New book from Isager: Handcraft is a cooporation between Helga Jóna Thórunnarsdóttir and Helga Isager.
This knitting book has one basic pattern for finger gloves and one for mittens, but various knitting patterns and different edgings.
Beautiful drawings done by Japanese illustrator Toshiko Koikegami demonstrate the techniques used in the book.
”The idea for ‘Handcraft’ arose from our shared passion for techniques and details. We have taught knitting classes together for several years and approach our craft with the same meticulous care.
"A design can often be improved so the stitches lie perfectly, or maybe a few extra stitches need to be knitted to create a perfect edging. We may be the only ones to notice the difference, but the deep satisfaction that comes with creating a finished piece of craftsmanship drives us both in our work, ultimately guaranteeing that the sweater or scarf will have years of use.
"We wanted to produce a book featuring a collection of some of our favourite techniques and designs. We realised that gloves and mittens were a good choice, because so many techniques go into knitting these small items. Gloves have essentially had the same shape for centuries, because they have to fit the curves of the human hand.
"Our idea was to write a classic book for knitters to use as a mini reference work whenever they need to refresh a certain technique – whether for knitting a mitten or a sweater.”