GIVEAWAY: Modernize Your Colorwork with the Alterknit Stitch Dictionary!
As I've been exploring colorwork and learning to combine strange random yarns into colorful scrapbusting projects, I've been craving some mind-blowing stitch patterns.
Andrea Rangel to the rescue! Andrea is a knitwear designer based out of British Columbia, and you might know her from her book Rugged Knits. How I know her? The ONLY way to dress up your family in matching sweaters: Big Lebowski-esque cardis!!
(The little one is called Little Dude and the big one is called The Knitter's Dude.) You know I love Cowichan-style sweaters, especially for little ones. Here's my take on one from Phildar.
I guarantee you've never have seen most of the 200 patterns she has in there. They range from Turkish to Tudor to Trippy to... Tongue in Cheek. 😏
The book starts with some really helpful information on creating stranded colorwork:
- Choosing colors
- How to hold the yarns in one or two hands
- How many stitches to leave between floats
- How to catch floats while holding yarn in 1 or 2 hands
- VERY INFORMATIVE: How to catch floats to control color dominance
Then come the swatches!
Here are just some of the ones that got me -- but I'm curious to see other reviews of this book because I'm sure no two people would ever pick the same ones.
This simpler one ended up being my favorite actually! |
Love the complexity here, needs a small gauge though. |
A knitted meme. |
Such thin lines, love it! |
My second favorite, Imperfect is symmetrical yet off somehow. |
For shroomy fun! |
Carve is amazing. |
Would be gorgeous with a self-striping yarn. |
For those of you who love the patterns but would have no idea how to use them -- DO NOT FEAR. If you use her yarn weights and gauge, many of those 200 stitch patterns can be integrated into 5 patterns she includes at the end of the book. A cardigan, a yoke sweater, a cowl, mittens and a hat.
The drawback of this is gauge. I think that many of us would not knit colorwork at such a small gauge (these are 30 sts by 29 rows). This might be a herculean task for the designer, but at least one of the patterns would have been more helpful if written for a variety of yarn weights and gauges.
How cool would these patterns look in a super-bulky?!
If you do want to integrate these stitch patterns into other garment patterns you like, just remember that stranded gauges are SQUARE, while stockinette gauges are RECTANGULAR. In other words: don't replace a stockinette sweater with these stitch patterns, replace colorwork only.
I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with this book and the gigantic amount of work that must have went into it! The book is available from Interweave Press.
Interweave was kind enough to send me this book to review -- and LUCKY YOU, they are giving away one copy to anyone in the US or Canada!
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
To enter, please leave a comment below with your Ravelry, Facebook or Instagram username. You'll get more entries if you:
- Facebook: Like this post and MAKE SURE you've liked the page Dayana Knits (you will be sorted differently if you have not, so please please check)
- Instagram: Follow @dayanaknits and leave a comment on my post. Extra entries for every friend you tag!
- Instagram: Repost by tagging me (not just mentioning me, I don't want to miss it)
🍀🍀🍀🍀
I have to try cake or death!
ReplyDeleteRavelry - snowbrocade
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ReplyDeleteThis would be great!
ReplyDeleteThose are awesome patterns!
ReplyDeleteRavelry username is mintdee
Love this book! Ravelry ID dalconner
ReplyDeleteOk, trying to leave a comment again. Sorry if it posts twice. I think the Poopin' Pig would make a great knitting group white elephant gift!
ReplyDeleteRavelry name: Oddlyhappy
This looks like a fabulous book. I can't wait to Oenone.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a thorough review of this book. It is now on my birthday wishlist.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks AMAZING! Rav amchart
ReplyDeleteI look forward to adding this to my knitting library.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks awesome. I have finally decided to try color work but I am a little leary. I do go so far as to purchase a pattern and yarn, but this book beats it all. I would really love to win this. I am a learn by a book person
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add my revelry name connieb239
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for the chance to win. My Ravelry name is: rheaume
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Raverly = jejarvis
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling with colourwork, but seeing the pictures makes we drooling and eager to browse the whole book....
ReplyDeleteInge aka Priegelaarster
Be atill my heart! This is a must have in my library! RiverCitySTL on Ravelry
ReplyDeleteWorking on learning fair isle stranded knitting and this looks like a wonderful resource.
ReplyDeleteCablackwood on Ravelry.
Vshaw7 on Ravelry and Instagram
ReplyDeleteLaurelFaye in Raverly and Facebook. I love exploring new patterns and this book looks perfect. Thanks for sharing your review
ReplyDeleteOn Ravelry, my name is MichelineL
ReplyDeleteOn Facebook, micheline lefebvre
Thank you !
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ReplyDeleteWow, this is so cool and different! I am so excited about this book! Thank you for the opportunity to win. My Ravelry name is nysunshine.
ReplyDeleteThe black faced sheep are killing me!!! And the cardigan in the patterns section!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis book is wonderful! My ravelry name is txlady129.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, the poop in pig is too funny. I want this book because there are a ton of patterns I want to do; and I did not see all of them. My Facebook name is Michelle L. McCabe.
ReplyDeleteI love colour work and this book looks amazing. Ravelry = Gailmen
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing book! Mmhiscox on Ravelry.
ReplyDeleteMy IG name is Batoftheeye
ReplyDeleteFace book is Jen Higgins.
Looks like an amazing book! Would love to have this to hand!
Great review!
ReplyDeleteGoodstuff on rav
Would LOVE to win this book! (Ravelry: jones1300
ReplyDeleteWow! This book is extremely impressive and a great way to get yourself to a different level of knitting. I would love to have this book and get the opportunity to ratch up my knitting. Thx. (Ravelry: cindy914)
ReplyDeleteThis book looks amazing! My username is whirlsie (everywhere lol)
ReplyDeleteLove the racoons!
ReplyDeleteRav- Orkilatrish
Oh thank you, thank you ! Would love to win this book. I am monsouk on ravelry
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a seriously creative and outrageous book! Love the fire images the best!
ReplyDeleteLove these and would love the book! roslyn68 on revelry
ReplyDeleteWow. This books looks amazing. It would make a great coffee table book in my house until I get the courage to try color work. Thanks for candid book review. Always appreciated.
ReplyDeletesweetpurls on Instagram and Rav
sweetpurls.blogspot.com
I would love to have this book in my collection. Thank you for a review and a chance to win. @nailyaplaskeydesigns on Instagram
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring book! It has me dreaming already, just from your review. Please enter me in the drawing. My Ravelry name is LCBraun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wunderfull book. It's in my wishlist now!
ReplyDeleteRavelry: vrolijk
Amazing book, I love it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my hands on this wonderful book! It's so full of gorgeous stitch patterns and exciting projects that are so stylish!
ReplyDeleteThis book seems to be a must have!
ReplyDeleteravelry and facebook nickname: CorvorumCibaria
I follow your blog and love everything you make, so if you loved this book then naturally I must have it! I am virtually putting together my scraps into those swatches then a scraps blanket.... loveofcuteness on Rav.
ReplyDeleteWow. The giveaway is much creative and impressive. I hope that having it, one can have the best designs to wear in winter season. Thanks for sharing the giveaway offer.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! Gauss.
ReplyDeleteThis book!!! I would love to have this in my knitting library. Thank you for the give away!
ReplyDeleteRav name is dgirl56
yessss great thing to win!!!
ReplyDeleteWould love to win a copy of this book!
ReplyDeleteLove this! Can see some fun hats in the future! Rav: ma2three
ReplyDeleteGreat book!
ReplyDeleteRavelry: Sannie
After all the colourwork I have done, I did not realize the gauge was square! Learn something every day. Rav name: cdncarol
ReplyDeleteWhoops, just sent you an email instead of commenting. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteRav: betshsu
Hello! This book looks fantastic! I'm really glad to try my luck on your giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy Ravelry account name is: urielh
and I added you on instagram (@heyhollycraft)
Thank you for this amazing giveaway! Have a nice day ^^
This looks like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great book!
ReplyDeleteI'm NicoleS on Ravelry.
This looks fascinating! I'm Abbeybufo on Rav...
ReplyDeleteThis post really pick up my curiosity with so much information thanks to you for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteOhlalalaine on Ravelry.
Love this book...masked bandit is a pattern I would love to try...thanks so much for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteSuch a creative book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thorough review ... And the giveaway! I am gkgreen on Ravelry and @gkgreenknits on Instagram. I have also entered in the other ways you describe above.
ReplyDeleteHi! Awesome book - thanks for the chance to win one! On Ravelry, I am JessKnitastic. :)
ReplyDeleteI've just placed a request for my local library system to order this book! Meanwhile, I can hope to win my own copy. Thanks for the drawing,
ReplyDeleteGretchen (aka stashdragon on Ravelry)
Wow... I would love this book..
ReplyDeletesherryglover1 on Ravelry
Ravelry - mrsskr
ReplyDeleteFacebook - Donna Frost Ritchie
Instagram - mrsdonnaknits
I love stranded colorwork, and this book "takes my breath away"!
This is a wonderfull interesting exiting book to have and try all these new stitches!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting book, Dayana.
ReplyDeleteNoreen1009 on Ravelry
I would love to win this book.
ReplyDelete