presents
colorwork stitches 250 designs to knit edited by Sharon Brant
6
colorwork stitches
inspiration Color can be used to engage a viewer, to evoke emotions, and to communicate meaning. Discover the joy of selecting designs and palettes and creating a feature in your work that is completely unique.
This new collection of stitches from the Harmony Guides
the Baltic States where the craft of stranded knitting was
showcases patterns, designs, and motifs that keep knitters
already more advanced and colour dyes readily available.
constantly inspired. From simple stripes and polkadots to
A colour explosion and rapid development of stranded
more complicated complicated Fa Fair ir Isle desig designs, ns, Colo Colorwor rworkk Stitc Stitches hes
knitting in the Baltic region around 1800 coincided with an
features a range of swatches for knitters of every skill level.
upsurg ups urgee in tra trade de bet betwee ween n the Bal Baltic tic co count untrie riess and the
Whether you want to create a men’s scarf in a slip-st slip-stitch itch
Shetlands. By the 1850s the Shetlanders, with their history
tartan or a baby blanket in a chevron stripe, this volume is
of a hand-knitting industry, had come to dislike repetition.
design des igned ed to rev revolu olutio tioniz nizee the way you thi think nk abo about ut the
heyy too he tookk the oxo, sta starr, tre treee fro from m Ru Russi ssia, a, Est Estoni onia, a, and
colorwork in your projects.
Norway Nor way.. The Theyy cre create ated d loz lozeng engee sha shapes pes and cir circul cular ar
Onee of the mo On most st ins instan tantly tly re reco cogni gnizab zable le co color lorwor work k
patte pat terne rned d yo yokes kes but alt altere ered d the them m by pre preser servin vingg the
designs is the Fair Isle, or stranded knitting. Much mystery
complexity of design while elaboration the colors in the
surrounds the history of Fair Isle, the distinctive patterns
center cen ter.. Cha Changi nging ng col colors ors wit within hin the des design ign bec became ame a
that take their name from the tiny island of Fair Isle, the
hall ha llma mark rk of Fai airr Is Isle le.. Th Thee 19 1920s 20s we were re a pe peri riod od of
southern sout hernmost most of the Shetland Shetland Isles. We know Fair Fair Isle
innovation and development with the Shetland and Fair
knitting existed on the island as early as 1681 from coin
Isle knitters continuing to experiment with patterns and
designs desi gns discovered discovered in knit knitting ting preserved preserved in a peat bog.
colors. In line with fundamental change in fashion after
What we do not know is exact exactly ly where the desi design gn
The Great War, in favor of more practical and liberated
originated. Romantic theories suggest a link with Spain,
styles, the most important development was athe arrival of
from the shipwreck of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It is
the fisherman’s jersey or gansey as fashion garment for the
probable that early pieces were brought to the islands from
wealthy and middle classes.
inspiration 5
North Sea Waves Rep 6 sts x 12 rows (3 colors)
18
10
1
26
colorwork stitches
Fair Isle Rep 12 sts x 10 rows (3 colors)
21 20
10
1
the harmony guides 27
Knotted Twist Rep 34 sts x 18 rows (3 colors)
18
10
1
28
colorwork stitches
Snowflake Rep 33 sts x 35 rows (3 colors)
35
30
20
10
1
the harmony guides 29
Trusted by needlecrafters for more than thirty years The Harmony Guides have been redesigned and updated for the modern knitter. These longstanding references for handcrafters offer clear, concise instructions for stitches—perfect for the beginning knitter but an excellent refresher for those skilled in the craft.
Harmony Guides: Colorwork Stitches showcases a jam-packed collection of 250 classic and contemporary colorwork stitch patterns, designs, and motifs to keep knitters constantly inspired. From simple stripes and polkadots to more complicated Fair Isle designs, this colorful guide features a range of swatches for knitters of every skill level. Whether designing a man’s scarf in simple slip-stitch tartan or a baby blanket in a chevron stripe, this volume is designed to revolutionize the way knitters think of color. All swatches are worked up in updated yarn, beautifully photographed, and accompanied by easy-to-understand instructions. Plus, Colorwork Stitches includes 25 never before seen stitches, new to the updated Harmony Guides.
Paperback, 8½ x 8½ 276 pages 250 photographs ISBN 978-1-59668-147-7 $22.95 May 2009
