Or a sophisticated cashmere wrap featuring rich jewel tones that set off a favorite black dress. Knitting teacher and author Margaret Radcliffe presents a world of color techniques in a single comprehensive reference that you'll consult every time two or more yarn colors are in play. Stitchers of every ability level will love the color-combining methods and professional secrets revealed in The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques.Multicolor knitting techniques are explained with step-by-step illustrations and photographs accompanied by instructive text. Complete chapters on stripes, stitch effects, knitting with multicolor yarns, stranded knitting, and intarsia cover the theory and how-to behind each method as well as offering creative solutions for handling tangled yarn, estimating yarn quantities of each color, tips on how to handle all those ends, and stunning finishing techniques. An additional chapter describes more unusual techniques, such as helix, shadow, mosaic, and modular knitting.

    The knitted dog is indeed the ideal companion: There's no feeding, barking, shedding, or vet's bills, and he'll live forever! Knit Your Own Dog is the irresistible guide to knitting the perfect pup. With patterns for 25 different pedigree pooches, Knit Your Own Dog lets you choose the dog you want, whether it's a pretty Poodle or a loyal Labrador. Or knit them all for a pack of canine fun! The patterns are easy-to-follow for both new and veteran knitters. It should take only a few evenings to create a covetable companion for life. And yet each pattern is extremely detailed and includes all of the distinguishing features of each breed, from the startling blue eyes of the Siberian Husky and the long, woolly curls of the Old English Sheepdog to the lolling tongue of the German Shepherd. Accompanying the patterns are a brief description of each breed, as well as expert tips on choosing yarns, stuffing and sewing the dogs, and adding personality to your creation. Beautiful color photographs of the finished dogs, as well as detail shots, both inspire and instruct. Knit Your Own Dog is the perfect book for knitters and devoted dog lovers. Breeds include: Afghan Hound, Basset Hound, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Dachshund, Dalmatian, English Bulldog, English Bull Terrier, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, Jack Russell, Labrador, Miniature Schnauzer, Old English Sheepdog, Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Pug, Red Setter, Rough Collie, Scottish Terrier, Siberian Husky, West Highland Terrier, Whippet, Wire-haired Fox Terrier.

    For knitters looking for something new to spark their imaginations, AlterKnits is the answer. Featuring 27 imaginative projects, 10 creativity exercises, and thought-provoking quotes from Albert Einstein, Martha Graham, and many more, AlterKnits inspires knitters to expect the unexpected, to enjoy the rewards of experimentation, and to see the possibilities of knitting with broader vision.Some projects call for unusual materials-plastic tubing (for a bag handle) or sterling silver wire (for a necklace). Others blend different craft techniques-a pullover with sewn-on velvet cuffs, a baby blanket with painted-on polka dots. Still others apply knitting in unexpected places, such as laptop cases and bulletin boards. The creativity exercises-called AlterExercises-challenge knitters to try out new ideas and to ask provocative, sometimes amusing questions. Tucked into a pocket on the inside front cover is the 32-page AlterKnits notebook, the perfect place for readers to work on their AlterKnits exercises and do their own creative doodling .With AlterKnits, our concept of what we can knit will be forever altered!

    Johnson is back with the perfect sequel to her hit book "Socks from the Toe Up." In "Toe-Up Socks for Every Body," Wendy shows knitters, whether they re knitting their first or hundred-and-first sock, how to use the toe-up technique to get the perfect fit. Not only that, she shows you that even seemingly complicated patterns are still knit just one row at a time. Go ahead! Turn your favorite knee socks into thigh-highs. Knit that special someone classic argyles. Put even the wiggliest of toes in their first pair of lacey anklets. With Wendy s help, there s nothing you can t try from the toes on up. These 21 patterns cover everything from basics like materials and tools, to delicate lace, intricate cables, and fancy colorwork. Use these techniques and patterns to create beautiful socks for yourself and everybody in your life friends and family, young and old. With the lovely photographs, helpful illustrations for cast-on, toe, heel, and bind-off options, and all-around expert advice in "Toe-Up Socks for Every Body," you ll be a well-heeled and warm-hearted toe-up knitter."

    'Knit 2 Together' features lively lessons from beginners and more than 30 original designs for knitters of all abilities and stripes - everything from a lady's detective hat and house slippers to a saucy apron and a table skirt.

    Stephanie Pearl-McPhee unravels the mysteries of tangled yarn, confusing patterns, and stubbornly unfinished projects. Daring to question long-standing rules and encouraging crafters to knit in the way that works best for them, this illuminating, liberating, and hilarious look at the world of knitting is full of surprises and delightfully inspiring ideas."

