colourwork inspiration

A little while ago I was looking through my knitting books for something (I can’t remember what, obviously) and found a book I’d completely forgotten about!

"Fair Isle Knitting"

Seriously, I don’t remember buying this book at all – I might’ve bought it in Japan, but on the other hand I might’ve gotten at a Knitter’s Frolic here in Toronto. At any rate, I’m glad I found it again, because it has really awesome designs in it! The book is crammed full of patterns. I’m totally on a colourwork kick right now, at least in my head if not yet on my needles.

tunic and scarf

This tunic and scarf combo just look so cozy.

yoked sweater

A classic yoked cardigan, with a great chart!

charts

capelet!

You can’t really tell from this photo, but that’s a button-down capelet – straight across the bottom and really cool.

The diagrams and charts make any of these patterns totally doable, even if you don’t read Japanese (I don’t). And of course, the inspiration is priceless – the garment shapes, the colourwork patterns, the colour combos.

button cowl + mitts

This button-up cowl would make a great intro to colourwork and steeking, if you don’t want to commit to a whole sweater.

I have been knitting a bit of colourwork, although it’s stalled out a bit. You can’t really tell what it’s supposed to be yet – there’ll be some embroidery as well. Hint: it’s not supposed to be leopard print!

mitten


Posted

in

, ,

by

Tags:

Comments

12 responses to “colourwork inspiration”

  1. Maryse Avatar

    Truly inspirational although that must be a lot of work! The capelet is beautiful!

  2. Seanna Lea Avatar

    I love the cowl. I really love the Japanese books. My language skills are rusty, but they are good enough for the Japanese patterns.

  3. CambriaW Avatar

    I love it! especially the cowl and mitten combo.

  4. Michelle Avatar

    All the photos were so inspiring, thank you for sharing! I’ve also been on a colorwork kick… in my head that is. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking of that gorgeous cowl and mitten set, or of those adorable sweaters, or of that super colorful poncho!

  5. Wendolene Avatar

    What a cool book! Diagramming a circular yoke as a circle makes perfect sense, and yet I’ve never seen that done before–crazy.
    Are you knitting little birds onto your mitten?

  6. Sophia Avatar
    Sophia

    So funny! I have this exact book, which I bought last year in a fit of wishful thinking. I think I may finally be up for trying my hand at one of the patterns now.

  7. siggen Avatar

    Love these patterns and pictures, very inspiring!

  8. riotyarn Avatar

    What a great find. Fair isle knitting is always inspiring.

  9. carolyn Avatar

    could you share the ISBN number?

  10. Jane Avatar

    I’m kind of infatuated with that gray yoked sweater.

  11. Mylyne Avatar

    I love Japanese craft books. They’re simply full of charts and diagrams. You really don’t have to speak the language to follow along.

  12. Laura Avatar

    That yoked cardigan is to die for! I want to make it, like, right now…

Leave a Reply to Mylyne Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *