Jan Messent's Wool 'n Magic

Reviews / Votes

Oct 06



Some Search Press books have been so well-loved that they are being re-issued as Classics. This is one of them, first published back in 1989. This is not just a book on knitting, but on crochet and embroidery too, and anything else you can do with yarn. Make wall hangings, lampshades, cushions and more, including the beautiful mermaid doll on the cover.







This is a lovely book to look at - something for the coffee table - by somebody who clearly loves wool, and everything to do with it. This is not just another book about making things, but about the wool itself, and its journey from sheep to those neat balls in the shops. There are even lots of lovely drawings by the author of different breeds of sheep, plus some facts about them and wool in general from the earliest times. Learn how to make your own fun flock of sheep (great for a nativity scene!) and achieve lush texture in your work, whether abstract or pictorial. This is not a book for beginners, but for experienced yarn crafters who want to take their passion a stage further and explore what yarn is all about. There is loads in here about design, making up garments and other items, achieving texture and tone, experimenting and above all, having a lot of fun. There are plenty of projects in here as well to get you started, but this book is essentially a starting point in itself. Highly recommended classic work on yarn craft for all true aficionados - a book for the keeper shelf. * Myshelf.com * Oct 06



This is a practical knitting book updating ideas previously published in 1989. Jan Messent shows just how creative wool can be as a medium. She covers ideas about the source of wool with a chapter on sheep, showing some delightful drawings of the animals and information about tools and the history of wool. Taking inspiration from nature, she shows how to create beautiful textured surfaces including methods of dyeing and colour experiments. The chapter on Texture shows how to combine textured yarns with the creative use of knitting and crochet to excellent effect. At the end of the book, there is a chapter on wearables. This is beautifully illustrated by photographs of inspiring clothing using colour and texture in very wearable garments. This book would inspire anyone to pick up their discarded knitting needles and start to knit again. * Merseyside Embroiderers Guild * No. 114, Dec 06



...With chapters devoted to sheep, shapes, texture, colour, rings, embroidery and wearables, there is a wealth of interest between its covers although the illustrations make it attractive enough to simply turn the pages and enjoy the colour. * SlipKnot * Mar 08



First published in 1989, this classic book has been reissued and is sure to captivate a new generation of knitters, crocheters and embroiderers. Among the knitted designs on offer are 3D sheep with a knitted background, patchwork panels, a lacy lampshade and a mermaid, but there aren't set patterns for all the items in the book. Instead the decorative objects are there to inspire you and give you a jumping-off point for your own yarn-based artworks. While experienced knitters will be most able to produce textile artworks like those in the pictures, novices will find plenty of inspiration to experiment with in Wool 'n' Magic. * Simply Knitting * Issue 6, Feb 07



If you are, or want to become, an adventurous, creative or experimental knitter then this book is a must! Wool 'n' Magic has been in demand since it was first published in 1989 and it has recently been reprinted for a new generation of free-thinking knitters. The book is an exploration of yarn and its many uses, primarily through knitting, combined with a range of other disciplines such as embroidery, crochet and canvaswork.



It is an inspirational and essential read for budding textile artists who can interpret and develop the ideas within the pages. There are very few actual patterns (the fabulous mermaid on the cover is included through!), but the endless suggestions and examples of work will have you reaching for the needles and having a go at your own variations. There is advice on creating shapes, adding texture, the use of colour and combining knitting and crochet with embroidery techniques to make unusual and unique projects. Your experiments can also be worn thanks to the chapter on creating wearable works of art. The book is full of interesting surface effects achieved with yarn. Proponents of free-form knitting and crochet will love it and anyone who feels constrained by stifling patterns will find the book refreshing and liberating. * Knit Today *