A Fine Fleece: 26 Patterns for Handspun Yarns by Lisa Lloyd

Published 2008

The pleasure of knitting can be that much greater when you know you’re using the perfect yarn. In A Fine Fleece, designer, knitter, and spinner Lisa Lloyd explores the different qualities of handspun yarn and presents projects that show them to their best advantage. There is valuable information here for every knitter, even if you’ve never considered learning to spin (though you may find inspiration in this book to do just that).

While educating you on the differences in fibers (like Alpaca, Merino, Cormo, Rambouillet, and Suffolk) and the characteristics you can achieve in a handspun yarn by combining fibers according to certain recipes, Lisa Lloyd also shares the three important concepts that enlighten her designs: the use of contrasting color and fiber; scale and perspective (chunky yarns with chunky cable stitches versus chunky yarns with delicate ones); and the creation of “poetic” sweaters that try to capture an emotion.

Each of the 26 projects in A Fine Fleece shows the finished project knitted in both a handspun yarn and a commercial yarn so that you can train your eye to understand how fiber and texture can truly transform a piece.

Knitters Yarn Palette by Claire Montgomerie

Published 2008

A visual celebration and source of inspiration for knitters eager to experiment with the newest colors and textures

Today's diverse knitters—some 50 million strong in North America—crave skeins of variety for stylish fashion pieces. Written by a rising young knitwear designer, Knitter's Yarn Palette spotlights exciting possibilities—from fun eyelash yarns to sumptuous angora—and showcases more than 200 full-color photos of yarns in every color, texture, and fiber imaginable. Sample swatches clearly show the results that can be achieved.

This unique book explains everything there is to know about weight, gauge, texture, and the suitability of mixing yarns using a wide range of 30 projects that revolve around 10 themes including:

• Seashores…delicate shades of sky and sand…string, cotton, and linen yarns… ripple-effect techniques
• Lazy Meadow…grassy green, poppy red, buttercup yellow…soft, silky, velvety yarns…ruffling and layering techniques
• Tribal Adventure…earth tones…linen, wools, and felted yarns…felting techniques

Knitters of all levels will gain confidence to experiment and select alternatives to the yarns specified in patterns. Experienced knitters will gain the inspiration to create their own unique designs from the stunning themes.

Skein for Skein: 16 Knitted Projects by Cheryl Potter

Published 2008

Join four well-known knitwear designers as they guide you through successfully substituting same-weight yarns using examples from a range of yarn producers. Learn why "skein for skein," yarn is not always the same.
Learn the ins and outs of yarn substitution and discover how style, texture, and fiber content affect results
Explore fingering, double-knitting, worsted-weight, and bulky-weight yarns.