Kristin Knits [Hardcover]

Kristin Nicholas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2007

Color is the most personal element a knitter brings to her work. Vibrant colors combined in exciting patterns can make a project sing; dull colors or jarring combinations can just as easily break the same project. Yet even experienced knitters often feel uncertain about stepping outside safe but predictable color choices.

Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Kristin Nicholas encourages readers to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. Once awakened to the glories of color, knitters begin to see new possibilities in nature, at museums, in full-color books and magazines—everywhere that color makes a powerful statement. Any beautiful display can become the inspiration for an upcoming knitting project!

The fresh collection of 25 designs for hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and sweaters that Kristin has created for Kristin Knits showcases her extraordinary feel for color. Her distinctive palette, influenced by Indian and French provincial textiles, is recognizable in fi ve exciting designs for each type of garment. Whether using Kristin's favorite colors or applying exciting personal choices, knitters will be thrilled to create these projects.

Kristin's innovative stitch combinations are another hallmark of her fearless ways with knitted color. She adds stripes and checks to rib stitches, bobbles and fringe to edgings, and even embellishes entire projects with a few basic embroidery stitches. Welcome to a Technicolor world of knitting!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Feeling playful? Kristin Nicholas sure is, and the proof is in the pudding. She fuses a vibrant palette with a dash of ethnic-design inspiration and more than a bit of merry embellishment – choose your garment and level of virtuosity.” Yarn Market News

 

 

 

“A Kristin Nicholas design is immediately recognizable – sweaters and accessories covered in bold, graphic patters that play with geometry, color, and texture all at once.  In her new book, Kristin Knits, Kristin presents twenty-seven designs that leap off the pages in a tumult of color and line.”

            -Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2007

 

 

“Kristin…is in full bloom with her latest book, Kristin Knits, which explodes with her signature bold colorways.  Kristin Nicholas is multifaceted, bright-hued, on the move, and simple in her complexity – a true kaleidoscope of talents.”

            -Interweave Knits, Winter 2007 

 

 

 

“Kristin Nicholas was destined to knit.  As an expert craftswoman, Nicholas is primarily interested in combining the useful with the beautiful – the practical with the fanciful.”

            - The Best of Vogue Knitting:  25 Years of Articles, Techniques and Expert Advice, naming Kristin Nicholas a “Master Knitter of the 90’s”

 

 

“For those of us who tramp about in our monastic black skirts and boots, Kristin Knits is a joyous wakeup call. Fearlessly juxtaposing oranges, magentas, and periwinkles with bright greens, hennas, and pinks in crisp combinations, this master strands and intarsias her way through the color wheel.  Kevin Kennifick’s spectacular photos capture the energy of the outdoor scenes while still showing full stitch definition.  Nicholas lovers and newbies alike will flock to this new installment (twenty-seven designs in all), in which even the humble pompom becomes an exciting adventure in color.”

            - Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2008

 

Review

Knitters rejoice! Kristin Knits is full of delicious color, both knitted in and stitched on, put together as only Kristin can."
—Amy R. Singer, author of No Sheep for You

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1St Edition edition (October 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158017678X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580176781
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,573 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

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love at first sight, November 30, 2007

By 

Linda Bulger (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kristin Knits (Hardcover)

KRISTIN KNITS will pop off the shelf at you and if you love colorful knits, it's bound to be love at first sight. More than just a book of patterns, it's a primer for designing with color. The 27 patterns are of simple construction but show you color techniques that can be incorporated in your own design. Fair isle techniques, embellishments and surface decorations are among the featured elements.

This is a bright book with spacious layout, organized by type of project: scarves and afghan, hats, socks, gloves and mittens, and sweaters. The photos are beautiful, the patterns presented clearly in a tabular format that looks very easy to follow. The sweaters are women's sizes.

Kristin Nicholas is most deservedly held in the highest regard in knitting circles. Some of my most satisfying projects were from her 1995 book Knitting The New Classics: 60 Exquisite Sweaters From The Studios Of Classic Elite, a book containing many complex construction and texture elements. That brings me to my only reservation about KRISTIN KNITS, and it is definitely a personal preference: while I always reach for the books with eye-popping color designs, it's the construction and texture of a project that hold my interest.

My plan is to knit some of the smaller projects in this book and see whether the great colors take my knitting in a new direction. At least I'll have some bright and beautiful gifts out of the exercise!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best., December 14, 2007

By 

Honest Readings by Lisa "Tarot Readings by Lisa" (Occum CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kristin Knits (Hardcover)

I am a knitting book collector and this book has found it's way into my top five!

Covers color selection and offers an amazing collection of patterns for lovers of color. To add to the patterns is the Nashua Knits Julia yarn which as another reviewer has noted can be easily substituted, but why? The blend is amazing and you can use it for every project in the book.

I plan on making one of everything in this book, and I have never said that about any other knitting book.

You can't go wrong with this one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun patterns for scarfs,socks, & mittens, January 25, 2008

By 

MariAnne (The Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kristin Knits (Hardcover)

While the book's initial emphasis is on the author's use of color, the bulk of the book is actually patterns for wildly colored & patterned scarfs, socks, mittens and hats. Easy to read & understand instructions. Fun stuff!