PORTUGUESE KNITTING by ROSA POMAR

More than just a history book or a handicraft manual, Portuguese Knitting is a journey into Portugal's knitting heritage. Traditional patterns and techniques are brought up to date in the form of beautiful modern pieces such as socks, hats, shawls, cowls, pot holders and leggings. Portuguese knitting differs from regular knitting in the way the wool is held; it can either be passed through a special Portuguese knitting pin attached to the knitter's clothes, or looped around the neck and then over a finger. Easy-to-follow instructions and clear illustrations allow beginners or more experienced knitters to recreate historical pieces in an original, contemporary way. You can make the projects as they are shown, or use other colours to create your own unique and original gifts.

About the Author:

Rosa Pomar learned to knit at the age of seven and never stopped. As a child, she knitted mainly dolls and her family found it difficult to tear her away from her knitting needles. She took courses in medieval history, then subsequently in illustration at the School of Visual Arts in Nova Cirque. As the author of one of the oldest Portuguese blogs, www.aervilhacorderosa.com, she frequently addresses the subject of traditional Portuguese textiles. She carries out research in this area, especially in the field of wool, travelling around the country to visit shepherds and spinners. In 2008, she created Retrosaria, a store dedicated to the sale of fabrics and materials for knitting and sewing (www.retrosaria.rosapomar.com). Since 2009, she has created several new textile techniques, always finding ways of bringing the traditional Portuguese knitting methods into contemporary pieces.