Tudor Roses: Inspired Garments To Knit (Dover Crafts: Knitting)

This review is for the latest installment of Tudor Roses which as I mentioned in the headline is really a part two and not by any means a reprint of the original Tudor Roses.I am very fortunate in that I am the owner of both volumes of Alice Starmore's Tudor Roses and am able to do a side by side comparison. I am also up to speed on her on going legal battles over her intellectual/artistic property which is the first volume of Tudor Roses and that to this date it is still nowhere near a resolution. I therefore attribute her current volume as a re-working of some of the patterns from the first volume and a few completely new ones as she still has no control over the designs in the first volume. I find it sad that she had to alter her old patterns and switch out/up her color schemes to avoid getting in trouble over her own designs. As several have already noted not all of these alterations are an improvement to the original garment and some are just a bit off because of it. The photos are also more sophisticated than the original shoot which was whimsical in their palace ground settings on a clear sunny day. The models here are awkwardly posed and in some cases done up inside studio shots which I suppose is to look more metropolitan but actually gives a starkness that is rather jolting to view. And tho' Ms. Starmore is clearly giving a hand to her jewelry designing friend, the pieces are not attractive and seem anachronistic in there futuristic elements when paired with pieces that are inspired from the past.I see this volume more as a weapon, a war chest that Ms. Starmore created out of frustration and defiance in an attempt to regain what was lost. The original patterns aren't just beautiful they are truly inspired in their construction and use of color. And her Elizabeth sweater while being all white is one of the most elegant examples of knitwear I have ever seen. In the first Tudor Roses what was astonishingly brilliant in its creation is now dark and has a sense of ferocity about the new and reworked designs.I think this is sense of foreboding that emanates from this updated volume is what bothers a lot of us when we take it in. I am firmly on Ms. Starmore's side on wanting to have ownership and control over her own designs, so it is actually with a bit of grief that I view Tudor Roses part 2. I can't help but favor the first volume and it's beauty and reading the essays that Ms. Starmore herself wrote is a testament to history and her craft. Volume 2 is a monument to her need to fight and reclaim her passion.As for both volumes - I would not part with either for anything!

I first discovered this book ( first edition) via a "Patternworks" knitting supplies catalog several years ago.While I have yet to really purl my first skein of yarn, I've considered the challenge of recreating Alice Starmore's elaborate designs honoring the Tudor Dynasty would be my ultimate objective. I appreciate that there are differences between the 1998 edition and its 2013 counterpart( The originals may be viewed on the knitting site, ravelry.com). But the narrative for each character, and the sweater dedicated to them is an intriguing presentation. The Margaret Tudor and Anne of Cleves sweaters have a casual modernity to them. Whereas the original Anne Boleyn sweater was a rather appropriate V-neck( given that she was beheaded), we now see a high-collared, verdant, vertical-striped creation serving as a background for bright autumn colors. The Anne of Cleves sweater was originally done in goldenrod, but it now shown in a solemn silvery grey.The Catherine Parr sweater has remained the same-a two-colored, richly textured piece. The Henry VII and Henry VIII sweaters are excluded altogether. But we do enjoy a view of a new Elizabeth of York sweater vest, with more colors and a richer design than the original, a mere ( but complexly knitted) shawl for the future Mary I, the simplistic design for the button down honoring Elizabeth Woodville, the dour piece created to honor Margaret of Beaufort( portrayed by Starmore's daughter and collaborator, Jade) , the businesslike elegance of the sweater dedicated to Katherine of Aragon, a slightly darker version of the knit created to honor Mary Tudor(Henry VIII's sister), the bright, and elaborate concoction honoring Jane Seymour(which differs from its original), the now darkly elaborate work of the Katherine Howard design, the monochromatic elegance of the Elizabeth I sweater, and finally, the green buttoned-down scoop-neck, trimmed with blue honoring Elizabeth's rival, Mary, Queen of Scots.It has occurred to me that both of the decapitated queens whose children inherited the throne have green sweaters in their honor....Interesting... This is a fascinating dramatically presented table book, in which a great knitting doyenne, and her daughter Jade use their gift to honor one of the most memorable dynasties in history. --A highly recommended read for any ambitious knitter!

