The Knitter S Guide To Yarn Cocktails

Also available: The Knitters Guide to Yarn Cocktails.

Not all yarns are alike. Some make our hearts and hands sing, some get the job done without much fanfare, and some cause nothing but frustration and disappointment. The gorgeous pair of socks that emerged from their first bath twice as long as when they went in. The delicate baby sweater that started pilling before it even came off the needles. The stunning colorwork scarf that you can’t wear because the yarn feels like sandpaper against your neck. If only there were a way to read a skein and know how it would behave and what it wanted to become before you invested your time, energy, and money in it. Now there is! With The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, you’ll learn how to unleash your inner yarn whisperer. In these pages, Clara Parkes provides in-depth insight into a vast selection of yarns, giving you the inside stories behind the most common fiber types, preparations, spins, and ply combinations used by large-scale manufacturers and importers, medium-sized companies, boutique dye shops, community spinneries, and old-fashioned sheep farms. And, because we learn best by doing, Parkes went to some of the most creative and inquisitive design minds of the knitting world to provide a wide assortment of patterns created to highlight the qualities (and minimize the drawbacks) of specific types of yarns. The Knitter’s Book of Yarn will teach you everything you need to know about yarn: How it’s made, who makes it, how it gets to you, and what it longs to become. The next time you pick up a skein, you won’t have to wonder what to do with it. You’ll just know–the way any yarn whisperer would.

For every lonely skein there is a perfect small pattern. In this compilation by Judith Durant, knitwear designers from across the United States offer their favorite little projects — each designed to use just one ball of yarn. Hats, scarves, bags, shawls, mittens, pillows, and other One-Skein Wonders® make fun and portable weekend projects. All 101 designs are pictured in a full-color project gallery, while clear instructions make it easy for knitters of every skill level to tie up some loose ends.

Instructs knitters of all experience levels on simple solutions to common problems associated with variegated yarns, explaining how to make the most of garments that may be affected by unexpected pattern results. Original.

Are you a do-it-yourselfer, or do you want to be? Are you looking to easily improve the decor of your home? If you're searching for inspiration, look no further! Material World takes you into the creative minds of 20 DESIGNERS from around the world to bring you unique home decor projects. Each fun project has a common thread -- THEY ALL USE FABRIC as a main ingredient! This beautifully illustrated book will take you on a journey from inspiration to materialization, with step-by-step instructions for projects to decorate and personalize every room in your habitat. It provides simple solutions for design dilemmas -- upholstering furniture, sewing slipcovers, window treatments, bed trimmings, light fixtures, floor coverings, pillows, room partitions -- even a bed for your dog! Perfect for a DIY novice or a seasoned professional, Material World covers a variety of exceptional SEW AND NO-SEW PROJECTS for terrific results. New York City architect, interior designer and co-host of DIY Network's "Material Girls", Cat Wei, curates a recipe book of project ideas (including many of her own designs) to beautify your home for better living.

Create your dream yarn! Discover the pleasures of designing and building custom-made yarn by spinning it yourself, choosing everything from color to feel and gauge. Jillian Moreno leads you through every step of yarn construction, with detailed instructions and step-by-step photos showing you how to select the fiber you want (wool, cotton, silk, synthetic), establish a foundation, and spin a beautiful yarn with the structure, texture, and color pattern that you want. In addition to teaching you the techniques you need for success, Moreno also offers 12 delicious original patterns from prominent designers, each one showcasing hand-spun yarns.