    Divided into three sections (Vintage Feminine, Rustic Weekend, and Winter Harbor), Vintage Modern Knits features pieces with tailored lines, close fit, and easy-to-wear, stylish classics. Projects range from quick accessories to garments in a variety of knitting techniques. Packed with perfect weekend wear, Vintage Modern Knits puts a contemporary twist on classic knits you’ll love wearing!

    

    Lynne Barr beckons all levels of knitters back to their humble beginnings and shows them 27 modern designs, each created using a new technique or a new take on a traditional one.

    Exquisite drape married with figure-hugging silhouettes show off a woman’s curves in a most ladylike manner, creating flirtatious and flattering fits to please any knitter. Loosely based on ultra-feminine styles from fashion history, the designs in Romantic Hand Knits have an undeniably modern appeal. • A lace camisole is lengthened and reinvented as a lovely summer slip dress • A late-eighteenth-century corset cover inspires the design for a lacy fitted top with elbow-length sleeves• Silk stockings favored by Elizabethan ladies of the royal court return in a sexy and fresh incarnationWith the new fibers available today, knitting guru Annie Modesitt knits up fabrics that cling delicately to a woman’s body, creating an elegant hand-tailored look. Now every woman will be able to create fitted garments that make her look as pretty, desirable, and sexy as she feels.For knitters who want to heat things up in a whole new way, the alluring designs in Romantic Hand Knits will help them light the fires. An interview with Annie ModesittWhat’s your philosophy on the “romantic look”?There is a certain cultural shorthand that implies that “romantic” means lots of lace, billowy skirts, low-cut bodices, and a little more leg than usual–sexy with an extra layer. But I think that, like everything deeply personal, romance has its own specific look for each person. Romance is not so much about being desirable to another as it is about reveling in and celebrating our own hearts’ desires.In the introduction to Romantic Hand Knits, you say that romance is about dreams and hope, and how in knitting, as in romance, much of the joy is in the dream. How has knitting brought romance into your life?Knitting allows me to enjoy my time, my imagination and my mind more than I might without needles and yarn. When my mind is free–and powerful–the way it feels when I knit, then my soul soars a little and all of this adds a layer of joy to my life. Not to put too fine a point on it, this makes me love life, and love love, in a much deeper way, which in turn makes me more lovable. Nothing is more attractive than a quiet self confidence, which is what I get from knitting.You say in Romantic Hand Knits that the garment that dresses the top of the body sets the tone for the rest of your ensemble–and that this is perfectly demonstrated in the piece you’ve named Ninotchka. Can you elaborate?It’s hard to get away from the fact that the bust area–being the most important fit point on most women’s bodies and also being so near to the face–can send very strong signals. Usually we want these to be good signals: “this is a woman in control of her life and her wardrobe,” “I can trust what this woman tells me,” or “I feel this person is sympathetic and kind.”In Ninotchka, the well-supported bust area adds strength and stability to the design, allowing feminine details like the lace below the bust line and the thin twisted-cord shoulder straps to relax and soften, not weaken, the message this piece sends. “Here’s a woman confident in her femininity, but with a strong foundation.”Any stories to share from the development of Romantic Hand Knits?One of my favorite pieces, Streetcar Named Desire, was briefly a disaster! It was worked up quite beautifully by my knitter, who then attempted to block the piece. I generally like to block and finish most of the garments, and I hardly ever wet block, but in the blocking of this piece an interesting thing occurred. The fitted, springy little cardigan that I designed began to drape and hang in unexpected ways. The piece went from Sandra Dee to Blanche DuBois, and I couldn’t have been happier! It altered the way that I recommended caring for the piece (machine wash instead of dry clean), which, quite honestly, is how most folks want to deal with their clothing.With the addition of a waist tie, which can be moved to different eyelet rows to create a high, low, or natural waistline, the cardigan had an entirely different aspect–a sexier, “floatier,” more intriguing look.Is there a particular type of yarn that works best for this look? Why?I tried very hard to use a variety of fibers that represent a wide variety of price points. I do understand that not every knitter will be able to afford the silk to make Cleopatra, but I felt it was an important, inspiring piece and had to be included in a collection of romantic silhouettes. A firm, machine-washable Egyptian cotton might be a good substitute. One of the most useful skills to develop as a knitter is the ability to substitute yarn–this skill can only be honed with experience. This is why I suggest to new knitters that when they see a ball of yarn they like, they should get it and swatch it right away. Don’t wait for the right project to come along. If you swatch a yarn you love, you may just see that the right project’s been in front of you all along–perhaps in this book–just waiting for you to see the true beauty in the fabric knit from your new skein.Whenever possible I tried to use machine-washable yarns–especially for the skirts! I know that the idea of a hand knit skirt can be daunting–we’re all worried about the stretchy butt-pouch–but knit fabric is resilient and generally bounces back to its original drape. Machine washing a skirt ensures that it will return to its original silhouette.  Is there a philosophy or attitude that each book shares? How is this book different from your other books?If there’s one philosophy that all of my books share, it’s that we all have a bit of genius–of brilliance–in each of us, and if we choose to show it through our knitting, so much the better! We’re all individuals, so we may do things in unusual or nonstandard ways, but that doesn’t make us any less legitimate when we’re knitting (or cooking or sailing).This book is different in that it focuses specifically on clothes for women, and clothes that are intended to be flattering and a little body-conscious at that. My heart is most definitely in this book, which has been in me for a long time. I’m so happy to see it out and looking so beautiful!Do you have a favorite pattern in Romantic Hand Knits, or one that has a special meaning to you?I would have to say the cover skirt is very special to me. I’ve shown that photo to many knitters, and I’ve heard some women say, “I’d make that skirt, if I had that butt!” I really want folks to understand that it’s not so much about having a tiny butt, or the “perfect” butt, as much as it’s about liking the butt you have. There are a lot of ways to get to this Zen place, but if you have the greatest looking figure in the world and you’re not liking it, you may as well wear a sack. Likewise, if you have a less than perfect shape, but you love all the amazing things your body can do and have a fondness for your shape, you’ll look good in an amazing number of things. Confidence is a terrific butt-lift. Plus, the skirt is designed to help trick the eye into seeing the derriere in the most flattering light . . .

