Ah, the venerable Barbara Walker. Writer of knitting pattern encyclopedias (four in total), among many other works. A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, which is the only one I’ve stumbled upon so far is a thick, paperback tome pushing 400 pages. In her own words “Some of the patterns in this book are contemporary originals, representing the constant and continuous flow of creative ideas in knitting. There is literally no end to this flow; it goes on forever because new ideas are always possible.”
There is a basic glossary of knitting terms at the front, a brief section on decreases, increases, and “special knitting actions” such as cables, twisted stitches, and some general knitting related terms. Next up is a section on converting a pattern knit on straight needles to one knit on circulars. Then we move into the patterns themselves, beginning with knit-purl combinations. In this section we have multiple rib choices, seed and moss stitches, and what I consider to be gansey patterns, such as Thunderbird which is a striking set of triangles formed from alternating sections of knit and purl stitches to form triangles with a bold line of stockinette in the center. The next section is on slip-stitches. There are two separate chapters on slip-stitches, the first is single colored slip-stitch patterns and the second is on juggling multiple colors.
After that is mosaic knitting, that is “The basic principle is this: portions of each row are hidden behind slipped stitches carried up from a different-colored row below.” She moves on to what she calls Fancy Color patterns, which combine the slip-stitch patterns and other similar techniques with multiple shades of yarn to make a complex but striking look. After fancy colors comes fancy textures, such as drop-stitches, short rows, bobbles, etc. There is a whole chapter on cables, and another on lace patterns. The last section describes borders and edgings, with many different looks and styles.
I think the only thing that keeps me from using this book more often is the lack of charts. I love charts in knitting patterns, so you can know at a glance where you are in a pattern and get a good idea of what a pattern will look like at the end. However, there is a photograph of each pattern so that helps to make up for it. You have consider the fact that it was written in 1970, though, and I’m not sure if charts were popular back then.
All told, a wonderful addition to any knitter’s library. I think the next socks I start may come from here.
As an aside, I’ve been busy recently playing Pokemon Sword. How about the female protagonist’s cabled sweater? An adaption of that may have to be my next big project.
Pick up a copy of A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (and take a look at the first, third, and fourth, here!