11/1/11
The last month has seen a slew of new and returning books of interest to stranded knitters. Here are two that I consider to be important.
First of all, Alice Starmore’s Charts for Color Knitting has been reprinted. This compendium of traditional and modern charts is an important addition to any knitter’s library; thankfully Dover Press has kept it affordable at $19.95.
Mary Jane Mucklestone’s 200 Fair Isle Motifs is another great addition to the shelf. Two hundred motifs, yes, but much much more. Here’s a photo of an interior page:
10/26/11
My Faded Splendor Tam pattern has been published in Interweave Press’ ColorKnits Fall 2011 eMagazine along with my article about how color is used in Fair Isle knitting! I’ve prepared yarn packs for the tam, which was inspired by the faded colors of a lovely old rug.
9/20/11
I’m so happy to announce that my Redbud Vest pattern has been published by Simply Shetland! The four shades of pink are very flattering to all skin tones, while the grays and browns tone down the cutesiness that pink is prone to. The two shades of green set the entire design off.
The vest features waist and shoulder shaping for a flattering fit. Knit in the round, of course, with steeks at the armholes and neck. In seven sizes from 34.25 to 51.5 inches.
Yarn packs for this design are available.
5/25/11
I now have a VERY limited number of Jamieson Spindrift bobbin sets—3 yards of each color (210!) wound onto a labeled bobbin for $150. If you can’t afford the full set of Spindrift balls ($940.80 after discount) or the full set of mini-skeins ($357 after discount), but you want to see more of the colors than the color card shows, this bobbin set is the answer.
Several years ago I purchased a bobbin set and I spent many happy hours arranging and rearranging the bobbins into different relationships. I learned a lot from using the 3-in-1 Color Tool to identify which color family each bobbin fit into, taking over the dining room table for days on end.
Sorry: No additional discounts on the set.
Update: These sets sold out quickly! I’m creating more sets, which will be available at some point in the future—I’m sure you can tell that these take a while to make! If you’d like to be on a waiting list, just order a set. When sets are available I’ll contact you—you can decline to order one at that point if you have changed your mind.
3/25/11
More patterns! I’m so excited at the number of stranded patterns that are being published these days. I’m also adding yarn packs for most of these patterns on the Kits page—whenever possible I’m substituting mini-skeins to reduce the costs of the kits.
Abbott Smith’s Andalucia Scarf is a tour-de-force example of how Fair Isle color use can be combined with double-knitting to make a dramatic wearable piece. 7″ wide by 87″ long.
Abbott has added to his roster of tam designs with the North Star Tam, a Nordic-inspired set of motifs realized in 16 shades of blue.
Ron Schweitzer’s Sacred Trees unisex sweater is a lovely and evocative blending of violets and moss greens in his characteristic Celtic-style patterning.
Sheila Joyne’s Copper River Hat in two colorways—Moss and Copper—would make a perfect first stranded knitting project.
12/6/10
I’ve prepared an updated conversion chart for translating patterns that use Jamieson & Smith (J&S) yarns into Jamieson Spindrift colors!
11/3/10
So many new patterns have been published recently that I can’t help but feel that this is a great time to be a color knitter! First of all, Schoolhouse Press has released two patterns, both unavailable for years until now:
Welcome Back Sun (by Marilyn van Keppel) is a sweet cardigan with a colorful yoke. The design is based upon the watercolor illustrations to the children’s book Welcome Back Sun; Marilyn has written the pattern in three sizes: Child 8-10; Child 14-16; and Women 40″. The body of the sweater is plain, which makes for easy knitting!
The beautiful Turkish Maple (in reds) & Turkish Ocean (in blues) sweater patterns could be found in 
Meg Swansen’s Knitting, which has been out of print for several years. I’m so happy that they are available again! Both patterns employ single-color all-over Turkish motifs against shifting backgrounds. Because of this use of color, both patterns are relatively easy to knit. In fact, the very first Fair Isle-type sweater I knit was the Turkish Maple–my husband had given me the yarn for a Christmas present, little knowing that he was adding fuel to my colorwork obsession! They are knit from the hem upwards, and then the slightly inset drop sleeves are knit from the shoulder to the cuff. The Turkish Ocean also has an optional saddle shoulder. Both sweaters come in three sizes: 42″, 44″, and 47″, although the pattern size is easily adjusted if necessary.
Simply Shetland, distributors of Jamieson Spindrift yarn, have published two tam patterns by new designer Abbott Smith, who clearly revels in the possibilites inherent in the wide range of colors.
Oak leaves intertwine on the Greenwood Tam, shades of greens against blues for
a total of 15 colors. The Tin Lantern Tam uses 9 colors of yellows and deep, deep reddish browns, greens and purples to evoke the glow of firelight shining through punched tin. Either tam would look lovely knit up in only two colors if the thought of that many colors seems overwhelming to you, however. I’m happy to kit these up–just write me.
