"Colorwork Creations" - Review

Did you forget?  It's still winter!  It's never too late or even too early to start knitting winter wear.  Whether for family and friends, or putting them in your charity bin to pass on, it's always time to knit some hats, mittens, or gloves.  Many in the knitting community are also starting on next winters supplies of presents.  Why not?!?  They are small projects that you can finish quickly and you might as well start right now, and be prepared.    But what book will help?

F&W Media Digital Marketing, sent me a copy of Colorwork Creations to share with you.  It's by Susan Anderson-Freed and published by Krause Publications.  What do I like about it?  Many times knitting books have so many topics, hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves, socks, mittens, shawls, etc, and within those categories, not as many choices as one would like.  This book is broken down into only three items of wear; hats, mittens, and gloves.  Within those topics, are so many choices.

The book starts off with a recap of how to achieve Fair Isle Knitting (color work).  Actually, this was one of my knitting goals this year, to become more at ease with color work.  My problem with Fair Isle has always been getting tangled up, but this book even gives tips on how to untangle and how to carry over your yarn.  It sounds scary, but the tips do work (I tried them, so I can attest).    Since most of the patterns are written in chart form, there is also an explanation of how to read them.  I was a little fearful, okay a lot, when I read my first chart.  However, as long as your keeping track of what row your on, charts are even easier to read than a written pattern.  You can see the pattern evolve as you move along.

Now that I'm living in Florida, it's rare to need winter wear.  We do get a couple of weeks, and then there is the opportunity to head north.  So, for those special moments, (can you tell I miss winter?), I have a couple of patterns picked out.  For me!  I love the Nuthatch Ski Hat.  It reminds me of home, with the little birds, trees and snowflakes.  But I'm also loving the color choices.  True, I could pick other colors, but I love the different blues with a natural white backdrop.  There is even a version that comes with ear flaps, and a pattern for matching gloves.  But honestly, I would knit the Chickadee Gloves.  We had Chickadees when I lived in New England.  I still remember ma opening the kitchen door that led to the backyard and little chickadees would attempt to venture into the house.  Only one was that brave, and as a little girl, I wanted to keep the sweet tiny bird as my pet.  To me they looked as though they wore black velvet hats.  The Chickadee Gloves would be a great reminder for me of such a happy time.

If your resolution this year is to try Fair Isle, I highly suggest you try Colorwork Creations.  The techniques of knotwork, Sanquar patterns and Fair Isle will have you becoming an expert in no time.  Why don't you head on over to Amazon: http://amzn.to/V4bzoK or Barnes and Noble:  http://bit.ly/RCtLVJ.