What's your favourite pattern book?

[stultiloquentia]

I'm not a knitter. I'm looking for a present for my mom. She knits every day, but hasn't bought herself a new book of patterns in a long time.

She likes acrylic/wool blends, like Plymouth Encore. Lots of sweaters, though she's done brilliant mittens and hats and scarves. I'd love a shawl, when I'm up next in her gift queue (it's an endless cycle). But sweaters are really her thing. She's done lots in the Cabled Woollies genus. It'd be nice to find her something with some tighter, trimmer patterns.

For instance, I think this is pretty, although I have no idea what silk means in terms of cost or fussiness.

Any favourites?

Comments

[loup_noir]

Have you considered getting her a subscription to a nice knitting magazine? The ones I subscribe to have a variety of projects each month or quarter, and that way she could be inspired by lots of different ideas.

If you know her tastes well, head into a knitting shop and talk to the people there.

Rowan produces pattern books that are beautifully photographed, Nashua has some very nice sweaters, etc..., but I've found that each of those expensive books tend to have one "must do" pattern and ten others I'm not in the least interested in.

[stultiloquentia]

Hey, that's an interesting idea. And you're right about all those books with one or two standouts and another 30 pages of meh.