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The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques: Multicolor Yarns, Plain and Textured Stripes, Entrelac and Double Knitting, Stranding and Intarsia, Mosaic and Shadow Knitting, 150 Color Patterns
Imagine a softly striped crib blanket knit in the comforting colors of the nursery. Or a sophisticated cashmere wrap featuring rich jewel tones that set off a favorite black dress. Knitting teacher and author Margaret Radcliffe presents a world of color techniques in a single comprehensive reference that you'll consult every time two or more yarn colors are in play. Stitchers of every ability level will love the color-combining methods and professional secrets revealed in The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques. Multicolor knitting techniques are explained with step-by-step illustrations and photographs accompanied by instructive text. Complete chapters on stripes, stitch effects, advice for succeeding with multicolor yarns, stranded knitting, and intarsia cover the theory and how-to behind each method as well as offer creative solutions for handling tangled yarn and estimating yarn quantities of each color, tips on how to handle all those ends, and stunning finishing techniques. An additional chapter describes more unusual techniques, such as helix, shadow, mosaic, and modular knitting.
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 13, 2016
Instructional but too concisely
A lot of pages spent on stripes and variegated yarn, I was hoping for a bit more on double knitting, intarsia etc. This is an overview of technics with some good tips.
A lot of pages spent on stripes and variegated yarn, I was hoping for a bit more on double knitting, intarsia etc. This is an overview of technics with some good tips.
July 17, 2014
The scope of this book is staggering. It seems to include just about every way to take existing yarn and produce a knitted item with more than one color. There are the obvious topics--stripes, stranded colorwork, intarsia, color theory and picking out a palette for your project. There are also less widely known techniques like mosaic knitting, shadow knitting, and entrelac--even a few (helix stripes, twined knitting) that were new to me.
I was surprised and delighted to see a chapter devoted to multi-colored yarn. It's an excellent topic, since it seems so simple, but can be the source of so much aggravation when the colors don't combine like the knitter had hoped.
The focus of the book is definitely technical, so that the knitter will be well equipped to deal with any questions that come up when working a pattern found elsewhere. There are a few patterns for full items, and some stitch-dictionary type stitch patterns. The latter are concentrated in the Pattern Stitches chapter, and slipped stitches are the major technique. (This section is absolutely delightful, though!) For many techniques, example patterns and motifs are scant to nonexistent.
Even more impressive than the breadth of the book, is the depth of information given about nearly all topics. Illustrations were abundant, companion skills like steeking and blocking are not overlooked, several techniques included advice on fixing mistakes, and many thoughtful little details (like decorative bindoffs, and how a given technique affects the knitted fabric) are included. There are also plenty of tips and tricks that doesn't necessarily require multiple colors, but could be especially effective in a multi-color project or just offer possibilities for adding a contrast color to something plain.
The one subject that stood out to me as scantily treated is double knitting. Only the most basic technique was covered. To be fair, I suspect this is simply because of the book's age, as it's only been in the past few years that double knitting has enjoyed some renewed popularity. For additional exploration of double knitting, I recommend the coverage in Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting for more exploration, and (though I have not read it myself) Extreme Double-Knitting New Adventures in Reversible Colorwork is also well regarded.
I was surprised and delighted to see a chapter devoted to multi-colored yarn. It's an excellent topic, since it seems so simple, but can be the source of so much aggravation when the colors don't combine like the knitter had hoped.
The focus of the book is definitely technical, so that the knitter will be well equipped to deal with any questions that come up when working a pattern found elsewhere. There are a few patterns for full items, and some stitch-dictionary type stitch patterns. The latter are concentrated in the Pattern Stitches chapter, and slipped stitches are the major technique. (This section is absolutely delightful, though!) For many techniques, example patterns and motifs are scant to nonexistent.
Even more impressive than the breadth of the book, is the depth of information given about nearly all topics. Illustrations were abundant, companion skills like steeking and blocking are not overlooked, several techniques included advice on fixing mistakes, and many thoughtful little details (like decorative bindoffs, and how a given technique affects the knitted fabric) are included. There are also plenty of tips and tricks that doesn't necessarily require multiple colors, but could be especially effective in a multi-color project or just offer possibilities for adding a contrast color to something plain.
