The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn: Techniques and Projects for Handpainted and Multicolored Yarn

Published 2010

Do you covet the gorgeous colors of multicolored yarn but have been disappointed by patching, pooling, and other unintended “designs” that develop as they’re knitted?

In The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn, hand-dyed yarn guru Lorna Miser transforms the experience of working with these beautiful yarns, whether they’ve been dyed by hand or commercially produced.

This informative stitch dictionary includes 10 simple, accessible techniques, 65 stitch patterns, and 20 projects that make the most of the dazzling color combinations and creative possibilities that variegated yarns have to offer.

One Ball Knits Gifts: 20 Stylish Designs Made with a Single Ball, Skein, Hank, or Spool by Fatema Habibur-Rahman, Fatema Habibur-Rahman, Khadija Habib

Published 2010

JUST ONE BALL OF YARN = GIFTS EVERYONE WILL LOVE!

One Ball Knits is back with fresh, modern gifts, all made with just one ball, hank, or
skein of yarn! Complete with an illustrated Basics section covering yarn, tools, essential techniques, and finishes like felting, embroidery, and sewing, One Ball Knits Gifts is all you need to make memorable treasures to give and share—whether this is your first project or your hundred and first. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make these knitted beauties. Use those leftover gems in your stash, too.
Who on your list wouldn’t love to get Toasty Toes Slippers? Or treat that special someone with Little Red Driving Gloves. With 20 projects, there’s a fun gift idea here for everyone.

Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: More than 40 Farm-Fresh Designs by Margrit Lohrer

Published 2009

Tucked away in a valley surrounded by a luscious landscape and rolling hills, Morehouse Farm is home to two former Manhattanites—Margrit Lohrer and Albrecht Pichler—who sought refuge from city life to raise Merino sheep and create the plushest wool of them all. Morehouse Farm Merino Knits opens the gates of this magical farmland with a true city-to-country fairy tale and a fresh crop of patterns for merino handknits.

Margrit Lohrer has developed more than forty patterns that range from lacy shawls and classic sweaters to adorable baby garments and colorful mittens, along with a selection of gorgeous accessories for the home—all inspired by the beauty of merino wool and the comfort of life on Morehouse Farm. These inventive patterns include something special for each member of the family, even the cat. Lively sidebars include anecdotes about farm life, helpful knitting tips, and methods for caring for merino wool.

Full-color photographs of each handknit set against the lush Morehouse landscape will transport you directly to the farm. As you escape into this charming backdrop, discover the enchanting tale of the farm and follow the wool from sheep to shawl as you read firsthand accounts of caring for the flock, shearing, dyeing, spinning, and knitting with merino wool.

Morehouse Farm Merino Knits offers more than forty designs geared for knitters who delight in the soothing qualities of working with a plush fiber.

Spoil yourself with merino, the world’s most luxurious wool yarn.

Lily Chin's Knitting Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Knitter Should Know by Lily Chin

Published 2009

Toss Lily into your project bag and bring her stitching savvy, troubleshooting techniques, and no-frills know-how wherever your knitting takes you!

Are you one of the thousands of Lily Chin converts who swear by her legendary Tips & Tricks classes? Or are you an avid knitter in search of a portable, accessible technique guide?

Knitters of every level will love Lily Chin's Knitting Tips & Tricks for its simple solutions to everyday knitting problems. Covering everything from knitting standards and conventions to working with various types of yarns to fixing stitch mistakes, Lily's book is a comprehensive distillation of her decades of experience, and by the end of it she will have answered knitting questions that you didn't even know you had.

More Big Girl Knits: 25 Designs Full of Color and Texture for Curvy Women by Jillian Moreno, Amy R. Singer

Published 2009

The geniuses behind Big Girl Knits present 25 all-new curve-flattering projects that explore the beauty of color & texture.

Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer brought the average American woman—a size 14—a collection of stylish, flattering patterns in Big Girl Knits. Now they’re back with 25 new curve-friendly projects that embrace color and texture, plus adaptations to make almost any pattern suitable for all shapes and sizes.

