Back in 1974 Elizabeth Zimmermann ran the first knitting camp/retreat in the United States. While doing some background research on my post for this book I also found that someone at a university in Wisconsin actually wrote her thesis on it, which is quite awesome. A few years later in 1981 while at one of the week-long camps she was approached about doing a video series based on what she taught at the camp that ended up being aired on PBS. You can find further info on that on the website for the business she started in the 1950’s, Schoolhouse Press.
Eventually, a book was written which contained the lesson she taught in her videos. Aptly named after the series, Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop is written as a companion guide to the video series but also as a useful resource if you’ve never seen them. There are three main parts; Beginnings- A Hat, Two Sweaters, and Master Classes. Within those three, there are four lessons which go into greater detail. The lessons are full of her illustrations and handwriting, and the photographs for the book were taken by her daughter Meg Swansen. That touch gives this book a very personal feeling. There is some overlap between her books, for instance the Pi shawl in this book is also in The Knitter’s Almanac, and if you are familiar with that almanac you’ll also recognize the Fisherman’s Guernsey from the month of January in lesson four of part three.
This is the book where some of her more famous patterns sprang from, for example, the baby surprise jacket (and the child and adult versions) named so because in her own words, “I call it the surprise jacket because it looks like nothing on earth when you have finished knitting it. Sew up two seams, and you have the nicest little garter stitch baby-sweater or adult mind boggler.” Also included here are the Tomten, a modular-knit jacket, “yes, Swedes, I know the ‘en’ is redundant”, and the rib warmer, a vest that she calls the second-best bazaar item (presumably for selling) after the hat.
I feel that the forward by Barbara G. Walker really sums it up. “The first of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s writings that I ever read told me how to make a ribbed turtleneck: pick up a multiple of four stitches around the neck and work in knit-two purl-two ribbing until you are sick of it. When I finished laughing, I realized that Elizabeth is more than witty – she’s right. Every knitter knows that is indeed how turtlenecks are made. For many years, I and thousands of other enthusiastic Elizabeth-watchers have heartily enjoyed her wit and wisdom. She’s a delight and an inspiration. Her designs are interesting. Her written instructions combine two qualities all too seldom met together: they teach, and they amuse, both at once.”
Pick it up on Amazon here…
I remember that PBS show! I watched it sometimes when I was sick at home. Always loved Elizabeth Zimmerman!
A bit before my time but I’ve seen a few episodes on Youtube. Me, too!