inner designer with templates for wedge, crescent, and half-circle shawls, along with 18 stitch patterns to mix and match in mesmerizing one-of-a-kind projects. Beautiful outdoor photography features each project in a nature setting, and each shawl is shown on a model, so you can see options for wearing the shawls you make.

Adding to her series of books of beautiful shawls, Jen Lucas presents Top-Down Shawls.

The title is pretty self-explanatory - twelve lovely shawls, divided into three basic categories. There is a wedge shape (either a basic triangle or a combination of them), a crescent, or a half-circle.

All the patterns are nice and straight-forward. None of them seem pointed to a knitter looking for a challenging knit, but rather for one who wants something pretty to wear. That sounds a bit like a back-handed compliment, but I say this in the nicest way. They're not patterns for showing off your knitting skills as much as they are patterns that make it so you'll have something actually to show. (What good is an elaborate, complicated shawl if it takes you two years to knit and never gets out of the house?)

There are four patterns for each of the basic shapes, and then my favorite part the chapter on designing your own. (This, frankly, sounds like the author's favorite chapter, too.) Here she breaks down the basic shapes and then provides a collection of basic lace stitches for you to insert as desired. Speaking as a person who loves options, I particularly appreciate this - there's something very satisfying about being given a basic framework and set free to do what you want! --KnittingScholar.com