The one subject that stood out to me as scantily treated is double knitting. Only the most basic technique was covered. To be fair, I suspect this is simply because of the book's age, as it's only been in the past few years that double knitting has enjoyed some renewed popularity. For additional exploration of double knitting, I recommend the coverage in Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting for more exploration, and (though I have not read it myself) Extreme Double-Knitting New Adventures in Reversible Colorwork is also well regarded.
September 1, 2015
I received this book from the publisher for review.
Actually this review should be done in two words. Margaret Radcliffe. I really think her name is coming to stand for well written and thorough knitting information. Seriously. This is the second one of her books and I must say the exact same thing as I said about her other one. Brilliant. Well done! Thorough. Easy to understand and very helpful.
Being an experienced knitter, I have done pretty much all of the techniques described in the book in my over 30 years of knitting. I love having them all together in one spot. One doesn't always think about what else is out there. And if your go to technique is the best one for any given project. This way you have them all at your fingertips. Even if you are not thinking about a specific project. Just flip through the book and I am sure you will find something to spark your creativity.
One thing though. This book is about technique. It will explain HOW to do colour knitting. It is not a stitch library. So if you ever wanted to know how to do intarsia, or the complicated looking Norwegian patterns (they only look complicated btw.) this book is for you.
If you have read any of my other reviews, you will know that I love books that teach you and let you go to explore the techniques for yourself, without cluttering you up with too many patterns already given and done. I like to be free to explore and have fun with it and sometimes it is best not to have someone elses ideas right in front of you. This book gives you small sample patterns to try out the different techniques introduced, but nothing super overwhelming. A hat, some mittens, a pair of socks, that type of thing. At the end it has a design workshop. This workshop will walk you through altering existing patterns. BRILLIANT! Now you can take all this new found knowledge and apply it to a pattern you already love and have made a bunch of times before. Or, if you happen to have Mrs. Radcliffe's other book, the knowledgeable knitter, you can come up with your very own pattern and feel confident that it will fit and come out the way you want it to.
Margaret Radcliffe explains things beautifully. There are lots of pictures to help you along the way and I think even a less experienced knitter could get going and finish a project.
The essential guide to colour knitting techniques is just that. Essential and should not miss from any knitter's bookshelf. Experienced, or beginner.
Actually this review should be done in two words. Margaret Radcliffe. I really think her name is coming to stand for well written and thorough knitting information. Seriously. This is the second one of her books and I must say the exact same thing as I said about her other one. Brilliant. Well done! Thorough. Easy to understand and very helpful.
Being an experienced knitter, I have done pretty much all of the techniques described in the book in my over 30 years of knitting. I love having them all together in one spot. One doesn't always think about what else is out there. And if your go to technique is the best one for any given project. This way you have them all at your fingertips. Even if you are not thinking about a specific project. Just flip through the book and I am sure you will find something to spark your creativity.
One thing though. This book is about technique. It will explain HOW to do colour knitting. It is not a stitch library. So if you ever wanted to know how to do intarsia, or the complicated looking Norwegian patterns (they only look complicated btw.) this book is for you.
If you have read any of my other reviews, you will know that I love books that teach you and let you go to explore the techniques for yourself, without cluttering you up with too many patterns already given and done. I like to be free to explore and have fun with it and sometimes it is best not to have someone elses ideas right in front of you. This book gives you small sample patterns to try out the different techniques introduced, but nothing super overwhelming. A hat, some mittens, a pair of socks, that type of thing. At the end it has a design workshop. This workshop will walk you through altering existing patterns. BRILLIANT! Now you can take all this new found knowledge and apply it to a pattern you already love and have made a bunch of times before. Or, if you happen to have Mrs. Radcliffe's other book, the knowledgeable knitter, you can come up with your very own pattern and feel confident that it will fit and come out the way you want it to.
Margaret Radcliffe explains things beautifully. There are lots of pictures to help you along the way and I think even a less experienced knitter could get going and finish a project.
