Knitted Lace of Estonia: Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions by Nancy Bush, 2008 Interweave Press, 159 pp. Includes Instructional DVD, 2010, Interweave Press.
If you’ve enjoyed Nancy Bush’s previous books, such Folk Socks or Folk Knitting in Estonia,  you’re sure to love Knitted Lace of Estonia. Meticulously and lovingly researched, this book includes a historical overview, a summary of the techniques and construction of the various Haapsulu shawls, a selection of patterns designed for the book, and a stitch dictionary.
The techniques section includes a summary of the various stitches typically used in the creation of Haapsulu shawls, foremost being the nupp (‘rhymes with soup’, Bush tells us). Basic shawl structure and construction are discussed, including the different edging techniques. There’s also a page on creating and using a blocking frame.
Fourteen different patterns are included, ranging from relatively simple (the Raha scarf) to more difficult (the Leaf and Nupp Shawl). As Bush points out in the history chapter, these patterns are lace knitting, not knitted lace; you get a plain row, generally purl, on the WS.
The stitch dictionary, p122-156, includes both center panels motifs and edge patterns. All stitch patterns are charted only, both in the stitch dictionary and within the pattern collection.
The DVD covers the construction and techniques section, taking the watcher step by step through three shawl samples, varying based on the type of edging (garter stitch, sewn-on or picked-up).
The information in the DVD is contained within the book, sometimes word for word, but should be a great aid to those who learning better by watching and hearing rather than simply reading.
Tip: After removing the DVD, make sure you close the plastic flap; if you don’t, the stickiness of the flap causes it to adhere to the facing page and it cannot be removed without ripping the page. Don’t ask.