    Among landlubbers as well, these sweaters are perennially popular, but, especially in this country, it is often hard to find practical instructions for the patterns that are traditional in Britain. Here is a book that presents fully 82 different genuine folk patterns for both the lighter weight Jerseys and the heavier Guernseys, and diagrams many more patterns that you can use in your knitting. The author gives the names of the stitches and patterns traditionally used in making Jerseys and Guernseys, and she tells you exactly how to knit every sweater in this book using those patterns and stitches. Here you will find patterns taken from sweaters found in Yorkshire, Norfolk, the west coast of Ireland, the Scottish Hebrides, and the Aran Islands. These are sweaters that have often been handed down from father to son for several generations, they wear so well. Instructions for these sturdy sweaters are given row by row for knitting fronts, backs, sleeves, and necks, in the traditional fashion. Each set of instructions is accompanied by a diagram of the pattern and, often, by a photograph of the finished sweater. All of these sweaters can be worn by either men or women, but the author has also provided full directions for making two sets of sweaters and cardigans expressly adapted for ladies' wear. Mrs. Thompson also includes interesting information about the people who gave her the patterns for this book.

    No other knitted garment has as many structural demands or endures as much wear and tear. The humble sock must defy gravity, suffer the confines of our shoes, and endure being trampled on all day long. All too often, the root cause of a sock's triumph or failure is the yarn itself. In The Knitter’s Book of Socks, Clara Parkes shows you how to knit socks from yarn up, following the sock yarn life cycle from its foundations to its final moments on a proud foot. By understanding a sock's basic needs—elasticity, strength, and moisture management—you’ll learn how to play with these tools like building blocks, confidently combining fiber, twist, ply, pattern, and clever stitch tricks to construct your perfect pair of socks.  To help put these principles into practice, The Knitter’s Book of Socks also offers 20 fresh, original patterns from today’s sock-design luminaries, including Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Anne Hanson, and Melissa Morgan-Oakes. The socks presented here run the gamut from simple knit-and-purl combinations suitable for beginners to innovative designs with lush colorwork, swirling cables, and delicate lace. Understanding the elements of yarn is the first step on every successful sock knitting journey. With this book as your guide, you’ll learn how to make any sock yarn shine and love every pair of socks you knit.

    Need guidance on yarns, needles, tools, basic techniques, specialized applications, terminology? It’s in here—with lots more, from diagnostics to blocking to designs. “This indispensable reference has...up-to-the-minute designer patterns.”--Family Circle Homecrafts. “The ultimate reference guide.”--House & Garden Magazine.

    An extensive directory covers 200 ripple-stitch patterns and variations, describes techniques used, and level of experience required to complete each project. This book gives readers: -Detailed directions and more than 200 color illustrations to use in completing each project -Tips for combining various types of yarns to create projects featuring a kaleidoscope of color -Access to various knitting and crochet resource Web sites

    Everything you need to know to design and knit your own shawls is provided, including detailed instructions for eight shawls.