Traditional knot and interlace patterns, combined to form uniquely striking contemporary designs. Ever since her ground-breaking book Viking Patterns for Knitting was published, Elsebeth Lavold has been recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on cabling. It was within the pages of her international bestseller—described as “an indispensable milestone in 20th century knitting literature”—that Lavold first introduced the world to her own innovation: using lifted increases to create interlace patterns, and bringing new life to the ornamental heritage of the Vikings as adornment on modern knitwear. In the years since, Lavold has sought new ideas and “design cousins” to Viking patterns to explore with her needles, and has undertaken a fascinating journey through archives, museums, libraries, and the internet. In more than a decade of continued research, she has studied cultures from all over the globe in search of similar types of ornamental expression, creating the foundation for this exciting new book: a glorious collection rich in imagery, history, patterns, and designs. Dozens of different sources of inspiration, catalogued and placed within their cultural and historical context, from all around the world. Complete, step-by-step instructions for an abundance of fresh and stunningly beautiful knit designs, presented in the book with full-color photographs. Lavold’s own painstaking analysis of a huge number of interlace motif types, displayed in both swatch and chart form, to allow you to compose your own patterns based on her research.

Viking Patterns for Knitting is the result of years of research by Swedish knitwear designer Elsebeth Lavold, who explored patterns of ornamentation found on Viking artifacts, such as swords, buckles, combs, and rune stones. Now, by means of clever knitting innovation (which makes it possible to start a knitted knot in the middle of a sweater), she has adapted these richly intricate knots and braids into gorgeous, fully modern garment designs. The 14 Knitting projects include a hooded sweater with interlaced half-hitches; a cardigan with delicate figure-eight knots; an elegant tunic with serpentine ropework; and father-and-son pullovers inspired by rune stones. Sixty motifs are clearly presented in pictures, text, and charts, including the entire runic alphabet and a striking collections of Viking artifacts. Viking Patterns for Knitting is an adventure in Nordic forms with roots a thousand years deep.

Discover a Gorgeous New World of Texture and Color Get ready to knit like you never have before with this incredible, comprehensive guide to brioche knitting from expert designer and brioche authority Lesley Anne Robinson. For any knitter who has ever been intrigued by the colorful designs and luxurious texture of brioche, but too intimidated to pick up their needles and cast on, let Lesley’s cheerful, encouraging voice walk you through this exciting technique step by step. Featuring a treasure trove of tips, tricks and technical knowledge, as well as 16 stunning patterns, this book will have you feeling confident creating the fun vertical stripes and exquisite texture this popular technique is famous for. Best of all, each pattern not only functions as a lovely knit piece but also as a specific lesson in brioche mastery. From squishy one- and two-color hats and cowls, to eye-catching three-color shawls and sweaters, you’ll create striking knitwear while learning an exciting new skill. So grab that yarn you’ve been saving for a special project, and dive into the beautiful world of brioche!

Eco-Friendly Cardboard Crafts to Make and Play With At last, a genius way for you to put all that cardboard lying around the house to good use! Mailing boxes, paper towel rolls, cereal cartons and more can be transformed into a range of crafts, toys and games that guarantee hours of fun, imaginative playtime. Blast off in a cardboard Rocket, set up a fun Ice Cream Cart or become royalty in a Castle Cubby with life-size play structures that will delight your little ones. Let big imaginations run wild with pretend play creations like cool Butterfly Wings, a handy Tool Belt or a Mini Monster Truck that’s built for jumps and tricks. Create games that will challenge and engage your kids with projects like a Pinball Machine, Tabletop Soccer and Cardboard Labyrinth. With all of Kathryn’s best tips and tricks for sourcing, upcycling and handling cardboard, plus a wide range of inventive projects, this incredible collection is your go-to guide for easy, eco-friendly ways to transform cardboard into crafty creations your kids will love.

Wilderness Knits for the Home is Linka Neumann’s second book, showcasing a stunning collection of homeware knits to make while embracing the Scandinavian spirit and cosying up next to a warm fire.

Over 40 traditional and modern Norwegian knitwear patterns for all seasons and all the family. From Internet sensation Lasse Matberg. This book offers intermediate and experienced knitters an inspiring guide to create eye-catching, durable knitwear that will never go out of style. - Publishers Weekly Lasse L. Matberg comes from a family who, for generations, have been working to create beautiful, quality crafted items by hand. Viking Knits is a tribute to good-quality, practical needlework, inspired by the Vikings’ warm, all-weather garments. Discover and knit over 40 items for men, women, and children, designed for all occasions and seasons. From tough-wearing sweaters and outerwear to elegant cardigans and jackets, all have made been made in a quietly beautiful Scandinavian style. Whether you love traditional, Nordic colorwork patterns and cables, or modern, textured knits, there is something for everyone. 18 men's sweaters 9 women's sweaters 6 children's sweaters 10 cozy accessories

As tall as trees and as ancient and rugged as the Norwegian landscape from which they come, trolls are some of lore's most fascinating and varied creatures. Some live under bridges, others deep inside caves. They can carry their heads under their arms or hide their hearts inside wells. They can walk across oceans and fly over mountains. Trees and shrubs may grow from their heads, and their noses can be long enough to stir soup. There are troll hags, troll daughters, and elderly, shrunken trolls. Old or young, they are quarrelsome, ugly, and boastful, and they love to trick princesses and children. To defeat them, children must rely on the strengths of their humanity-persistence, kindness, pluck, and willingness to heed good advice

One of the century's most spectacular archaeological finds occurred in 1921, a year before Howard Carter stumbled upon Tutankhamun's tomb, when Poul Norlund recovered dozens of garments from a graveyard in the Norse settlement of Herjolfsnaes, Greenland. Preserved intact for centuries by the permafrost, these mediaeval garments display remarkable similarities to western European costumes of the time. Previously, such costumes were known only from contemporary illustrations, and the Greenland finds provided the world with a close look at how ordinary Europeans dressed in the Middle Ages. Fortunately for Norlund's team, wood has always been extremely scarce in Greenland, and instead of caskets, many of the bodies were found swaddled in multiple layers of cast off clothing. When he wrote about the excavation later, Norlund also described how occasional thaws had permitted crowberry and dwarf willow to establish themselves in the top layers of soil. Their roots grew through coffins, clothing and corpses alike, binding them together in a vast network of thin fibers - as if, he wrote, the finds had been literally sewn in the earth. Eighty years of technical advances and subsequent excavations have greatly added to our understanding of the Herjolfsnaes discoveries. Woven into the Earth recounts the dramatic story of Norlund's excavation in the context of other Norse textile finds in Greenland. It then describes what the finds tell us about the materials and methods used in making the clothes. The weaving and sewing techniques detailed here are surprisingly sophisticated, and one can only admire the talent of the women who employed them, especially considering the harsh conditions they worked under. While Woven into the Earth will be invaluable to students of medieval archaeology, Norse society and textile history, both lay readers and scholars are sure to find the book's dig narratives and glimpses of life among the last Vikings fascinating.

The relationship between public and private spheres is one of the key concerns of the modern society. This book investigates this relationship, especially as manifested in the urban space with its social and psychological significance. Through theoretical and historical examination, it explores how and why the space of human socities is subdivided into public and private sections. It starts with the private, interior space of the mind and moves step by step, through the body, home, neighborhood and the city, outwards to the most public, impersonal spaces, exploring the nature of each realm and their complex, interdependent realtionships. A stimulating and thought provoking book for any architect, architectural historian, urban planner or designer.