Traditional Victorian White Work: To Knit and Crochet for the Home

Rating:
Summary: good, but maybe a bit over-modernized
Review: This is a fascinating book, with some frustrating aspects.

Hollingworth starts with a social history of Victorian needlework (especially whitework), which fills in an important gap for me. I've seen references to "whitework" but didn't know what it was, for instance, or why it had to be white. This part of the book is brief but wonderful.

The rest of the book is evenly divided between knitting and crochet projects. There's a nice variety of projects. I don't crochet, so can't comment on the difficulty; but the knitting projects are mostly on the intermediate level.

in fact, that's my only real frustration with the book. It's clear that the patterns are simplified for modern, less patient (or maybe less skillful?) knitters. For instance, there is a raised-leaf coverlet that is done in worsted weight cotton. Traditional coverlets were done in much finer yarns. The author doesn't tell you that, nor does she offer more challenging designs.

Overall I give this book four stars. I like it for the history, but wish some of the patterns were more advanced.