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Are you interested in learning more about Fair Isle knitting? Have you ever wanted to knit a Norwegian sweater
but didn't want a tangled mess knitting with more than one color of yarn? Maybe you’ve tried to knit with
more than one color and your work was puckered and uneven. Perhaps learning to use knitting charts or picking a color scheme
intimidates you. Stranded Color Knitting is a technique-packed booklet that helps knitters become skilled
at two-color knitting or stranded color knitting, including Fair Isle knitting. Stranded Color Knitting
was reviewed in the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits and was dubbed an "essential reference work" by
Knitty magazine, Fall 2005. The Techniques with Theresa column on Color Stranding in the winter 2006 issue
of Knitty, stated "Want to learn more about Color Stranding? Try Nanette Blanchard's excellent booklet: Stranded
Color Knitting."
Stranded Color Knitting is published by Lulu.com and can be purchased with either Paypal
or a credit card. The booklet is available in print or as a .PDF file. Click HERE to purchase Stranded Color Knitting.
Stranded Color Knitting includes the two knitted hat patterns
shown above. The Easy Colorwork Cap pattern shown on the cover was specifically written with extra details to help
new color knitters. The Norwegian Star Hat is a traditional Nordic design using three colors.
Stranded Color Knitting discusses the difference between
Fair Isle knitting and other forms of two-color knitting. Chapters include: Stranded Color Knitting vs. Intarsia, Choosing
Colors and Yarn Substitutions, How to Hold the Yarns, Floats vs. Weaving, Knitting from Charts, Tension Problems, Color Jogs,
Blocking Your Knitting, and Dealing with the Yarn Ends. This booklet includes everything from how to use a strickfingerhut
or knitting thimble to how to deal with three and four color rows in a pattern.
Both color and black & white photos are used to illustrate the techniques
and six pattern graphs are included. Stranded Color Knitting also includes an annotated bibliography including
pertinent books on Fair Isle and other types of stranded color knitting, magazine articles, and a list of recommended web
sites that are helpful for stranded color and Fair Isle knitters.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Stranded Color Knitting goes
to rescue abandoned and abused pet rabbits through the Colorado House Rabbit Society to help pay for food, shelter, and veterinary care for the foster rabbits. So far in
2007 over $1000 has been donated to the Colorado House Rabbit Society from booklet and pattern sales.
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| Knitting Two Colors with Two Hands |
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| This unusual gadget is a strickfingerhut, used to help tension multiple yarns. |
REVIEWS OF STRANDED COLOR KNITTING
Want to learn more about Color Stranding? Try Nanette Blanchard's excellent booklet:
Stranded Color Knitting, Techniques with Theresa, Color Stranding, Knitty, Winter 2006
"Nanette Blanchard also chose to take her story straight to the people in her booklet about Stranded Color
Knitting - aptly titled Stranded Color Knitting. (You can purchase the booklet and read her blog at http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com .) The 36 page black and white booklet covers everything from managing multiple strands of colored yarn to blocking
properly, maintaining even tension and darning your ends. Blanchard includes 2 practice patterns to help you get comfortable
with stranded knitting and she concludes with five pages of articles, books, and online resources about stranded color knitting.
Nanette Blanchard is donating all proceeds from the sale of this book to nonprofit rabbit rescue in Colorado and New Mexico."
Clara Parkes, "Self-Published Books," Interweave Knits, Winter 2006.
"I purchased your booklet Stranded
Color Knitting, because I am always interested to learn new and improved techniques. It is very good, and I am
definitely going to recommend it to my friends who are interested in colorwork.
There were several things you wrote
that I didn't know about, for example all the different methods of holding the yarn. That is good information.
I have always knitted continental and the english way is a mystery to me :) And I really like your duplicate stitch
on the reverse for weaving in color, I will have to try that out. I am always looking to improve my finishing.
I learned a few other tips as well. So I just wanted to say thank you for writing this." Hege, Pine Cone Lodge, 11/15/06.
Thanks to Knitty for reviewing Stranded Color Knitting
in their Fall 2005 edition. The reviewer called the booklet "an essential reference work in my knitting library." Read the
full review HERE.
Stranded Color Knitting was reviewed in the fall issue of Stranded!,
Bonnie Franz' newsletter all about color and Fair Isle knitting. Go HERE to learn more about the newsletter or to purchase a single copy or a year's subscription.
"Nanette has compiled many tips for stranded color knitting, complete with pictures
and bibliography. She has also provided insights from her own personal experiences with this style of knitting. If you have
never knit with two or more colors per row, you need to purchase this book. I also recommend it for those who are experienced
two-color knitters.
I plan to place an order for two very special people. It will make a fine addition
to their resource libraries. The profits from this book support rabbit rescue. Please consider helping this cause."
Reviewed by Chery Allison from Chery Knits, 6/23/04.
"My copy of Nanette's wonderful little booklet, Stranded Color Knitting,
arrived Wednesday afternoon about 4:00 p.m., and by 4:15 p.m., I'd already learned two new tricks for color knitting! Cool!