Part knitting instruction book and part sassy style guide, More Big Girl Knits goes beyond teaching the basics—fit, proportion, motif placement, and balance principles—to tackle all-new methods for creating knitwear with brilliant colors and sumptuous textures that voluptuous women can wear with pride. The second half of the book features attractive patterns, from jackets to sexy tank tops that are proportioned to fit and shaped to create a fetching silhouette. Packed with tips and tricks on what to avoid, what to embrace, and how to modify any design to flatter your body, this smart guide will show Big Girls how to look gorgeous in colorful, texture-rich knitwear.

Inspired Cable Knits: 20 Creative Designs for Making Sweaters and Accessories by Fiona Ellis

Published 2009
Internationally acclaimed knitwear designer Fiona Ellis shares the meditative power of "mindful" knitting in this collection of 20 stunning cable designs. Enriched by notes from the author about the spark behind her creative process, Inspired Cable Knits is ideal for intermediate and returning knitters looking for a new approach to a traditional technique.

Fascinated by nature’s wonderful variety of patterns and textures, Ellis offers new twists on cable knits. Inspired by the beauty of sand rippled by the tide, the grooves and ridges of tree bark, jagged lightning bolts, and yoga poses–these patterns are beautiful and unique. Ellis, whose designs have been acquired by many top names in the fashion industry, explains cable knitting thoroughly and offers step-by-step instruction and charts for each pattern.

The book’s 20 unique patterns are grouped according to the four themes that have shaped Fiona’s design philosophy: change, nature, energy, and time. This book encourages knitters not only to create everything from sweaters to tank tops, yoga bags to pillows, and wraps to scarves, but also to experience and think

Men's Knits: 20 New Classics by Erika Knight

Published 2009

Whether you’re a man or a woman, chances are you’re holding this book because you want to find the right knitting project for a man in your life—be it your husband, your dad, or your best friend. But men are difficult to buy clothes for, not to mention knit for. They don’t want anything fussy, or too trendy. The color palette needs to be classic and the yarn should be soft but§ durable. They want something comfortable they can wear for years.

So join knitter extraordinaire Erika Knight as she takes on the knitwear that men love. Knight started her career designing menswear and over the decades she’s completely figured out their clothes-buying mentality. In Men’s Knits, she applies that expertise to come up with 20 projects that guys are sure to wear. Using classic shapes, a mostly neutral palette (but with some teals and chocolates thrown in for the slightly flashier guy), and natural yarns like wool, bamboo, and hemp, every piece is distinctive and stylish.

For men young and old, these designs will become the sweaters, vests, scarves, and hats they reach for again and again. The zipper cardigan is perfect for both reading the paper on Sunday morning and a casual dinner with friends on Sunday night. The herringbone sweater will impress his future boss at his next interview, or his future in-laws at their next family gathering. The argyle vest works on every man, whether he’s buttoned-up or laid back. Together, they’ll be the new classics you’ll want to knit, give, and maybe even borrow for years to come.

Whether it’s a textured vest or a hand-dyed sweater, you’re sure to findsomething that’ll look good on the man in your life–and not end up forever buried in his bureau.

The Alchemy of Color Knitting: The Art and Technique of Mastering Exquisite Palettes by Gina Wilde

Published 2009

The ultimate reference for knitters who are eager to bring richer, more complex color to their projects, including vital lessons on color theory as well as 25 inspiring garments.

In The Alchemy of Color Knitting, Gina Wilde, creative director of Alchemy Yarns of Transformation, unlocks the secrets of color theory for knitters. An acclaimed teacher on the topic of color and transformation, Gina is uniquely able to shed light on color theory as it applies to knitting–her knowledge is both authoritative and informed by an artist’s eye.

