Thursday, August 13, 2015

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques

Disclosure: Storey Publishing LLC sent a copy of The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques to Lapdog Creations for review. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.


The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques

Multicolor Yarns, Plain and Textured Stripes, Entrelac and Double Knitting, Stranding and Intarsia, Mosaic and Shadow Knitting, 150 Color Patterns

by Margaret Radcliffe

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Storey Publishing LLC (July 28, 2015)


colorknitting

Knitting with two or more colors is exciting, adds interest and depth to your project, and quite frankly, can make anyone look like a superstar to their non-knitting friends. But, it can be a challenge as well (sometimes with lots of 4-letter words involved).  Whether it's choosing colors that play nicely together (we all know we've second guessed whether our color palette was a good choice multiple times, right?), keeping multiple balls of yarn from becoming a tangled mess (oh the webs we can weave, without every trying), or just knowing how to use colors effectively, color knitting can leave even veteran knitters stumped.

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques has been the critically acclaimed go-to reference for knitters looking to expand on or polish up their color knitting techniques since it was first published in 2008... and now, it's available in paperback!  Whether you're interested in tackling intarsia, playing with multicolor yarns, shadow knitting, or creating textured stripes, this is the must-have book for you.
"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." - Storey Publishing
First of all, let's get one thing straight... The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques is not exactly your "toss it in the knitting bag and go" book. While it is now in a more affordable paperback version, it is still 320 pages and measures 10.8" x 8.5" x .7". So, unless you like lugging around chunky books, this reference baby is best used at home. 

Second key point... The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques is simply gorgeous.  The full-color photos are stunning and will leave you wanting to escape to your nearest yarn store to start laying colors out immediately!  Dozens of pattern stitches are included, along with easy to follow step-by-step techniques.

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques is broken out into nine chapters:
  • Color Basics
  • Stripes
  • Pattern Stitches
  • Multicolor Yarns
  • Stranded Knitting
  • Intarsia
  • Other Techniques
  • Finishing Touches
  • Design Workshop

Each chapter will leave you oohhing and ahhing, wanting to get uber creative with your knits.  You will discover that color combinations are, literally, endless.  And, if you're like me, The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques will force you to take a leap right out of your ho-hum color comfort zone. 

What I really love about The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques is that it's not just a technique or reference book.  There are several pattern stitches, as well as some full project patterns to get your creative, colorful juices flowing.  I am in love with the "Windowpane Bag" pattern that you'll find on page 90, and the "Helix Mittens" look like a great gift knit to help my friends through chilly New England winters. 

About the Author: Margaret Radcliffe is the author of The Knowledgeable Knitter, Circular Knitting Workshop, The Knitting Answer Book, and The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques. She lives in Virginia and teaches knitting workshops across North America, promoting creativity and independence in all knitters. Her own designs are published in the Maggie’s Rags line of knitting patterns.  Learn more on her website

GIVEAWAY!
How would you like to add a copy of The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques to your book shelf... for free?!?!  Thanks to the folks over at Storey Publishing, we are giving away a copy to one lucky reader. 

To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below.  ***Note the first entry method is to answer a question in the comments on this post -- please be sure to click on the Rafflecopter to find out what the question is before posting your comment***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 comments:

Ruby said...

Oh, that looks FABulous!!! I'll have Ma come back when the contest thingie is working...she really needs to learn how to knit...baby needs some new booties!!! ☺
Kisses,
Ruby ♥

craftyone said...

i have not tried any color work in knitting. i would like to learn proper technique and tricks when i start.

Sue said...

After going thru a dark month with many emotional challenges, I need some color in my life. This could be a source of inspiration to bring that color back.

Donna said...

I think this would be a great reference book to have. It would also give me some options on what to do with my stash of hand spun yarn!

Unknown said...

Fabulous!!

Amanda said...

I am terrified of colourwork knitting. I have tried a few projects in the past, but I just can't seem to get the tension right with doing anything with more than one colour. I think this book would help me get over this fear :)

Unknown said...

What a cool looking book! I've been wanting to get started and haven't known how. :-)

Ruby said...

Yea! I made Ma come back so I can enter your most FABulous contest! Okays, Ma wants to win this colorful books cause BABY NEEDS SOME COLORFUL BOOTIES!!! Okays, so maybe I don't need some new colorful booties, butts I thinks they'd be cool! Oh, and Ma REALLY needs to relax!! I hears that knittin' is relaxin'....or at least I hopes so! hehehe
Kisses,
Ruby ♥

Carole said...

Seems like a great introduction to colorwork! Thanks for the chance to win!

Unknown said...

I love knitting and I would love to learn some new techniques.

Unknown said...

My mom would love to win this she has been wanting to learn for years how to knit!

kirsten said...

My grandmother taught me to knit back in the day when it wasn't cool...but I loved it. I am at the point in my knitting where I would love to learn new tricks and be able to design my own color work.

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