Floral Knits: 25 Contemporary Flower-Inspired Designs
"For his latest collection, Storey (Aran Knits) takes inspiration from the colors and forms of the English countryside outside his home in Devon, where he and his partner settled several years ago. The finished items range from the bold, Scandinavian style Flora pillow, which features a repeating circular motif, to the monochromatic Herbaceous Throw, in which flowers and plants are rendered in cables and bobbles; to the romantic Trellis Slipover and Trellis Shrug, which show off colorful embroidered daisies within a background of diamond-shaped bobbles. Storey also employs a healthy dose of whimsy in some of the projects, especially those emphasizing oversized floral motifs, such as the flower-sprinkled Pollen Wrap. In keeping with his many years as a designer for Rowan, he uses that company's colorful yarns in all of the projects. The patterns employ a variety of techniques, including Aran, Fair Isle, and intarsia; basic knowledge is assumed, so knitters new to these techniques may wish to have a reference guide handy. VERDICT: Knitters who have enjoyed Storey's other patterns, as well as those who enjoy designers with contemporary romantic flair such as Kim Hargreaves and Sasha Kagan, will love this collection."—Library Journal