The Alchemy of Color Knitting begins with a concise, complete description of the fundamentals of color theory, outlining the basics of the color wheel and color relationships. Knitters can easily brush up on the essence of color theory–which colors are primary, secondary, and tertiary, for example–and the relationships among those colors. From complements and split complements to elegant arrangements of analogous hues, all color relationships are explained from a knitter’s point of view. Additionally, the central concepts of hue, value, and intensity are discussed–the subtle (and often not-so-subtle) shifts of color that can be used in a knitted
garment to gorgeous effect.

What’s more, in The Alchemy of Color Knitting Gina delves deeply into the ideas of color and meaning. Choosing just the right color for a given project is a ritual for knitters that should be savored, but sometimes
is fraught with anxiety. Gina helps liberate knitters to think creatively in their color choices by considering a color’s origins, lore, and myriadmeanings.

Inside, knitters will find 25 patterns for show-stopping garments that cover a variety of skill levels, from beginner to experienced. A brief “color exercise” description before each pattern explains which color relationships are illustrated in that particular garment. But make no mistake–with the lessons of The Alchemy of Color Knitting in hand, a knitter’s possibilities of color choice are truly endless.

Socks from the Toe Up : Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits by Wendy D. Johnson

Published 2009

Discover a new approach to sock knitting with Wendy D. Johnson and Socks from the Toe Up. This approach, made famous by her popular blog WendyKnits.net, will turn even the most reluctant knitter into a toe-up nut. Knitting a sock from the toe up saves yarn and always gives a perfect fit. And? No grafting! Wendy provides all the how-tos, tips, and techniques you need, as well as the pros and cons behind all of the cast-on, toe, heel, and bind-off options, gleaned from her years of experience.

With more than 20 fun and beautiful patterns, Socks from the Toe Up has a sock for every foot. Whether you like bold textures or hearts and flowers, delicate lace or Bavarian cables, you (and your feet) will be covered here. Even if you’re casting on your first sock, or have been a top-down sock knitter for ages, you’ll find patterns and projects here that’ll keep your needles humming. Socks from the Toe Up is the hands-down best guide for toe-up socks.

One Ball Knits Purses: 20 Stylish Handbags Made with a Single Ball, Skein, Hank, or Spool by Fatema Habibur-Rahman, Khadija Habibur-Rahman, Hajera Hab

Published 2009

From the authors of One Ball Knits Accessories, One Ball Knits Purses presents patterns for 20 beautiful handbags in a wide range of styles, shapes, and colors, all requiring just one ball, hank, or skein of yarn. The book begins with a "Basics" section that discusses yarn weights and types, the necessary tools, and step-by-step instructions for essential stitches and techniques, making it easy even for beginners to get knitting. Each purse features the kinds of details seen on high-priced designer bags: stylish leather touches, unusual hardware, and unique embellishments.

Mother-Daughter Knits : 30 Designs to Flatter and Fit

Published 2009

Knit to flatter and fit!

It sounds simple. But if every knitter knew how to do it, the unflattering sweater and the top that doesn’t fit would be things of the past. Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in, and knitwear designer Sally Melville knows why: too many knitters choose the wrong pattern for their shape and size!

After decades of teaching, designing, and writing about knitting, Sally Melville knows how to customize knitting patterns to fit a wide variety of body types perfectly. With a little planning and subtle alterations, you can make a garment that is just right for you! In Mother-Daughter Knits, Sally shares this knowledge for the first time. Together with her daughter, fellow knitwear designer Caddy Melville Ledbetter, Sally demystifies the process of picking the right pattern and modifying it to your body’s advantage. Whether you’re a beginning or experienced knitter, young or mature, an hourglass or a triangle, Sally and Caddy have you covered!

The authors have designed 30 customizable garments for women of all shapes, heights, and ages, including:

• a slimming Jackie Kennedy—style Camelot coat,
• a reversible tank top with a scoop neck,
• a Jane Austen—inspired jacket with an empire waist,
• a flirty top that enhances feminine curves.

With fascinating insight, practical advice, and patterns for both classic and avant-garde tastes, Mother-Daughter Knits just might be the most useful guide a knitter could have–whether she’s young or just young at heart.