The essential guide to colour knitting techniques is just that. Essential and should not miss from any knitter's bookshelf. Experienced, or beginner.
December 6, 2017
I'm a knitter and trying to learn more about stranded colorwork, and the way colors work best together in knit projects.
I've read this book repeatedly since I first found it in the library and I've actually made several of the swatches shown, and overall am quite happy with both her instructions and the way the color work together. Ms Radcliffe's directions are clear and understandable and the techniques shown work for advanced knitters as well as beginners. For me, this is a happy book that I will go back to frequently.
I've read this book repeatedly since I first found it in the library and I've actually made several of the swatches shown, and overall am quite happy with both her instructions and the way the color work together. Ms Radcliffe's directions are clear and understandable and the techniques shown work for advanced knitters as well as beginners. For me, this is a happy book that I will go back to frequently.
June 21, 2018
This is the most fascinating and interesting knitting book I've read so far. It covers many (maybe most) of the ways to incorporate color into knitting, even covering how to minimize the little dashes that show up when changing colors in garter stitch. She covers stripes, stranded colorwork, intarsia, color theory and picking out a palette for your project. also mosaic knitting, shadow knitting, and entrelac and even helix stripes and twined knitting, which I've vaguely heard of. She tells and shows how to minimize pooling when dealing with space-dyed yarns and other techniques with multicolor yarns. Good color pictures, few actual projects, but loads of suggestions. Much of this is available on the internet, but here it's presented in one place.
Highly recommended. Very glad I checked this out of the library, but I want my own.
Highly recommended. Very glad I checked this out of the library, but I want my own.
January 4, 2018
This is an excellent overview of many of the color knitting techniques available (I'm sad she didn't include roosimine, which while rare is quite fun to work and looks nothing like any other colorwork I've seen). Not only does this book include many colorwork patterns (it'd be useful as a stitch dictionary alone), Radcliffe also explains how and why the colorwork affects the knitted fabric, and includes information on all the details of modifying or designing patterns with colorwork, from choosing yarn, to casting on, to binding off. Highly recommended as a reference!
January 28, 2023
great resource text
5.0 / 5.0
Like my copy of The Principles of Knitting but less textbookish and better photos. Also, the projects aren’t questionable and it features many beloved and interesting stitch techniques. The whole chapter on intarsia flat knitting was the information I was after, but the rest of the book is equally good. I did not see brioche in my read through but I did see double knitting and helix knitting, which are both more complex techniques.
Until Next Time,
MC
5.0 / 5.0
Like my copy of The Principles of Knitting but less textbookish and better photos. Also, the projects aren’t questionable and it features many beloved and interesting stitch techniques. The whole chapter on intarsia flat knitting was the information I was after, but the rest of the book is equally good. I did not see brioche in my read through but I did see double knitting and helix knitting, which are both more complex techniques.
Until Next Time,
MC
December 16, 2019
Excellent resource - much more than a color guide. The author gives you information how different patterns impact the stretch and give of the fabric, and gives you modificaitons to make different yarns work for different projects. And the author shares close up, detailed, pictures of swatches with the various color and stich variations with multiple tweaks.
I only wish I read this book before all my own trial and error!
I only wish I read this book before all my own trial and error!
October 26, 2017
Best Color Knitting book, EVER!
I searched for years to find a book that so clearly discusses the techniques of color knitting without belaboring the obvious, or assuming the reader knows the finer points. It's clear, concise and doesn't leave anything out.
I searched for years to find a book that so clearly discusses the techniques of color knitting without belaboring the obvious, or assuming the reader knows the finer points. It's clear, concise and doesn't leave anything out.
December 22, 2020
4.5 Very good, in-depth presentation of the various color techniques. Each technique presented a few example projects at a beginner level. This is a potential purchase although I'd like to see more projects, I guess.
November 18, 2021
There are honestly a LOT of techniques I dislike the look of in this book. Yet, I really appreciate them being shown in such clear photographs, so I know what I would be getting into. Great resource on colour knitting and knitting in general.
July 24, 2017
Pam recommended this one for the technique of working intarsia in the round.