I'm glad Nanette notes a difference between stranded color knitting
and fair isle knitting, that there are two excellent patterns for hats, and more tips and tricks than you can shake a bunny
tail at. Proceeds benefit pet rabbit rescue, and I don't know where you'll find this many good ideas, complete with annotated
bibliography, plus the two aforementioned patterns, all for the low, low price of $8.99. "
"I just wanted to let you know that I just got my mail and in it was my recently
ordered copy of Stranded Color Knitting. With just a quick flip through, I can tell I'm going to get lots
of much needed info for my first Fair Isle projects. As soon as this hectic crazy week is over, I'm plunking myself down somewhere
with needles and several balls of different color yarn and diving into some new techniques. Many thanks for the inspiration."
Reviewed by Martha Hochman, 6/30/2004
"Nanette, A thank you to you -- I just
got your color knitting booklet yesterday! Such great work, I read it through last night and loved it! "
Reviewed by O. A-P., 7/30/04
"I received a book I'd ordered through another Aran
Knitlister - Stranded Color Knitting by Nanette Blanchard. It's a handy little booklet, and I need all the
tips I can get on stranded knitting. "
"Nanette's book Stranded Color Knitting
arrived and I read through it very carefully. She has covered the techniques
and answered many questions one might have about stranded knitting. If you are thinking of trying this technique, or like
me, have issues with color knitting you might find it very helpful. I sure did!! (The money goes to a good cause, too.) The
pictures and descriptions are very clear and she has a couple of hat patterns that will help you execute the techniques.
A very impressive self published book, Nanette.!!"
Reviewed by Margene of Zeneedle at http://zeneedle.typepad.com on 11/18/04.
"IT ARRIVED! My
Stranded Color Knitting book arrived!!! Hooray!!!
Did
I learn new things from it? Yes.
Is it comprehensive? Yes.
Is it simple? Yes."
Reviewed by Sue of Needle and Griddle at http://missusem.blogspot.com , 11/10/04.
"Do you know know Nanette Blanchard? I'm sure you
do, but just in case, go have a peek at her blog, Knitting in Color . We'll wait for you to catch up.
Now, doesn't Nanette make some of the most breathtaking things you've ever seen?
I know that I am constantly inspired and amazed by her knitting. And over time, I've picked up a few tips and tricks,
as Nanette is not only a fabulous knitter, but a generous one as well. She shares her knowledge on her blog, and donates
much to charities, including her coup de coeur, rabbit rescue.
Enter her booklet, published through CafePress: Stranded Color Knitting,
the proceeds of which go to aid rabbit rescue in Colorado and New Mexico.
Back to the booklet. In it, Nanette has created a concise and helpful guide
to stranded knitting (as opposed to other types of colour knitting, such as intarsia). You can read about choosing colours
and subsituting yarns; methods for holding the yarns as you work; floats and weaving; knitting from charts; problems with
tension and dealing with colour jogs; blocking your work, and dealing with the ends.
There are patterns for two caps to get you started with stranded knitting.
And, most importantly, there is a comprehensive, annotated bibliographical guide and an annotated list of useful websites.
I'm not a beginning colour knitter, but I learned a few things reading this booklet.
The bibliography alone is worth the cost of the booklet.
You should be aware that because this is published through CafePress, the only colour
is in the photo on the front of the booklet, and I was concerned when I ordered it that that might detract, but it does not,
I can assure you. The black and white photos are very clear and helpful.
If I were to teach a workshop on stranded knitting, I can tell you right now, that
I'd be in touch with Nanette to get her permission to use this as the course guide -- I'd buy up enough copies for the participants
and include the cost in the price of the workshop. Because this is a really excellent learning guide.
And I'd recommend it to anyone who is thinking about taking those first steps in
stranded colour knitting -- it's the resource I wish I had when I began, though I'm glad to have it even now.
Though I wish Nanette would stop knitting those fabulous mittens, because I swore
off stranded mittens a long time ago, but her creations are just so beautiful, that they constantly tempt me to go pull the
Estonian mitten book off the shelf and dive in.
To order the booklet: Nanette has all the information on the sidebar of her blog, or you can go here to have a look at some of the pictures contained in the book, as well as read
what others think of the booklet.
Besides, this is a win-win situation -- you get a great little guide to stranded
knitting AND you can feel good about helping the bunnies." Reviewed by
Katherine at Wabi Sabi, http://wabisabi.typepad.com/knitting/, December 2, 2004
Stranded Color Knitting was mentioned at Knitting. about.com
and you can find the review HERE.
"I received my copy of Stranded Color Knitting and love it! It's
been my pre-Christmas reading as I knitted up some last-minute Christmas gifts. You are an excellent writer - I really appreciate
clear instructions."
Reviewed by Laura, 12/24/04
"I received Stranded Color Knitting yesterday and read it in one
go. The tips on how to avoid the color jog are great (so is the rest of the book, although I cannot make myself knit both
handed, I leave both threads over my left index finger)."
Click here to purchase Stranded Color Knitting in print or as a .PDF download through Lulu.
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