Knitting and Tea: 25 Classic Knits and the Teas That Inspired Them by Jane Gottelier, Patrick Gottelier

Published 2009

Crisp lace table linens.
Tinkling silver spoons on saucers.
The billowing steam of freshly-brewed tea.
Skeins of fine yarn on delicate needles.

Knitting and Tea brings together these two hallowed traditions in all their beauty, charm, and poise. The author takes you on a journey from the lush tea plantations of Sri Lanka to the tearooms in the United Kingdom to explore the intertwining history of these two passions. The luxurious photographs of each location entice you to sit and sample the delectable teatime recipes included and to knit designs that evoke classic elegance. From a stately Cricket Sweater to lovely Tea Cozies, an embellished Cupcake Cardigan, and timeless Argyle Socks, the author shows you how knitting and tea can go hand-in-hand anywhere.

Knits for Bears to Wear : More Than 20 Fun, Knit-to-Fit Fashions for All Teddies and Toys Including 18-Inch Dolls by Amy O'Neill Houck

Published 2008

There are only a few things a teddy bear truly needs to be happy, not the least of which is a warm and cozy sweater. It’s a small to thing to ask for, considering all they do for us. Now knitters of all levels can bring a little style and happiness to their Build-A-Bear Workshop® bears, Vermont Teddy Bear Company® bears, American Girl® dolls, and other teddies and toys with Knits for Bears to Wear—twenty-four patterns for a trunk-full of fashions including sweaters and ponchos, pajamas and formal wear, even a mermaid costume and a wizard’s cap and gown.

Patterns are written for the most popular teddy size, and easy-to-follow sidebars allow you to custom-tailor garments to a variety of popular toys—including 18-inch dolls—ensuring a perfect fit. With instructions on how to measure your bear or doll and tips on sizing, Knits for Bears to Wear provides all the tools readers need to be sure their favorite toys are always in style.

Expectant Knitter : 30 Designs for Baby and Your Growing Family by Marie Connolly

Published 2008

Stitch your way through the nine months of pregnancy—and have the best-dressed baby on the block!
Whether you already love knitting, or are eager to learn to knit so you can whip up adorable outfits for your soon-to-arrive baby, The Expectant Knitter is the perfect companion for all stages of your pregnancy. Sharing 30 projects arranged by trimester (simpler patterns for the first and third, when fatigue or discomfort may get in the way of nimble knitting, and more ambitious patterns for the feel-good second), Marie Connolly also offers practical tips and information about your pregnancy and your baby. At each step—and stitch—of the way, you'll find reminders to take your folic acid, helpful hints on which tests to get when, instructions on how to properly swaddle an infant, and suggestions for combating morning sickness.
Starting with conception, when you’re quietly dreaming of and planning your pregnancy, you’ll learn to knit beautiful pieces like a Christening Gown or a Knitted Pinwheel Quilt. Come the end of the first trimester, you can move on to Her First Party Dress, a Cashmere Romper, and Alphabet Block Toys. When you’re loving your bump in the second trimester, work on the Shawl Collar Sweater or a Big Sister, Big Brother, or Dog sweater for the other loves in your life. Then the waiting game begins, so bide your time in the third trimester knitting itty bitty baby socks, wee washcloths and bibs, and a Shawl Sweater for Mom (you, too, deserve something special).
The ultimate knitter’s guide to pregnancy, The Expectant Knitter is a treasure of delightful patterns that will make for beautifulkeepsake items, enhanced by sidebars with sound information on the growth of your baby at each stage.

Knitting Noro : The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns by Jane Ellison

Published 2008

Noro yarns are often called the “world’s most exciting yarns,” and their popularity is staggering. Each ball of this exquisite, multicolored yarn is individually dyed to produce a unique palette of vivid and subtle hues. No two balls are exactly alike.

