Craftside

How to Dye by Osmosis from Yarn Works: How to Spin, Dye, and Knit Your Own Yarn

I bet this technique for dyeing by osmosis from the new book Yarn Works: How to Spin, Dye, and Knit Your Own Yarn would be so cool to try, not only with yarn, but fabric and even maybe paper?

Click on this page from Yarn Works: How to Spin, Dye, and Knit Your Own Yarn to enlarge and read the tutorial on how to dye by osmosis.

More about the CPi book:

Yarn Works: How to Spin, Dye, and Knit Your Own Yarn

by W. J. Johnson

Yarn Works is the ultimate sheep to sweater reference book for fiber enthusiasts everywhere. Have you ever wondered what the best spin method is for a chunky yarn? Or how to dye fiber to the color you want? Or perhaps your yarn isn’t holding its shape when you knit… This how-to book answers all of those questions and more in a detailed, behind-the-science manner. The better you understand the science behind the subject, the better you’ll be at applying your creative inspiration to spinning, dyeing, and knitting your own yarn.

 

This book is divided into four main sections—Fiber Workshop, Spin Workshop, Dye Workshop, and Knit Workshop—and includes a brief history on each subject. Each short, informational workshop takes you through the essential learning activities for spinning, dyeing, and knitting, giving you the hands-on experience you’ll need to master the subject.

 

Follow yarn from its fiber beginnings, through the process of spinning, to dyeing the spun yarn with natural and synthetic dyes, and finally finish off by using your new yarn in fun projects.

 

Whether you’re a knitter interested in learning to spin and dye your own yarn; or a current spinner or dyer looking for inspiration, you’ll find everything you need to know about the subject of yarn in this book, along with some great exercises to get your creative juices flowing.

 

W.J. Johnson (aka Wendy J. Johnson) has been spinning, dyeing, and knitting for more than thirty years. She has a BA in Fine Arts and Music with additional arts education in Fiber Arts, Graphic Design, and Architecture. She is a fiber artist, photographer, media and installation artist, and educator in the fiber arts, with an emphasis on spinning, dyeing, weaving, and knitting. Her fiber arts, photography, and fine art work is highlighted in her company Saga Hill Designs, www.SagaHill.com.

 

She has been a champion for Swedish textile arts and has facilitated exhibits on Swedish knitting artists (Elsebeth Lavold, Inger Fredholm, and Bohus Stickning—all at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minn.). Wendy was a principal author, photographer, and designer of the book Bohus Stickning—Radiant Knits: An Enchanting Obsession.

 

She is also the President and Art Director of Points Of View Productions, a multimedia company; and founder of Elder Eye Design, where she is “The Legibility Doctor”, advising clients on legibility issues in print, space design, and products for the aging eye. On the side, Wendy visits fleece on the hoof as she and her border collies attempt to “come by” sheep every so often in a dance called “herding.” Wendy lives in an area west of Minneapolis with her husband and two crazy border collies in a home she designed using aging-friendly principles.

Nisse hats pattern from the book Norwegian Handknits

I am in full Christmas crafting mode and if you are too, this little knit hat from the book Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum  is so cute in all the sizes.

Click on this page from Norwegian Handknits to enlarge and read all the different size knit patterns for a cute little Nisse hat.

This Nisse hat pattern is from the book:

Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum   

By Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel

Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, is one of the premiere centers for Norwegian-American heritage in the United States. As such, it houses one of the country's most extensive collections of the textiles and handknits that have woven ties between Norwegian communities in America and the Old World, between today's culture and a rich past.

Norwegian Handknits collects thirty patterns for handknits from Vesterheim—folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks, and sweaters—all inspired by traditional knits housed in the museum. With an introduction reflecting on the history of Norwegian-style knitting and the stories behind the handknits that inspired the patterns, the book is at once a practical guide, a repository of cultural history, and a lovely look at one of the rich traditions knit into the American fabric.

Pop on over to Amazon by clicking on this link to see more inside peeks into Norwegian Handknits.

How to use boucle yarn to embroider loops on knitting from the book The Knitter's Palette

For the LOVE of knitting this Valentine's week! So you learned to knit and you are so excited to try new things. Great news! The Knitter's Palette: A Workbook of Color and Texture Techniques and Effects is packed with tons and tons of super easy techniques to kick up your knitting, and then, once you have a bit of "knit skillz", you will be onto the intermediate and then the advanced stitches that you've been dreaming of and some you couldn't have imagined.

More about the CPi book

The Knitter's Palette:
A Workbook of Color and Texture Techniques and Effects

by

Kate Haxell

Explore the myriad of color and texture opportunities available to the hand knitter with The Knitter's Palette! This comprehensive and creative guide uses a large collection of swatches—or palettes—to inspire and instruct as it covers every aspect of color and texture in knitting. In these pages, you'll find a library of 55 palettes, containing over 400 swatches, supported by over 70 illustrated techniques. Each palette illustrates variations on effects, patterns, designs, or techniques. While it’s aimed at novices who understand only basic knitting techniques, this book will also appeal to experienced knitters looking for new and creative ideas.

Kate Haxell is a professional writer and editor specializing in craft. She has written several books, including the best-selling First Knits and the creative sourcebook Decorative Knitting. She lives in London. Visit her online at http://www.katehaxell.co.uk.

   

Collaborative French knitting project from the book Knitting Around the World by Lela Nargi

I thought I'd share a bit of eye-candy in the form of some French knitting. This project was part of an English Craft Council with the London-based Somali Women's Group featured in the book Knitting Around the World: A Multistranded History of a Time-Honored Tradition.

I bet the cone shaped object on the left would look cool as a Christmas tree if it were made in green colors, and the flowers to the right might make some cool Christmas ornaments.

If you like reading about all sorts of fibery goodness then I bet you will love:

Knitting Around the World:
A Multistranded History of a Time-Honored Tradition

by

Lela Nargi

Here is a full history of knitting around the globe, examining techniques and particular styles used worldwide—including England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Japan, Australia, Canada, United States, Peru, Bolivia, and more. Highlighted are 20 profiles of historically significant knitters who are using particular techniques today—plus 20 patterns that exemplify knitting traditions from around the world.

Lela Nargi is a knitter, author, and former journalist who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her book Knitting Lessons: Tales from the Knitting Path documented her own adventures in learning to knit. Lela is also the editor of Knitting Memories: Reflections on the Knitter’s Life, published by Voyageur Press.

www.lelanargi.com

   

Knitting in nature from Astounding Knits! 101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats by Lela Nargi

Spotting knitting in unexpected places can be so fun! Check out these pages from the book Astounding Knits! 101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats for a bit of knitted fun. Then try it yourself and put a little surprise into the world for someone else!

Grab yourself a copy of Astounding Knits! if you love reading about (and being inspired to create) over-the-top knitting projects!

Astounding Knits!

101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats

by

Lela Nargi

This is like the Guinness Book of World Records for knitters! Astounding Knits! compiles the stories, stats, and facts of the world's most amazing knits, from a handknit Ferrari on display at the British Auto Show (knitting the car took 12 miles of yarn) to the American flag knit with utility poles and cranes—and everything in between (a plate of sushi; a handknit wedding, including the flowers and the cake; a cozy for a house).  Each entry features color photos, an explanation of how the object was made, and other interesting details, including how much yarn was used, how long it took to make, how many people contributed stitches, the project dimensions, and more.

Lela Nargi is a knitter, an author, and a journalist who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her book Knitting Lessons: Tales from the Knitting Path documented her own adventures in learning to knit. Lela is also the editor of Knitting Memories: Reflections on the Knitter's Life, and Knitting Through It, both published by Voyageur Press.                     

www.lelanargi.com