Book Review and Giveaway - Gradient Style

  We have a winner, It's #16, Gloria, if_i_sit_i_knit on Instagram. Thanks for playing!

 

I'm happy to review the book Gradient Style, by Interweave.

Knitwear designs that feature gradient color schemes are all the rage, and it's no wonder. The way the yarns gradually change shades and colors creates a mesmerizing effect, and the possibilities for incorporating gradients into knits are endless. Gradient Style presents what you need to know to use gradients effectively.,

I've been knitting a lot with gradients lately, so this was especially fascinating to me. See Port Hope shawl, Willowbrook shawl, and Celesta shawl.

First, the book is beautifully photographed, and is a pleasure to peruse. 

It deals with gradient yarns and designs that use them. 

It encompasses ombre, fades or gradients, and includes ideas for using pre-packaged gradients, or making up your own unique color combinations. 

Knitting with many colors can be exciting. 

The book begins with a discussion of the color wheel. It describes analogous colors, e.g. light to dark tones of the same color group; complementary colors such as purple fading to yellow; or random colors can be put together using your own taste. 

You can blend them, stripe them, work double-stranded, or use them in color work. 

Here are some of the patterns that I enjoyed. The Ombre Eyelet Stole is really pretty, fading the colors from one end to the other. 

The Spring Colors tee  uses striking colors - yellow, lime green, dark green, and navy - to create an eye-catching item. 

The Snow Melt cowl  is a very pretty lacy piece that looks like a shawl. It is done in shades of icy blue for a great effect. 

 

The Color Block mittens are simple, but they use colors effectively. 

The Lacy Striped shawl lets you mix and match your own color combos in this asymmetrical triangular shawl. 

The Flame shawl is stunning, using a dramatic purple to yellow blend, and has a nice scalloped edging. 

One of my favorites was the Shape-Shifter scarf - it uses intarsia technique to create an undulating line that separates the two gradient color tones. Very very nice! 

I thought this book did a great job of covering the many ways that you can use gradient yarns and shared some really pretty patterns to illustrate the different techniques. Here are all the patterns.

I would recommend this book. That Shape-Shifter scarf is calling my name!

  

Giveaway!

Thanks to Interweave Press, I'm able to offer a giveaway of a copy of this book to one lucky person who comments on the blog, naming a favorite pattern, technique, or a favorite aspect of the book.

Post a comment on this blog entry, and sign up for my newsletter, and you will be entered into a giveaway to win your own copy of this book.

Be sure to give a Ravelry ID, or an email address -- or even your Instagram handle will do -- so that if you win, I have a way to contact you! Don't forget! 

I will select a name in 1 week's time, on Jan. 28, 2019. 

Photos courtesy of Interweave/F + W Media.

P.S. I received a complimentary copy of the book for review.