In Knitting Noro, designer Jane Ellison presents more than 30 patterns to knit with Noro yarns. Designed to let the glorious colors of the long repeat variegated yarns take center stage, the garments are divided into six classic silhouettes with variations for each. From the Pullovers chapter, readers can make a striped sweater with ribbed details or a turtleneck sweater dress; from the Classic Jackets chapter, both a zippered hoodie and a long textured coat can be made.

From tanks to wraps, the patterns are accompanied by beautiful photographs and clear instructions. The figure-flattering shapes of these garments and the vibrant colors of the yarns are sure to make Knitting Noro a book that knitters of all skill levels will come back to again and again.

Tweed by Nancy J. Thomas

Published 2008

From tartan to twill, tweed woolens are known for their classic looks and understated stylishness. Today, tweed has emerged from the English, Scottish, and Irish countryside to become a contemporary fashion favorite. In Tweed, the first-ever guide to knitting with tweed yarns, Nancy J. Thomas offers an expert knitter’s appreciation of this emblematic yarn while providing advice on choosing and caring for tweed yarns. She recounts the history of tweed yarns and fabric, explains how tweed yarn is made, and teaches you to simulate the look of woven tweed fabrics in your knitting.

Tweed includes more than 20 projects, arranged by difficulty, that are specially designed for tweed yarns, while also covering a variety of stitch patterns and techniques to help you take advantage of the appealing nubby texture of tweed woolen yarn. Beginners can opt for a North Sea Hat & Scarf Set or a Tweed River Pullover, intermediate knitters might try a Harris-Style Sampler Cardigan or a Dublin Cabled Vest, while advanced knitters can apply their skills to an Isle of Skye Jacket or an Outer Hebrides Sampler Throw.

Tweed is perfect for today’s knitters, who appreciate knowing about the history of the yarn they’re working with while creating classic projects that bring a venerable knitting heritage into our own time.

It Girl Knits: 30 Fresh Styles for the Young and Fabulous by Phoenix Bess

Clothing and accessories with style and flair for young women to knit and wear.

Maybe you’ve already mastered scarves and are bored with them, or maybe you’ve never knitted before but are drawn to the trendy knitted fashions you’re seeing on the runways and in your favorite stores. If all the knitting books you’ve picked up seem like they’re written for the likes of your Great Aunt Mabel rather than for you and your hipper crowd, It Girl Knits is your new best friend—and fashion consultant.

Created by 16-year-old “It Girl” Phoenix Bess, the 30 projects presented here were all designed with a youthful philosophy—and are pieces that Bess actually wears. A Baby Doll Top, Shortie Jacket, Fingerless Gloves, Beaded Bandana, Capri Leggings, Gold Halter Top, Tiny Shorts—all are easy to knit but make big statements. Every project adheres to the Bess design principles: the use of fibers that create a great fit and are soft to the touch (like bamboo, silk, and cotton yarns), and clean, classic lines with an edgy twist (often via fun embellishments like beads, crystals, and felt).

Most of the patterns are for beginners and knitted in the round (so less tough stuff like purling, seaming, and finishing), and include instructions for adjusting hemlines, inseams, and waistlines to get the perfect fit for any body type. Divided into four chapters—Working, Relaxing, Recreating, and Celebrating—It Girl Knits even features a color chart to help you mix and match yarns (i.e., Lavender + Baby Pink = cuteness), and sidebars on how to add optional designer details and put together an outfit that bestshows off your newly-knitted treasure.

Whether you’re hanging out at a café with friends, going to the beach, or dancing the night away, you’ll find a cool piece to knit that is sure to make you the “It Girl” of the day or night.

Continuous Cables: An Exploration of Knitted Cabled Knots, Rings, Swirls, and Curlicues by Melissa Leapman

Published 2008

Mention the phrase “cable knitting,” and most people—knitters and non-knitters alike—envision textured ropes, twists, and braids winding up knitted fabrics. But did you know that knitters can also create circular, closed-ring shapes with cables? Just imagine: curlicues, rings, swirls, knots—even intricate Celtic-inspired motifs—all richly embossed on knits!

