The majority of the patterns are for classic mid-twentieth-century women’s sweats, from 1956’s Abstract Expressionist to 1976’s Puppy Love. But there’s much more in The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book: men’s sweaters like 1954’s Father Knows Best, as well as dresses, shoulder bags, ponchos, and scarf sets. Clear directions, supplemented by schematic charts and color guides, make all of the patterns easy to follow, for everyone from beginners to more advanced knitters.

Acknowledgements: “A number of extremely able professional knitters tackled the complex challenges of re-creating fifty-year-old machine-knit sweaters into the projects that glow throughout these pages: Galina Carroll, Sarah James, Sue Jaloweic, Kim Craig, Laura Huber, and Hannah Tatar. In addition to knitting some of the sweaters, Alexandra Virgiel wrote many of the knitting patterns and edited all of them.“

Designer names are not given on many patterns, and the original designer names for the earlier versions may no longer be known. Elizabeth Foderaro of OKM may have designed the original Abstract Expressionist and possibly others.

Paperback published in August 2010 by Artisan