Mary Walker Phillips nearly single-handedly brought nineteenth-century counterpanes, or bedspreads, to the attention of modern knitters. This book is the product of her international searches of museums, private collections, and magazines, a quest that yielded a choice selection of 46 counterpane patterns as well as 32 lace edgings and borders. Expanded with dozens of brand-new charts, this revised edition of Phillips' influential work makes the patterns even more accessible to knitters of all levels.
"This is a terrific book," noted Knitter's Magazine, adding that "the directions, photos, and general production are crisp and clean, just like its subject." The patterns are grouped into chapters by design effect. Within each chapter, they proceed logically from simplest to most complex. Each is accompanied by a photo of its component elements, which the author knitted especially for this book. The patterns include assembly diagrams where needed as well as possible variations. Beginners, experts, and everyone in between will find this volume a splendid resource of versatile patterns.