March 14, 2018
Pretty bloody nifty. I'd glanced through it for a reference on something, and ended up stuck for a wee bit. It's really well put together.
May 3, 2018
All kinds of stitch patterns and techniques, with excellent illustrations.
October 24, 2018
An excellent reference for all types of knitting with multiple colors.
June 25, 2021
Excellent reference book. Contains only a small section on color theory. Focuses on pattern stitches.
February 4, 2023
This is a really great one for colorwork and all that it can potentially entail. The amount of patterns is a little low though.
November 29, 2024
A very nice addition to a knitters library. 🙂
May 12, 2025
Love this book! It gives me so much inspiration, and it makes me wand to knit everything!
January 16, 2009
This is the colorwork book I've been waiting for.
There are several books with a similar focus, but too many of them give the basics and then fill the bulk of the work with stitch dictionaries, unattractive patterns, and intarsia charts of kittens (or worse, intarsia charts of cool, ironic images that will be dated in a year or two).
Thankfully, the focus here is firmly on technique. The opening chapter is about color theory, and should help give a little confidence to anyone hesitant about picking colors for a project. Then it gets into striping and using color in pattern stitches. The chapter on multicolor yarns includes a few pages about the way that yarn texture comes into play as well as a section on modular knitting. There's a stranded knitting chapter that has a lot of photos for us visual learners, it's followed by an intarsia section that covers technique and problem solving with not a bunny chart in sight. Then it touches on helix knitting, shadow knitting, mosaic patterns, twined knitting, double knitting, and even entrelac. Finally, there are chapters for finishing and design tips.
There are some stitch patterns and charts, but they seem to be included mostly to illustrate ideas and show possibilities - they don't overwhelm the instruction. There are only a handful of patterns, which for me is a plus in a technique book.
I have a couple of giant "knitting encyclopedia" style books that cover much of the same ground, but I can still see myself reaching for this one again and again. Partly because those huge books are kind of unwieldy, but also because of the detailed instructions and beautiful photos.
There are several books with a similar focus, but too many of them give the basics and then fill the bulk of the work with stitch dictionaries, unattractive patterns, and intarsia charts of kittens (or worse, intarsia charts of cool, ironic images that will be dated in a year or two).
Thankfully, the focus here is firmly on technique. The opening chapter is about color theory, and should help give a little confidence to anyone hesitant about picking colors for a project. Then it gets into striping and using color in pattern stitches. The chapter on multicolor yarns includes a few pages about the way that yarn texture comes into play as well as a section on modular knitting. There's a stranded knitting chapter that has a lot of photos for us visual learners, it's followed by an intarsia section that covers technique and problem solving with not a bunny chart in sight. Then it touches on helix knitting, shadow knitting, mosaic patterns, twined knitting, double knitting, and even entrelac. Finally, there are chapters for finishing and design tips.
There are some stitch patterns and charts, but they seem to be included mostly to illustrate ideas and show possibilities - they don't overwhelm the instruction. There are only a handful of patterns, which for me is a plus in a technique book.
I have a couple of giant "knitting encyclopedia" style books that cover much of the same ground, but I can still see myself reaching for this one again and again. Partly because those huge books are kind of unwieldy, but also because of the detailed instructions and beautiful photos.
April 1, 2012
As the title promises, the focus of this book is on knitting techniques and how to best integrate them with color knitting. The author starts with a solid introduction to the basics of color theory, not too complicated, but enough to give the reader a working vocabulary of color terms. From there, she moves to the techniques themselves with chapters both on well-known ones like stripes and stranded knitting as well as one on less commonly-used techniques such as helix knitting, double knitting, and mosaic knitting. There are also chapters on using multicolor yarns effectively, finishing, project design, and an appendix on basic knitting techniques .
This is an impressive work. There are good clear color photos on almost every page, as well as several charts, to go with just about everything the author discusses (the book is oversized, which means there is room on each page for pictures large enough to see easily). There are only a few patterns included, great for a book that I want to keep for years as a reference. Radcliffe's writing is interesting enough that I read the book from beginning to end instead of just flipping straight to whatever technique I wanted to learn about. She discusses the well-known techniques thoroughly, and provides a bibliography of more specialized books—useful for the techniques she doesn't discuss as much. This is a great reference on color knitting, and I look forward to putting it to use.
