Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting [Paperback]

Melissa Leapman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 9, 2010

One of the reasons knitting and colorwork master Melissa Leapman first learned to knit was her wish to make one special project—a sweater using Fair Isle technique. Now, for the first time, she brings her passion for advanced color knitting to knitters who want to knit with any and every color of yarn they can wrap around their needles.
 
Conquer classic stranded knitting, “draw” images in yarn using intarsia, and make two projects in one with reversible double knitting. Leapman’s clear instruction proves that knitting with multiple colors may appear more complex, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. She includes the quickest, easiest, and most intuitive methods for each technique, using knowledge honed over years of color knitting workshops with knitters from across the country.
 
Once you’ve learned the basics, practice your new skills by creating projects for yourself, your friends, and everyone on your gift list. Each chapter includes a handful of sample projects to get you started, a Designer Workshop that teaches you important concepts in every designer’s toolbox, and a pattern treasury of unique patterns to apply to projects of your own creation—more than 50 patterns and 12 projects in all.
 
Throughout, Leapman’s helpful collection of how-tos, diagrams, tips, and hints (including a refresher course in color theory to help you choose the perfect color combinations) makes Mastering Color Knitting the book you’ll turn to for information and inspiration time and time again.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MELISSA LEAPMAN is a widely published knitwear designer whose patterns have appeared in every premier needlework publication in the country, including Vogue Knitting, Knitter's, McCall's, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, and Interweave Knits. She has been a featured guest of HGTV's Sew Much More and is a knitting and crochet host in the DVD series I Can't Believe I'm . . . (Leisure Arts). Leapman is the author of several books including Hot Knits, Cool Crochet, Cables Untangled, Continuous Cables, and Color Knitting the Easy Way. Nationally, her knitting, crochet, and design workshops are popular with crafters of all skill levels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; Original edition (November 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307586502
• ISBN-13: 978-0307586506
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

209 of 209 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than I Expected November 28, 2010

By Phyllis Staff TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mastering Color Knitting is a book of techniques, and, even though I consider myself an accomplished knitter, Leapman has included many techniques I have not learned and am ready to try.

Here's my take on Mastering Color Knitting:

PROS:

1. I've known about steeks for some time, but the idea of actually cutting into my knitting made me quake. Leapman's explanation is sufficient and calming enough that I may give it a try.

2. What about double knitting? The previous instructions I've tried were insufficient to make this a useful technique for me. Now I've changed my mind, and I've already completed a cap for a cancer patient who complains of a cold head.

3. The book is packed with tips on keeping an even tension when doing stranded knitting. In addition, there are many charts that you can use to create your own color knits.

CONS:

1. While I do not believe this is a negative, knitters looking for complete sweater patterns will not find many in this book. Leapman's focus is on technique and chartings, so if you're looking for garment patterns, this will not be the book you want.

2. The book itself does not lie flat when it's open. To work from a chart it will be necessary to copy the chart to a separate page, or to weight the pages to keep the book open.

OVERALL:

There's plenty here to delight most knitters - stranded knitting, double knits, intarsia and a wealth of charts to get you started. A worthy addition to your knitting library!

68 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to learn to knit with color November 9, 2010

By Marge

Format:Paperback

Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting is a book for those learning new techniques. Each section covers one technique, first with a detailed description of the process involved, then a great section of patterns that use the technique, and finally projects that give the knitter practice working with the technique. Again, the patterns, pictures and illustrations are quite clear, as well as the tips Ms. Leapman includes to help you become accomplished. This book definitely covers the techniques involved quite well, but again, if you already have books on these techniques you don't need this one. That said, this one has three in one, so if you don't have books that cover these topics, it is a good one to add.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Her books are always a treat June 19, 2011

By D. Boyken

Format:Paperback

This is like the other half of her "Color Knitting the Easy Way." That book focused on things like stripes and slipped-stitches to add color to your knitting. This one is all about stranded, intarsia, and double-knitting.

Just as I'd expect from Melissa Leapman, she does this with a variety of brand new stitch patterns to play with and new projects to knit. And, of course, clear explanations and great illustrations.

Three primary techniques are used here. Stranded (often referred to as Fair Isle), Intarsia (color blocks), and Double-Knitting (reversible fabrics). Each chapter starts with thorough instructions about what the technique is, and how to do it. Next are stitches to play with and inspire you, and they are followed by patterns to make. All the usual suspects are included-hats, sweaters, afghans.

There are other books that have similar goals and similar structures, but this one does it very well. I like the way Leapman describes things, I like her eye for color, and her balance between being new and creative while sticking to tradition. Her books are always a treat, and her explanations are always helpful.