Friday 8 May 2009

Knitwear design

Surprise, surprise, another new book..(?) o.k. you already know, I collect books like nothing else...

This is a good one. The best bit is that having bought this book, there's a long list of other books I thought I might want that I can now say I don't need. I might borrow them from the library instead(!) but I have got myself a reference book that covers many different knitting techniques.

This book is splendid. Lots in it. Not too expensive, in fact, cheap for the range of knowledge and the beautiful clear instruction and photos. I am reading it steadily and it is giving me all sorts of ideas about things I could do in knitting. It's a book for anyone who wants to design any knitting, and the subject is colour. It probably says all you really need to know about colour and knitting.

It's very good on choosing colours to use together, knitting with different coloured yarns and multi-colour yarns and the effect stitch choices have, creating pattern effects in the colour, or random effects, and then special techniques: stranded knitting, intarsia, helix knitting, shadow knitting, mosaic knitting, twined knitting, double knitting (two layers at once), designing with modules (a.k.a patchwork knitting), entrelac. There's a nice "design workshop" section with basic garment design and most appropriately it ends up with finishing touches.

It is:

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques, by Margaret Radcliffe, pub. Storey Publishing in the U.S., 2008, ISBN 978-1-60342-040-2
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6 comments:

  1. deborahbee8 May 2009 at 21:54

    I love reading your reviews and you book buying habits reassure me. I have just bought Sharon Alderman's Managing Weave Structures and feel much like you about the knitting book. Inspired

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  2. Lynnette9 May 2009 at 05:01

    I'm a bookaholic too....I just love to buy weaving books, new and old, and find so much inspirations in the pages. Don't drink, don't smoke so I'm OK with my book vice!

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  3. Peg in South Carolina11 May 2009 at 01:02

    I bought the book a few weeks ago and have yet to really study it. I'll get there!

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  4. Life Looms Large13 May 2009 at 01:20

    That book sounds interesting. So far I've mostly managed to resist the lure of designing patterns for knitting.....preferring to just follow patterns. But I keep seeing different people designing their own stuff and it makes me want to give it a try.

    My book buying habit needs no encouragement! I always say that I don't buy books....I try hard to borrow instead....yet still I have two large floor to ceiling bookcases full, plus another bookcase in my studio. (And let's not even talk about the stacks of books in various stashes throughout the house.)

    Sue

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  5. Anonymous13 May 2009 at 07:32

    I've been delighted with your book recommendations -- so helpful! I especially love the recommendations for any that have to do with colour selection.

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  6. Barbara Blundell13 May 2009 at 12:10

    Hi Dorothy,
    Sounds a useful and interesting book. Have made a note of it and will look out for it.Thank you

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Thank you!