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In Review
Kristin Knits: 27 Inspired Designs for Playing With Color
Reviewed By Zenzele T. Bell

“I am always amazed by the number of knitters who knit the colors just as shown on a pattern leaflet or in a book…The intended recipient puts the kibosh on a sweater because he doesn’t understand that it can be knit in a color different from that shown in the photo.”

Being a person who has always been petrified about knitting with more than one or two colors, I jumped at the chance to review this book, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Kristin Nicholas' basic premise is that you can easily, and successfully introduce color into your knitting.

In the first chapter, Kristin encourages the reader to look around - there is color everywhere - and notice how different color schemes work together in our environment. She notes that anything can be an inspiration - a can of tuna, a box of pasta, or a work of art at a museum or art gallery. She gives a brief description of the color wheel, complimentary colors, and how to work with different color combinations. Throughout the book, she tells personal tales about how she was motivated to use color in her work.

The patterns she includes in the book are beginner to intermediate - most of the patterns are worked in stockinette stitch, using color changes, basic embroidery, bobbles, and simple fair isle patterns to make the garments stand out. All call for Nashua Handknits Julia, which makes finding a substitute for all the patterns in the book much simpler. The patterns are well written, and the steps are shaded, so the reader can keep track of rows/rounds. The illustrations are abundant, and she includes a few charts throughout the book. She also includes an embroidered fair-isle cardigan, which would interest an experienced knitter, but is written out so well, that an advanced beginner might be able to work it out.

Kristin Knits will be a joy for all those knitters who are looking for an introduction to colorwork. Though a lot of the patterns are basic, they are not boring in any way, and she successfully illustrates how one sock pattern can take on many different looks, just by changing the colors. Because of all this, I would definitely recommend the book to any knitter who is interested in taking the first steps into the world of knitting with color.

Kristin Knits: 27 Inspired Designs for Playing With Color
Kristin Nicholas
Storey Publishing, 2007

Zenzele Bell is a full-time computer technician, and part-time knitter, photographer, and avid reader. She currently resides in upstate NY.