Mastering Color Knitting

Years ago, when I picked up a copy of Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, I discovered that I love reading about knitting techniques.  It was in that introductory chapter that I discovered how to adjust sizing by using simple math.  I knew high school algebra would come in handy one day!  Another introductory chapter that comes to mind is Stephanie Jepel's Fitted Knits.  That chapter explained in simple terms how to customize a pattern for yourself.  That blew my mind away.  I have a long torso and most knit sweaters fall short on me.  After reading Jepel's chapter, I realized that I can make virtually any sweater pattern fit for my body with some simple alterations. I love reading about techniques because sometimes simple adjustments can make incredible improvements.

Nowadays, I often go to my local public library and sign out a pile of knitting books at a time.  Sometimes I find an interesting pattern, but I am more interested in reading about technique.  One gem that I found yesterday was Mastering Color Knitting by Melissa Leapman.


I am by no means an expert on colour knitting.  I just really enjoy playing with colours.  But I still have some issues with inconsistent tension which leads to puckering.  Since I am currently working on a My Favourite Things Infinity Scarf, I thought it would be prudent to read about stranded color knitting. 

I've only read a third of the book so far but it seems like a fantastic resource.  I may have to purchase this one for my personal library.  There is a very interesting section about understanding how a colour wheel works to get desired effects with colour combinations.  I found that fascinating.

More specifically related to stranded knitting, she describes three ways to hold yarn so that tension is consistent.  I have been just dropping the non-working yarn and picking it up when needed.  Well, not anymore!  I am now trying to hold one colour in each hand.  I admit that it feels awkward but I'm going to stick with it for now to see how it goes.  I selected this method because Leapman says, "By holding each yarn in a different hand, you ensure that the yarns never get twisted together."  Ah, yes please!

Mastering Color Knitting includes many Fair Isle charts which will come in handy as I continue to pick designs for my scarf.  I am looking forward to reading the chapters on intarsia and double knitting.  I have tried intarsia once before and it ended up being an incomplete tangled mess.  Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of double knitting but I'm all about learning how to create a reversible swatch.

My Favourite Things Part Deux

Well, I've scrapped perfecting the Color Theory Cowl.  I started making a second one with brighter colours and it reminded me of a candy cane.  I came to realize that I just didn't like it all that much.  Worse still, to make it worthy, I would have to change the edging.  I have a different plan in the works for the purple yarn that I purchased for Vickie, but that will have to wait for now because...  

After writing about making the My Favourite Things Infinity Scarf, I decided to make one for myself - and keep it this time.  So I cast 72 stitches in the round and in two days, I have completed 3 sections.  Each section has a personal significance to me.  For example, I knit the chevron pattern with maroon and gold - the colours of the school where I worked for 11 years.  I also created a band with the year that I got married and my initial plus my husband's initial.

I can't emphasize enough how creative and enjoyable it is to make this scarf.  Half the fun is in coming up with the ideas for each band.  Like the first scarf I made, I am going to use an animal motif.  It adds a bit of whimsy.  I am also going to integrate national colours of countries that I've traveled to.  And of course I will create a band to represent each of my sons.  Oh so many ideas!  I'll continue to post pictures of my progress as the scarf develops.  

My Favourite Things Infinity Scarf: fun with colours!

My New Year's resolution for 2012 was to use up my abundant stash of excess yarn.  I called it Operation Stash Be Gone.  I spent many evenings searching through ravelry.com for free patterns and I came across Jill McGee's My Favourite Things Infinity Scarf.  It was perfect. First, it allowed me to use up odds and ends of worsted yarn that was in my stash.  Second, I got to practice knitting with a variety of colours.  Since the scarf is knit in the round, the carried stitches on the "wrong" side are hidden.  This was a major bonus as the mess of the reverse side makes me twitchy - it's the perfectionist in me.  Finally, it was really fun to make.  

McGee's instructions includes different fair isle patterns to get you started, but the whole point of the scarf is to find your own favourite patterns.  I went back to ravelry and searched for stranded mitten designs.  I also found colour charts on Pinterest and on Google.  I decided to go for an animal motif and included birds, elephants, and even sheep.  What I loved most about this scarf is the way it emerged.  After finishing each section, I got to choose the next colour combinations and pattern.  It truly was exciting!

The scarf took me a couple months to knit - mainly because I was juggling three knitting projects at the same time (oh, and not to mention two small kids and a masters degree).  I was going to keep the scarf for myself but when it was halfway done, my best friend Melana saw it and fell in love with it.  Her birthday was in May so I gifted it to her.  I am planning to make one for myself - hopefully in time for winter.  For my scarf, I'd like to integrate designs that represent some of my favourite travel destinations.  Trickier to visualize but I'll come up with a plan.