Loop-d-Loop

Teva Durham began knitting as a hobby. It wasn't long, though, before she became mesmerized by the craft. Now, as an extraordinarily innovative designer, Durham is at the forefront of the widely heralded new era of knitting. In Loop-d-Loop, she presents more than 40 fresh, modern designs for adults, children, and the home, a mix of simple projects with high-fashion impact sure to inspire beginners and more complex projects for those who want to test and expand their virtuosity.

Focusing on a wide range of clever technical applications, the patterns include a spiral scarf, a cardigan with a "dreamcatcher" web carved out of the back, a buckled tartan kilt, and a slipcover that transforms a folding chair into a throne. With more than 70 lush color photos and a thought-provoking text that brings together eclectic references to philosophy, art, and popular culture, the book creates a contemplative, enchanted realm that resonates with beauty and meaning. For knitters who enter the Loop-d-Loop world, the way they knit-and think about knitting-will never be the same. AUTHOR BIO: Teva Durham founded loop-d-loop-an innovative line of handknits-in 2000. She is a former editor at Vogue Knitting International, and her writing and designs are featured in major knitting magazines as well as the books Weekend Knitting (STC), Scarf Style, Knitting Lessons, For the Love of Knitting, and several Vogue Knitting On the Go titles. Durham has taught knitting at yarn shops as well as at the Open Center in New York.Adrian Buckmaster is a portrait, fashion, and landscape photographer who lives in Manhattan. He has worked extensively in New York and London for various magazines and is a member of the Art Workers Guild, founded by William Morris.

In this collection of often ingenious designs, Durham, formerly an editor at Vogue Knitting International, promotes the uniquely geometrical style of garment construction featured on her Web site, Loop-d-Loop.com. The book is divided into three sections: Cycles, Planes and Waves. Each concept is explored through a series of illustrative garments. For example, the designs in Cycles focus on circular or tubular knitting, while the designs in Planes produces architectural planes and angles using textured stitches. The patterns encompass everything from charming sweaters and hats for children to high-fashion creations for the young and hip (a cashmere lace blouse, a zip-off color-block yoke sweater, etc.). The sizing of the patterns tends to run small, and the designs range in difficulty from easy to quite challenging. Fortunately, the author has included a section of technical tips and a glossary of techniques and abbreviations. In addition, helpful remarks are distributed throughout the text, which is generally easy to follow. Durham's designs offer up unexpected textures and unusual symmetries and asymmetries, all artfully captured in the photos here. The result is a gorgeous book that will tweak the imaginations of the most adventurous knitters.
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