This collection of patterns for shawls and scarves originally published over the last 15 years in Knitter's Magazine lives up to the reputation of XRX Books for publishing visually stunning "coffee-table" books that spend more time being read and used than sitting on the coffee table. For a public library, a compilation of this sort has many advantages. It is more sturdy than the original magazine, it brings together designs by theme, and it corrects errors that might have been present in the original patterns. Contributors include a "who's who" of knitwear designers, among them Elizabeth Zimmermann, Meg Swansen, Eugene Beugler, Joan Schrouder, and Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. Most patterns include both charted and written directions as well as full-color photos. Generic yarn recommendations make this collection one that will be used for many years. Highly recommended for public libraries and textile collections.
