Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits [Hardcover]

Kristin Nicholas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2009

Don’t fear color—embrace it! That’s the message woven all through this illustrated guide to knitting with multiple colors. Aimed at advanced beginners through intermediate knitters, the 20+ projects provided here include clothing, blankets, bags, and lots of home décor items, each bursting with rich hues and textures. Lavish photographs showcase each of the required techniques, while designer Kristin Nicholas’s text explains the theory behind using colors to maximum effect. From the magnificent Fair Isle Pullover to the coordinated Mother-Daughter Mittens to the fun and fabulous Snowflake Pillow, these projects will bring color to every aspect of a knitter’s life.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kristin Nicholas is a renowned knitwear designer, decorative artist, and author who was named one of Vogue Knitting’s Master Knitters of the 1990s. Her designs have been featured in Vogue Knitting, Family Circle, and other publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: Sixth&Spring Books (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933027835
• ISBN-13: 978-1933027838
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kristin Nicholas is a knitwear and stitchery designer who lives on a working sheep farm with her husband and daughter in western Massachusetts. She is the author of 8 books on both knitting and embroidery including her newest Color by Kristin. She has also illustrated many of her own books.

She learned to knit, crochet, embroider and sew as a young girl. She studied Textiles and Clothing at the University of Delaware and received a MS from Colorado State University. For 16 years she was the Creative Director of Classic Elite Yarns in Lowell, MA. She writes the popular farming, knitting and lifestyle blog http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/

Kristin is known for her innovative use of bright colors and textures. Many of her designs feature the Fair Isle knitting technique and many of the projects are worked in the round on circular and double pointed needles.

Kristin and her family have a sheep flock of over 250 breeding ewes. The sheep are raised for meat with they sell at local Farmers' Markets in western Massachusetts. Their two border collies, Phoebe and Ness, help herd the sheep and keep everyone in line.

Kristin hosts Knitting Retreats on her farm a few times a year where knitters come to learn about colorwork, design, and living on a working sheep farm.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!!!, October 16, 2009

By 

Bonnie Brody "Book Lover and Knitter" (Port St. Lucie, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits (Hardcover)

I love books on color theory, especially if they also include some patterns that illustrate and support the theory. This book is just my cup of tea. Chapter 1 is called 'The Joy of Color'. The color wheel is illustrated with yarn samples which makes it more accessible to the knitter. There are instructions for how to use the color wheel as well. The second chapter is on Fair Isle Knitting with instructions on how to do two-color knitting and working in the round. It also includes a section on the steek, that magical and scary knitting technique. The author, Kristin Nicholas, does a good job in the section called 'Designing Fair Isle Knits'. She also includes a whole section of different Fair Isle patterns in the back of the book.

The patterns in this book are lovely. Think COLOR, COLOR, COLOR. My favorites are the child's zip-up cardigan, the Best Friends Pullover for girls, and the Marrakesh Market Pillows. The layout and photography in the book are beautiful.

Whenever I purchase a knitting book I ask myself these three questions:

1) Do I want to knit any of these projects?

2) Are the instructions clear?

3) Is the book a good resource?

The answer is 'yes'. However, this is a book primarily for experienced knitters. The patterns will be overwhelming for any beginner or even some intermediate knitters. The book is a good resource for anyone and it is great eye candy for all knitters.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stranded Knitting for All Levels, November 14, 2009

By 

Diane H K - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits (Hardcover)

This book is gorgeously photographed, extremely well-written, and sensibly organized.

The Introduction is priceless, giving insights into Kristin's amazing world of color and wool. The first three chapters of the book are jam-packed with useful and important information on color and technique, and the Practice Projects will help jump-start knitters new to stranded knitting.

In the Patterns section, there are patterns appropriate for knitters new to stranded knitting, and for knitters experienced in the technique. The Designer Sourcebook section is an invaluable resource that any knitter working with color will return to again and again for information and inspiration.

Look for vital tips and techniques in the light green and light blue text boxes throughout the book.

Treat yourself to Color by Kristin, or gift a copy to someone you know who loves to knit!

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Inspired to Knit in Color, October 26, 2009

By 

Joyce Owens - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Color by Kristin: How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits (Hardcover)

This book will jumpstart your creativity, particularly in respect to color. Kristin states that it's a "neutral-free zone" and I must agree. Many of the colorful designs are based on ethnic woven fabrics. The book is beautifully photographed on the family farm and the photographs show the big overall pictures as well as all the little details that are so helpful if one is trying to reproduce an item. The directions seem excellent and easy to follow.

There are projects in this book that are accessible to any level of knitting expertise. The designs themselves are timeless and classic in style and I believe would be beautiful to wear for years. There are many charts and much encouragement throughout to change up the designs and make them one's own.

Included are adult and child sweaters, scarves, wraps, mittens, gloves, hats, as well as items for the home including a lap top holder,(one of my favorites) and bolsters, pillows, ottoman and more.

This one is a keeper! I became acquainted with Kirstin's work when I bumped into her blog.[...]