I love the patterns in this book - They are wonderful. However, be aware, if you order this version (on the right in the attached pic) of Tutor Roses that it does not include the Henry VIII pattern as does the previous version (the one on the left). The older version has Henry VII, Margaret Tudor, Elizabeth of York, Mary Tudor, Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, Katherine of Aragon Tunic, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr, and Elizabeth I. This version includes Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth of York, Margaret Tudor, Katherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor, Lady Mary, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots. So, many of the same patterns, but there are definite differences.

this version of the the original alice starmore book is one gorgeous knitting book. it is a hardcover with coffee table worthy pictures, courtesy of jade starmore.each of the sweaters is named after the women in the tudor dynasty from elizabeth woodville to mary, queen of scots. alice starmore always researches her topics thoroughly and she has provided a brief history of the tudors, a family tree and back stories on each of the women.however, the designs are different than in the first edition. there are no men's patterns and the original women's sweaters have been reworked to reflect more modern sizing. as a knitter, i found it the charts and schematics easy to follow, but this is a book for the experienced knitter. most of the sweaters are intricate and involve colorwork.one caveat is that the book's large size prevents me as a knitter from making copies of the pages so that i can write on them and keep them with the project.

The patterns are indeed rich, gorgeous and fascinating. The book, or at least the new version - I have not seen the original - is useless. One needs charts for colour knitting, obviously, but charts for complex cables, shaping etc? Completely unusable, and I say that as a very experienced knitter. I can only conclude that the bizarre vogue for expecting unsuspecting prospective knitters to squint, curse and whimper across tiny, unreadable, miserably ghastly charts instead of working calmly through written instructions is just sheer laziness on the part of the pattern writers. There is ONE pattern in this book for which there are proper written instructions, and it is not the one I most wanted to knit. Americans seem to have an addiction both to charts and circular needles (why, seriously, why?), but skilled and experienced British knitters can actually read, sometimes even without magnifying glasses and calculators. Had I seen the inside of this book in a bookshop, I might have loved the pictures but would never have shelled out my money for it. People have written knitting books inspired by historical costumes and patterns before with proper written instructions, there are even original historical patterns available. My tip is to use them: the colour photography might not be so beautiful, but at least you will be able to settle down and work the pattern.

This is not your average book of knitting patterns.Originally published a number of years ago, it is also not just a new edition. The whole book and all the patterns have been revisited, revised and reviewed and the result is a beautiful, cloth-bound book worthy of any coffee table… and yet many of the patterns do not seem out of the realm of coming to life in the hands of a reasonably well-versed knitter (which I didn't expect - I thought it would all be so intricate I'd hardly dare even try a pattern, but not so!).It's eye-candy and practical all at the same time; each of the patterns has thought and point behind it, being inspired by women in Tudor history and imagined by two women (mother and daughter themselves) who have really considered who each was and what each garment pattern represents. It is eminently readable.I'm smitten.

Love this book but you need to be an experienced knitter to follow the patterns. They are knit in 2 ply wool which is not easy to find in such rich colours. The author recommends buying them from a Hebridean company but they are not cheap. I have knit them in 4 ply wool but have then had to alter the size as 4ply knits up larger than 2 ply. Having said all that I am REALLY enjoying knitting these patterns. They are so unusual

I finally got myself this book. Fabulous designs including colour work and cable work. The "voices" of the historical figures who were the inspiration for this book added an extra dimension to this book. Really love it! I find Alice Stanmore books full of inspirational ideas which stimulate the creative juices. The designs are gorgeous and in a class of their own. The instructions consist of a mix of charts and row by row instructions. I haven't tried to knit any of them yet. I suspect not for the faint hearted. Some are more straight forward than others. Anne Boleyn looks chalenging. I think she was too!

This book is filled with wonderful, beautifully-designed (if rather impractical) garments and is a sheer pleasure to look at. However, that seems to be all I do - i.e. look at the book - and I can't seem to see myself actually knitting the garments or, indeed, wearing them. That's not to say that I don't consider them knit-able or wearable, but just that I haven't felt the urge to cast them onto my needles. So, I'll just keep looking at them! :-) (I'll update this is I find myself knitting and wearing something from this lovely book).4 Stars.