Mosaic & Lace Knits

Mosaic and Lace Knits is a well crafted knitting book. The patterns are written clearly and accompanied by beautiful photographs. This book has a wide appeal to knitters of all levels of experience. There is also enough variety of patterns to fully explore the world of colorwork and lace knitting, This will be a great addition to the library of all knitters.

I loved this book. I am always looking for different patterns and this book delivers. The pattern selection is wonderful, the details and instructions are clear and I am buying this book when it comes out because I prefer my knitting patterns "hard copy".

When I started reading this book, I have to admit I was confused with the dirctions, but once I got out my yanr and needles everything fell into place. What a fun idea - and certainly makes me look like a bitter knitter than I am. I can do pattern knitting, but carrying colors defeats me every time. This book provides a nice solution.

I received a free copy of this electronic how-to book from Netgalley, Barbara Benson, and Stackpole Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me!

This book contains some very interesting knitting patterns, with simple instructions and excellent photos. I am a leftie, so I really appreciate photos that can be converted to reverse at a glance. This is a knitter I will watch for!

Mosaic & Lace Knits: 20 Innovative Patterns Combining Slip-Stitch Colorwork and Lace Techniques, by Barbara Benson, March 2017

Benson's patterns are both beautiful and colorful, with excellent photos and instructions. This book of patterns is geared towards the intermediate or advanced knitter, but Benson has included many pages of how-to's which will be helpful for the beginning knitter who is ready for a challenge. The twenty patterns included ensure that every knitter will find something tempting to try. Highly recommended.

An inventive technique that creates striking results. I look forward to trying some of the patterns presented here, which are given with clear instructions and beautifully photographed to show off the finished works. I don't love some of the color choices shown in the example, but no matter -- everyone can pick the colors that they like best! A section of color theory or a few other examples of colors for each item would have been nice, but overall this is a very well-written pattern book with a number of appealing designs completed in an interesting technique. Recommended for early intermediate to advanced knitters.

I think the book has merit but has appeal for a specific knitter. I went through it carefully and didn't see anything that I was inspired to make. It has been very well researched and written but unfortunately not for me.

Barbara possesses one of those brilliant, creative, and generous minds that I would love to take out for coffee. She has figured out colourwork lace by building upon Barbara Walker’s Mosaic technique. This melding of brilliant Barbaras has created many new and fascinating possibilities. It has been difficult for me not to tell my schedule to go away and swatch the projects for days on end. Benson takes you through how she created this process, tips for getting started, and things to keep in mind along the way so your mosaic lace projects are successful. The first project is a basic bulky mosaic mitten, without lace, to help you become comfortable with mosaic knitting. From there, the possibilities expand not only to shawls and scarves at various yarn weights, but also hats, a bag, fingerless mitts, and a delightful pillow. Several designs caught and held my eye that I hope some day to find the spare time to work up, including Isochronal Arc, Lacy Pinstripe Cowlette, and Fractured Helix. What will you knit first?

I feel the need for a slight disclaimer here: I've never done any colorwork, let alone mosaic colorwork. So, when I say this book's instructions are clear and make it look simple, I might be absolutely full of shit. But, regardless, this book's clarity give me the confidence to try. So that's something.

Now, the patterns. I like them. As the title says, there are 20 patterns, ranging from scarfs to wrist warmers to bags. The majority of the patterns full into the "Stuff you wear around your neck" category (ie scarfs, cowls, shawls), but there's enough variety within that category to make sure that you don't feel like you are basically getting the same pattern more than once (a pet peeve of mine in knitting books). I've already picked out several patterns I'd like to try and look forward to casting on.

If you are interested in Mosaic colorwork, I don't think you'll be disappointed with this book.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**