Title: Filatura di Crossa Spring/Summer 2003 Author: Filatura di Crossa Publisher: Tahki Stacy Charles ISBN: N/A I saw this book several times before I purchased it. Generally speaking, if I am going to buy a pattern book, I like to know what the yarn being specified for the patterns looks like. Sometimes I found the yarn without the book, other times I found the book without the yarn. It took a trip to Ruhama's in Milwaukee, WI before I found both elements in the right place. If you're into specialty Italian yarns and almost instantaneous gratification, this book is for you. There are 15 different patterns (all for women) using a wide variety of Filatura yarns, including Brilla, Tai, Elena, St. Tropez, Antea and Porto Cervo in Jeans. I bought the book for the Peasant Top in Porto Cervo but also did the Fringed Boat Neck in Tai, the Ribbed Tank Top in Brilla and the Striped Yoke Tank Top in St. Tropez. The first three turned out fabulously, the fourth was somewhat disappointing because the shaping in the pattern doesn't really match the shaping on the model. The styles of the patterns in this book are geared toward the younger, slimmer knitter. The shapes are simple, classic and flattering and the instructions are good. Including the finishing instructions. While none of the shapes are truly novel, this book will give you a lot of jumping off points for adding in your own detail elements. A lot of the trim is done in simple crochet, so if you are looking to learn a little more about crochet edgings without too much pain and suffering, some of these patterns are a good place to start. My only complaint about this book after knitting up 4 different patterns is that their yarn estimates aren't trustable. The Ribbed Tank Top and the Peasant Top didn't even leave you room to do a swatch and I actually needed more than the required amount of St. Tropez, even though I knit at gauge. Only the Fringed Boat Neck had good yarn estimates. If you take on one of these patterns in the recommended yarns (I used the specified Filatura products for all of my projects), play it safe and buy yourself an extra skein beyond what is recommended. You'll sleep better. I promse.