This is an impressive work. There are good clear color photos on almost every page, as well as several charts, to go with just about everything the author discusses (the book is oversized, which means there is room on each page for pictures large enough to see easily). There are only a few patterns included, great for a book that I want to keep for years as a reference. Radcliffe's writing is interesting enough that I read the book from beginning to end instead of just flipping straight to whatever technique I wanted to learn about. She discusses the well-known techniques thoroughly, and provides a bibliography of more specialized books—useful for the techniques she doesn't discuss as much. This is a great reference on color knitting, and I look forward to putting it to use.
September 18, 2013
I got this book from the library and I'm planning to buy it for my knitting reference shelf.
Good discussion on color theory (I've taught it in a different context and it's very easy to muddle so I'm impressed). Lots of techniques and stitches. Very clear explanations, and tons of tips.
Not very many projects, but I didn't really miss them.
I loved the photos, where you could see the effects of using different stitches on the same yarn, or different colors on the same project side-by-side. Some of the things in here I'd figured out the hard way, and I'm so pleased I don't have to do that now.
Not for the super beginning knitter, but once somebody gets down the basics, this is a total recommendation read.
Good discussion on color theory (I've taught it in a different context and it's very easy to muddle so I'm impressed). Lots of techniques and stitches. Very clear explanations, and tons of tips.
Not very many projects, but I didn't really miss them.
I loved the photos, where you could see the effects of using different stitches on the same yarn, or different colors on the same project side-by-side. Some of the things in here I'd figured out the hard way, and I'm so pleased I don't have to do that now.
Not for the super beginning knitter, but once somebody gets down the basics, this is a total recommendation read.
July 18, 2019
I read this book in print and e-book format. It is impressive in either format. The author presents the different styles of color knitting in a comprehensive, concise and easily understood fashion. The illustrations alone explain so many different techniques, not counting the well written descriptions of the different color knitting types.
This book has an important place on any serious knitter's bookshelf or flash drive. It is an excellent reference which a knitter will consult over and over again. I wish it had been available when I began knitting many years ago!
This book has an important place on any serious knitter's bookshelf or flash drive. It is an excellent reference which a knitter will consult over and over again. I wish it had been available when I began knitting many years ago!
April 4, 2014
A wealth of information beautifully presented with excellent photos and clear, easy to understand text.
Although this book covers a wide range of techniques in detail, it only devotes 5 pages to double knitting. So if you want to learn more about double knitting, then I recommend Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting.
Although this book covers a wide range of techniques in detail, it only devotes 5 pages to double knitting. So if you want to learn more about double knitting, then I recommend Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting.
September 26, 2014
This is a fabulous resource that I'll hopefully be able to buy for my own library one of these days. Radcliffe covers what seems to be every kind of color work there is, including some I'd never heard of before. I would say that the book's only possible fault is that because so many different techniques are covered, the author doesn't go as much into detail as I'd like. Depending on the difficulty level of the technique, you may need to get some supplementary materials. Still, this is an absolutely invaluable resource on color knitting.
April 20, 2009
This book is gorgeous - the photography is great, and the author explains the patterns and techniques in very clear terms. This book definitely made me want to run out and buy tons of colorful yarn, and most importantly, try new things. Maybe even (gasp!) intarsia!
July 1, 2014
Lots of information about color theory which you can also find in some art books. Discussions and example patterns for: plain and textured stripes, entrelac and double knitting, stranding and intarsia, mosaic and shadow knitting. A definite must have for the advanced knitter.
June 16, 2009
This is an essential reference for anyone interested in knitting in/with color. All kinds of techniques. Lots of color theory. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2009
Great guide to color!
February 8, 2010
Wow! If you want to get real ambitious with your knitting, this is the book for you. Great pics - great patterns to try. Lots of ideas here, nice discussion of color (sooooo! important).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews