Fresh Fashion Knits: More Than 20 Must-Have Designs from Rowan's Studio Collection

No one knows knitting like Rowan. They produce the yarns you love to cast on and design the patterns you can’t wait to put on. Their worldwide reputation for style, quality, and value makes them the only name you need to know in knitting. Fresh Fashion Knits features the best of Rowan’s Studio Collection, bringing runway trends into knitwear. These designs by Sarah Hatton offer a fashion-conscious knitter a wide range of garment choices and yarn weights to make something for every season and every occasion.

Layer a luxurious chunky cardigan over your favorite jeans. Pair a soft, delicate cardigan over a flowing dress for the perfect summer look. With stylish tops and casually chic sweaters and dresses, this collection will inspire you to make an entire wardrobe of fabulous knit fashions.

Plus, Rowan makes it easy! Not only are these patterns clear and easy to use, but Fresh Fashion Knits gives you the tips and techniques for the best results, no matter what your skill level. The 21 patterns included in this book will have haute couture at your fingertips.(Random House) Request Fresh Fashion Knits from the catalog.

Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics

It's a definitive publishing brand now, growing from workshops and knitting groups to a great (and funky) series called Stitch 'n Bitch. Once again, author-editor Stoller and her contributing designers hit the knitting needles with élan and nerve, basing the 41 patterns on the assumption that readers have mastered knitting and purling, and increasing and decreasing. This newest volume is definitely geared to the experienced stitcher, although brave knitters will be able to follow the up-front directions and illustrations for cables, bobbles, laces, intarsia, steeks, and, yes, even how to design it yourself. Instructions are detailed, with much colloquial language; the latter actual begins with chapter titles (for instance, Lace: The Final Frontier) and continues throughout. The designs, unfortunately, are not labeled in terms of ease/difficulty; plus many only capture one or two sizes. Yet the how-to's are rich, featuring each contributor's story as well as prefatory prose about the item's creation. With abundant photographs, illustrations, and charts, knitters can choose among a sea-and-surf sweater, a fertility blanket, and a Coco Chanel like cardigan with sequins. (Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.)
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Luxe Knits: The Accessories: Couture Adornments to Knit & Crochet

Luxe means different things: a Prada bag, travel on the Orient Express, or dinner at the French Laundry in Northern California. To sweater designer and now two-time author Zukaite (Luxe Knits, 2009), luxe equals knitwear fashioned of extraordinary materials like silk and bamboo, alpaca and leather. With that luxe comes lots of expertise; only a handful of her 28 items to knit are labeled "easy" or "simple" to execute. The rest demand skill not only with manipulating small needles and fine yarn, but also with techniques like cables and smocking. Yet it's hard to resist the seductiveness of her four collections (thanks to top model photography from Cathrine Westergaard and airy illustrations). Why not start small with a loose linen cowl or motorcycle rib headband, then graduate to a corseted belt and lacy rectangular scarf? Not luxe for less, but luxury with impact. (Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.)
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The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting

This volume is a comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of knitting. This book is a reference for all knitting techniques, beginning with the basics of how to knit. A large section of the book is devoted to showing different stitch patterns, arranged in style categories for easy reference. Special knitting topics will be explored in depth: cables, intarsia, entrelac, Fair Isle knitting, and lace knitting. A section will discuss yarns: fibers, how they are spun, gauge, and how to choose.(Quayside Pub.)
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Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting

One of today's hottest knitting trends is entrelac, a modular technique that results in striking basketwork designs of rows within rows and interlocking diamond patterns. Using only simple knit and purl stitches, knitters can create eye-catching pieces with incredible texture. Entrelac introduces both the history and how-to of this fun style, along with 20 patterns for a variety of garments, home décor items, and baby accessories. Comprehensive instructions and a wide array of swatches provide endless possibilities in lace, colorwork, and much more.(Sterling Pub.)
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Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style

"Beloved designer Lotta Jansdotter's smart, organic design has earned her international acclaim. Now she shares her recipe for a stylish home: take a whole lot of Scandinavian influence, mix in a dash of flea-market finds, and then top it all off with expressive handmade touches. The result? An entirely fresh approach to home decor and contemporary living. In this lavishly illustrated book, Lotta shares her decorating secrets, design resources, entertaining tips, and family traditions. Tucked away at the back she s included stencil pages and perforated recipe cards featuring classic Swedish dishes. Equal parts inspiration and how-to, this charming book shows readers how to create a warm home with elements of simple Scandinavian-influenced style." Hachette.
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The Party Dress Book: How to Sew the Best Dress in the Room

A celebrity dressmaker's guide for craft-capable fashionistas explains how to combine basic sewing skills with creative touches to create unique results, demonstrating how to transform classic 1950s-style cocktail dresses into flattering personalized garments. Original.
(Baker & Taylor)

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Trash Origami: 25 Paper Folding Projects Reusing Everyday Materials

In a fun twist on an ancient art, the authors present a selection of paper-folding projects that use old envelopes, potato chip bags, and even magazine subscription cards instead of the usual origami paper. Each project is presented with full-color photos followed by a clear chart using standardized origami symbols that show exactly how to fold the piece. An accompanying DVD provides even more instruction, especially helpful for readers who learn best by watching. Projects include a candy wrapper butterfly, a crown towers and jumping frog game, photo cubes, snack bag wallets, and elegant boxes and envelopes. The "curler unit ball" project is a standout; it is a truly gorgeous, complex creation. While all of the projects are ingenious, some are more attractive than others; trash is trash, after all.
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The definitive guide to the ever-popular Irish Aran sweater, Starmore's highly sought after book returns in a revised and expanded version. It encompasses a history of Aran knitting; a complete workshop in technique, pattern, and design; 60 charted patterns; and the original edition's 14 designs, plus two new garments.
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Knitting Motifs for Babies and Kids

Whether seeking the perfect motif for embellishing the pocket of a child’s cardigan or inspiration for a colorful baby blanket, this practical reference is an essential sourcebook of custom knitting projects for babies and children. Each of the 50 designs includes charts, knitted swatches, and alternative colorways for a range of subjects from flowers and animals to folklore and geometric designs. Featuring illustrated ideas for children’s socks, mittens, hats, and more, this guide includes thoughtful suggestions for the placing and color combinations of motifs. Included in the final chapters is practical information on Fair Isle and Intarsia knitting techniques, as well as a guide to basic embroidery.

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