Book review: Strik i struktur
Thea Vesterby with her new book Strik i struktur. ©Podcast 'Mens vi strikker'.
Since I interviewed Thea Vesterby for the Knit Current last summer, she has published her first knitting book! It is packed with 18 knitting patterns - ranging from sweaters and cardigans to accessories - and I had the pleasure to receive an advance copy.
Together with the Danish publisher People’s, Thea put together a selection of her patterns to release them in the book called Strik i struktur (English: Knit in structure). It provides “a world of lace patterns with cables, waves and bobbles”, which is, of course in true VesterbyCrea-fashion, intricate, feminine, lacy and detail-rich.
Strik i struktur includes eight sweater patterns, three cardigans, two mittens, three socks, one neck warmer and a beanie. As Thea writes in the book, she often is inspired by Japanese knitting designs and it comes through in the beautiful and elaborate patterns, which are written with great care and tested over time. In the book, they include both written instructions as well as charts.
Sweater No. 24 is made up entirely in the new-to-me Rick Rack technique and I would love to try it out. © Anna Gallinat
One of my personal favourites of the book (and on my own to-knit-list) is the Neck Warmer 35, which coincidentally had also made it onto one of my first round-ups through which Thea and I originally connected. For me, it was a lovely surprise to see it printed in the book. It gave me a little glimpse of how Thea must have felt holding the book for the first time with all her own patterns - printed in such a gorgeous way.
The book also includes short introductions to sizing, yarns used and gauges. While not all patterns include all eight sizes (70-150 cm / 27.5-59 in chest circumference), most of them have a pretty good range in terms of measurements. A few pages are also dedicated to various techniques that Thea uses frequently, such as the Italian cast on and off or the Half Fisherman's Rib (halvpatent). I had never heard of the Rick Rack technique, which is explained in the beginning, but seeing the Sweater No. 24 quickly made it another favourite.
The essence of Danish hygge
© Anna Gallinat
During our interview back in July, Thea shared that she, together with some of her friends, (re)knitted all the samples for the book’s photoshoot. It was important to Thea and the publisher to get a fresh and coherent look for the book and I have to say they succeeded. The photography reminds me of Scandi vibes and the quintessential Danish hygge feels very fitting to VesterbyCrea’s style.
Apart from the photography, Strik i struktur is also beautifully layouted. The use of pastel colours together with the samples’ colours really enhance Thea’s designs. The layout does not skimp on its use of white space, which I love. It gives the readers the space to take in all the details - which Thea’s patterns are rich of.
One of the first things that struck me was how heavy the book was. The dimensions are 24 x 31 cm (9 x 12 in) and it weighs an easy 1.5kg (yes, I weighed it because I was that impressed!). It looks and feels hefty - but in a good way. As tactile people, I think, us knitters can appreciate the value of holding something physical in your hands.
Knitting is Thea’s way of life
“That’s my DNA: structure and creativity - two polar opposites that have sometimes had difficulty moderating. But in knitting it becomes possible.”
In her introduction, the readers get to learn about Thea and how knitting became her way of life. (If you want to know more about this, check out my interview with her for the Knit Current.) She encourages her readers to discover the joy in their own knitting practice. Just as I wrote: “Her creativity is not stifled by having to deal with numbers, rather it is the opposite: It is enhanced.” In her own words, Thea describes it as: “Det er mit DNA: struktur og kreativitet - to modpoler, der nogle ganger har haft svært ved at mødes. Men i strikken bliver det muligt.”
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Currently, the book is only available in Danish. You can buy the book in multiple shops throughout Denmark or online here.