The owner of New York City's premier knitting boutique--String--takes knitters on a tour of the world where superior fibers are found and woven into luxury yarns. The softest cashmeres, sensuous silks, fine merino wools...Knitters are inevitably drawn to the look and feel of gold-standard yarns found in a Gucci sweater or a Zegna suit. Now they're invited on a superbly photographed journey with knitting aficionado and entrepreneur, Linda Morse, to the regions of the world where luxury yarns were born. Meet the shearers and spinners of Ireland, Asia, and Italy. Go back in time to when Spain's king wore Merino underwear in testament to its wonderful feel--and breeding secrets were national treasures. Find out how prized textiles are manufactured, from raw fiber to finished product, and why one fiber is more precious than another. Detailed fabric characteristics and valuable tips on care and handling included. Into the mix of the usual knitting books enters a refreshing new collection, focused on luxury (and, yes, expensive) fibers for needling. At first glance, there are at least two reasons for purchasing this book (other than knitters' lust)--traditional designs with a spin (ever fashioned a mink-trimmed cashmere cape?) and loads of knowledge about the yarns. Although the more than 20 patterns are, for the most part, classically styled, the distinction Morse makes is the background information on cashmere, merino, silk, and blends. Every subject from history and manufacturing to "watch outs" at retail is featured, often with ready-to-drool-on photographs of faraway places in Australia, China, Italy, and Tibet. Morse, a former high-tech executive transformed into the owner of a chichi Manhattan knitting boutique, proffers a third reason to buy: passion for and transfer into a third career. Barbara Jacobs Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Used Book in Good Condition