In Continuous Cables, expert knitwear designer Melissa Leapman goes beyond the traditional, ordinary cables explored in her first book, Cables Untangled, providing knitters with an original collection of projects and stitch patterns featuring beautiful, closed-ring cables.

Complex-looking cables aren’t as hard as they look, and in Continuous Cables, Leapman breaks them down into all of their component parts. The all-new patterns are versatile and sophisticated, and the directions are clear and accessible. Leapman walks knitters through projects that include everything from starter projects (Simple Pillow, Simple Hat) and home accents (Fireside Afghan, Stowe Cabin Throw Rug), to clothing for women (Sage Tunic, Honeysuckle Sleeveless Shell), and gifts for friends and family (Baby Blocks, Man’s Entwined Circles Pullover).

But Continuous Cables isn’t merely a source for 20 fun patterns—it also features more than 80 original individual stitch patterns, most designed just for this book. With a primer on basics, a useful yarn choice and substitution section, resource guide, and a stitch dictionary of closed-ring cable patterns, Continuous Cables is a must-have reference for any cable knitter’s growing library.

Endless cables, infinite possibilities!

Twinkle's Town and Country Knits by Wenlan Chia

Published 2008

Wenlan Chia gave readers a taste of her signature style—transforming bold, chunky yarns into delicate, body-shaping pieces—in Twinkle's Big City Knits and Twinkle's Weekend Knits. Now she returns with Twinkle's Town & Country Knits, featuring sweaters and accessories that channel the sophistication of town and country life.

Twinkle's Town & Country Knits whisks knitters to picturesque locations such as the California coast and the farms of New England—the influences for this set of Chia's signature garments—and offers 30 designs unified by their chic, classic silhouettes. From the Pacifica Cardigan (a sky-blue sweater with feather-edging openwork) to the Santa Lucia Skirt (a long, coral-and-pink skirt with wavy stripes) to the Bookbrowser’s Sweater (a bright-pink, long-sleeved sweater with a bobble front and split fold-over neck), the projects suggest a town and country lifestyle, with a charming, witty touch that one expects from Twinkle collections. The patterns feature the attention to shaping and the innovative approach to large-gauge knitting that Twinkle is famous for, along with easy-to-follow directions.

Whether worn during the weekend in the country or strolling through town, the looks in Twinkle's Town & Country Knits embody sumptuous living.Wenlan Chia's stylish fashion line leaps off the runway and into your hands with these accessible knits that conjure the sophistication of the town and country life. From cardigans that at first seem classic and familiar—but that reveal an unexpected, romantic twist—to scarves with details that delight, these luxurious ensembles will enliven your wardrobe. These knits go effortlessly from city to country and back again.

The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes

Published 2007

Not all yarns are alike. Some make our hearts and hands sing, some get the job done without much fanfare, and some cause nothing but frustration and disappointment. The gorgeous pair of socks that emerged from their first bath twice as long as when they went in. The delicate baby sweater that started pilling before it even came off the needles. The stunning colorwork scarf that you can’t wear because the yarn feels like sandpaper against your neck. If only there were a way to read a skein and know how it would behave and what it wanted to become before you invested your time, energy, and money in it. Now there is! With The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, you’ll learn how to unleash your inner yarn whisperer.In these pages, Clara Parkes provides in-depth insight into a vast selection of yarns, giving you the inside stories behind the most common fiber types, preparations, spins, and ply combinations used by large-scale manufacturers and importers, medium-sized companies, boutique dye shops, community spinneries, and old-fashioned sheep farms. And, because we learn best by doing, Parkes went to some of the most creative and inquisitive design minds of the knitting world to provide a wide assortment of patterns created to highlight the qualities (and minimize the drawbacks) of specific types of yarns.The Knitter’s Book of Yarn will teach you everything you need to know about yarn: How it’s made, who makes it, how it gets to you, and what it longs to become. The next time you pick up a skein, you won’t have to wonder what to do with it. You’ll just know–the way any yarn whisperer would.