Warning: Almost everything in here is gorgeous and you will want to make all of it. But you won't be able to:

1. Unbelievably, this book went to print with a serious error: none of the keys to the multi-colour pattern charts tell you which colour goes with which symbol on the chart. According to a reviewer on amazon, this problem was reported by a reader on the publisher's website in Sept. 2002; the publisher never responded (hence there is no correction to the text). Additionally, the models are posed such that it is often not possible to tell how the patterns actually look in detail, so it would be very difficult to try to figure the charts out yourself.

2. After having combed the internet in search of the yarns listed for each pattern, I can report that 75% of the time, they are no longer available. If you want to make any multi-coloured items just as they are in the book, you will be out of luck in every case (solid-coloured pieces can, in many cases, still be made in the colours shown, however, or an alternative colour in the yarn listed can still be found).

3. Unless you are swatch-crazy, a fan of trial-and-error, and don't mind the possibility of having bought or ordered too much or too little yarn for the project you've picked out, it will be difficult to figure out how to make something in an alternative yarn-- both the kind of yarn you need and how much. Though the author provides an obscure note hidden at the end of the book which warns you to calculate substitute yarns according to yardage and not grams, only grams are listed in the patterns. Nor does the author provide fibre or even weight of the yarn used; baby-fine, sport or worsted, in many cases you'll have to take a wild guess, make swatches, and then just hope for the best.

(It is admitted that #2 and #3 would still be problems one would have to deal with if one were using an actual vintage pattern.)

4. According to my research, you can expect the cost of every sweater to range between $80 and $120.

(But what baffles me most about this book: if it's cold enough to need a sweater, wouldn't these people also put some pants on??!) ( )

Sarah Dallas derived these designs from original patterns from Yesterknits, a vintage pattern company in Scotland, and the Museum of Costume, Bath. The patterns are updated for modern yarns (lots of Rowan) and instructions, but the styling retains the profile of the '40s and '50s--generally short tops that emphasize the waist. Many if not most are knitted on US 2 or 3 needles.

I appreciate the inclusion of pictures from some of the original patterns, which show how the designs were meant to be worn: tighter than the the modern versions and often with shoulder pads. The models from the 1950's, in particular, look to have cinched-in waists. I suspect that the updated versions in the book may blouse unattractively over the waist ribbing, which is common to many of the designs, unless you have a good bust-to-waist ratio. It's hard to tell from the photos.

The worst thing about the book is that most patterns are sized only for 32-34-36 inch busts. If this doesn't describe you, don't buy the book unless you are adept at re-writing instructions. There are no schematics, either, which makes the job tougher.

Never NOT reading it, as I'm never NOT knitting something from it! The cable-sleeved crewneck is my favorite, as is the twinset. Currently eyeing up the Tyrolean cardigan while queing up with yummy yarn to make it with. This modern sweater girl loves it! ( )

SMÅ storlekar. ( )