One of the newer trends in knitting is portable books and patterns that can slip easily into any knitting bag. Lace Knitting To Go by Andrea Tung is the latest release in this sub-sub-genre. Packed into a sturdy box are 25 heavy-weight cards, each featuring a different lace pattern. The cards just show the actual lace patterns, and leave it up to the knitter to adapt the lace into shawls, scarves, and sweaters.

The patterns vary from light and airy, to dense and more rugged. The Rose Lawn pattern is an openwork pattern that vaguely resembles roses. Bloomfield, one of my favorites, is an especially delicate floral lace pattern. Valentine is a dense pattern with heart motif that would be great for baby and children's clothing; so is Papillon, a large butterfly pattern amidst a solid background. Enchanted is a swirling, rounded dense lace. Lace Rib is a simple pattern, great for beginners, that alternates thick rows with twisted lace rows.

Pacific Shell resembles - you guessed it - sea shells, but I find the pattern to look a bit sloppy. Perforated is a simple but versatile mesh pattern. Vineyard is a structured lace pattern with rows of waving, uniform vines - I could easily imagine this pattern on a pair of socks. Zigzag is another good sock pattern. Diamond Magnolia is another dense pattern that is heavy on the knitting, light on the openwork, but even the sample looks uneven and sloppy, which destroys any desire to knit it for myself. A better dense pattern is Feathers, though they look more like leaves to me. Dew Drops resembles a basketweave with a bit of air between each pattern repeat.

Skill levels, materials, and hints on the best yarns to use or pieces to knit with each pattern are also included on each card, along with charts for every pattern. A great package for the avid knitter, and makes a cute gift.