Book Review The Knitter's Guide to Hand Dyed and Variegated Yarn

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For knitters, from advanced beginner to advanced, seeking simple solutions to the common but often unexpected problems that arise when working with variegated yarns. Knitters love the gorgeous colourways of variegated yarn but can be frustrated by the patterns of colour that can develop unexpectedly. In The Knitter's Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn, hand-dyed yarn guru Lorna Miser reveals how to make the most of these stunning fibres, offering proven solutions in an informative stitch-dictionary format. The techniques are all accessible, simple enough even for the advanced beginner and designed to educate knitters about their yarn.

Paperback: 144 pages

Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Original edition (7 Jan 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 082308552X

ISBN-13: 978-0823085521

Product Dimensions: 27.9 x 21.8 x 1 cm

About the Author

Lorna Miser is the founder and original owner of Lorna's Laces, a well-known brand of hand-dyed yarns. She teaches classes and workshops on knitting technique and knitwear design at yarn stores, knitting guilds, consumer knitting shows and yarn industry trade shows around the country. She is also the author of Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting.

Lorna was inspired to become a knitter by both a mother and grandmother who knit beautiful things. By the late 80's Lorna was raising sheep, llamas and rabbits and making yarn from their fiber. Next she created a popular yarn company, Lorna's Laces, which she sold in 2003. Since then she's spent all of her time designing, teaching and writing. Lorna's designs can be found in many magazines, web sites and through dozens of yarn companies.

                                                                                                                                         

Contents
Preface
Chapter 1
A Look at Multicoloured Yarns
A Panorama of Colour
Types of Variegated Yarn
Spotted or Watercolour Yarns
Short Repeat Yarns
Long Repeat Yarns
Sidebar: Striping or Self Patterning Yarns
Colours in the Skein Versus Knitted Colours
Comparing Gauge Swatches
Choosing the Right Knitting Technique for Your Colourway

Calm Colours
Active Colours
Sidebar: Evaluating Your Yarn
How to Use the Stitch Patterns

Chapter 2 
Making Two Look Like One
Blending Mismatch Skeins
Patterns: 
English Rose Tunic
Shades of Dawn Mitered Shawl

Chapter 3 

A Little Texture Goes a Long Way

Knits and Purls, Cables, Bobbles and Other Textures

Patterns: 

Bobbly Blue-Green Mittens

Primary School Cardigan

Chapter 4 

Knit a Few, Skip a Few
Mixing It Up with Slipped Stitches
Patterns:
Desert Camouflage
City Sister Coin Purse

Chapter 5 
Dipping Down
Stacking Colours with Tucked Stitch Patterns
Pattern:
Autumn Harvest Place Mat
Monet's Garden Quilted Lattice Top

Chapter 6 
Making the Wrong Side Right
Knitting with Float Stitch Patterns
Patterns:
Berry Float Neck Cozy
Blue Ray Socks

Chapter 7
Manipulating Colours
Customizing with Colours
Patterns:
Big Sky Basket Weave Hat
Fiesta Striped Cardigan

Chapter 8
Stripe It Up
Adding Some Zing with Contrasting Solids
Patterns:
Marbleized Baby Sweater
Mighty Mountain Chevron Throw

Chapter 9
Not So Classic Fair Isle
Plain and Fancy Unique and Dramatic
Patterns:
Amethyst Houndstooth Wristlets
Checks and Balances Laptop Case

Chapter 10
Holes are Beautiful
Colour in Lace Stitch Patterns
Patterns:
Green Tea Lace Wristlets
Firestorm Lace Shawl

Chapter 11
Same Colours, Different Yarns
Mixing Weights and Textures
Patterns:
Pomegranate Tweed Tote
Daybreak Textured Throw

Skill Levels
Yarn Substitutions
Knitting Abbreviations
Metric Conversion Chart
Knitting Needle Conversion Chart
Resources
Index
                                                                                                                                          

This book is a must have for any knitter who loves to knit with hand dyed and variegated yarn.
In this book you will find ten of the most common and simplest techniques that can improve the away colours in variegated yarns look after they have been knitted.  You will lean that the same techniques work for all kinds of multicoloured yarns, whether hand dyed or commercially dyed.  

This book is an excellent reference book for any knitter who wants to know more about knitted fabrics.  This book is full of really good ideas on how to knit with hand dyed and variegated yarn for the best effects.

This book also have some lovely patterns and a stitch directory that offers different stitches to use in order to make your patterns unique. The book also teaches you how to choose the right knitting technique for you colourway.  This book should be in any knitters library that loves to work with hand dyed yarn and variegated yarn.

The Knitter's Guide to Hand Dyed and Variegated Yarn is available from Amazon