Modern Colorwork Collection, review and giveaway
[note]This giveaway is now closed, the winner has been notified.[/note]
Knitters are a clever bunch. We take very long pieces of string and a pair of sticks and tie giant knots. Beautiful, useful knots that you can wear. It’s a neat trick. I really appreciate it when designers realize just how clever knitters are and write their patterns accordingly. Miriam Felton has done just that with her recent Modern Colorwork Collection. 
The six pieces of this collection (three sweaters, a cowl, a shawl, and a pair of mitts) draw their inspiration from quilting and modern art. The result is projects that feel fresh and timeless. They’re all things I’d be happy to wear. Just as importantly, they’re all things I can actually imagine myself making. So much of the colorwork I see looks beautiful, but feels more than a bit overwhelming. Miriam’s pieces, however, strike just the right balance. They’re lovely, but not so intricate as to be daunting and detailed without being fussy. The Willis Triangles Cardigan is the perfect example.
The shape is classic and flattering, the sort of thing that would fit in any wardrobe. All the interest comes at the collar, which provides the perfect place to indulge in a bit of colorwork.
As an added bonus, the inside of the cuff and hem have a marvelous secret detail, just the sort of thing to set a knitter’s heart racing!
All the patterns in the collection are like this, wearable classics with fascinating little tweaks to make them extra special. If you already love colorwork, this belongs in your collection. And if you’re a colorwork newbie, this just might be the perfect way to discover a new obsession (the Chromaticity Cowl looks like just the sort of pattern to tempt a bunch of people to try something new).
Miriam has graciously agreed to give one of you a copy of her lovely new collection. If you think it would find a happy home with you, just leave a comment here telling me about your experience with colorwork. Are you a novice? Have you been doing it for years? Still waiting to take the plunge? Let me know, and the collection might be yours! You can leave a comment through the end of the day, eastern time, on Sunday February tenth.
All the pictures here are Miriam’s and are used with her permission.
I have started and frogged a good few of colourwork projects – a fingerless mitt, a pair of socks, mittens that were too small, a hat with apple motifs… So when it comes to finished projects my colourwork is limited to stripes of varying sizes. So I’d say I’m a novice. But I really like colourwork so it could be time for a new try. 🙂
I love colorwork, and these patterns are just beautiful!
Lisa H. (MeanestMommy on Ravelry)
Oh wow! Want!!!! I’m generally more of a traditionalist (think Fair Isle sweaters — not that I’ve actually knit any — I like wearing them!), but these designs…wow…just wow!
Um…I was so wowed that I forgot to tell you about my colorwork experience. So, I’ve done very little and that is mostly using slipped stitches to get the same effect. However, I just did a stranded colorwork hat (for Halos of Hope) and am working on a cowl and will be test knitting another soon. So far, for some I find stranding with a heavier weight yarn (worsted or DK) a bit easier than with fingering weight. Not sure why. Anyway, I love the look of colorwork and would love to be more comfortable knitting it.
I have no experience with color work, but wow are those lovely! I know a lot of experienced knitters who would be glad to help me with the more intricate types of knitting though!
I would love to make that fabulous cowl, how gorgeous! I started a color work sock in the past but did not complete it. I would love to give color work another go.
I do love colorwork. I’ve done several projects with Fair Isle. I have not yet attempted intarsia. Thanks
This is the most exciting collection of colorwork I can recall seeing, so new and fresh! I am thrilled to learn of it.
I used to knit a lot of stranded colourwork, but recently I’ve been using variegated yarns instead. This cardigan is just what I need to get the colours flowing again!
I’ve played around with colourwork off and on since I started knitting. Two-colour brioche. Stripes. A few wonky attempts at stranding before I figured it out. Illusion knitting. A couple years ago, a friend and I did a study on colourwork techniques that we weren’t as familiar with, so I’ve given intarsia in the round a go, and mosaic knitting, and taught myself how to do stranded knitting while holding a strand of yarn in each hand. Right now I’m knitting my way through Franklin Habit’s latest pattern, which combines stripes with weaving for a plaid effect. I’m a big fan of texture and knitting, but I definitely have a soft spot for colourwork.
These design are so exciting! I am a color work novice, I have made a fair-isle hat. Actually I made the same hat twice because my husband lost the first one.
Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I love color work. My last project didn’t turn out so well, but I’m hoping it is the exception to my color work collection.
I am a total novice to colourwork, but I have never seen anything that has made me want to try it more than that cardigan. Wow! I just love the secret colour behind the cuffs and hem. It looks like it would make me feel like I feel when I have handknit socks under my boots and no one knows they are there but me!!!
I should do more colorwork. Every time I do a colorwork project I enjoy it so much.
I’ve done a few pairs of colorwork mittens but that’s it.
wahoomerryf on Ravelry
I’ve done lots of colorwork (think Dale of Norway patterns) but have not done much lately. Been too busy knitting brainless projects so I can read at the same time.
Strangely enough, I actually have a lot more experience with what is widely considered one f the the most complex ways to do color work, double knitting, than I do with intarsia or stranded knitting. I’d really like to try our intarsia and stranded a bit more. Just haven’t found the right pattern to take the plunge with yet.
I have done some very simple colorwork but would like to do more detail colorwork.
I love stranded colorwork. I’ve knit several pair of mittens, and I have a Bohus-inspired sweater kit that I’ve been too terrified to start for a couple of years now. (Soon, soon.) This book looks fab!
Along with all the striped sweaters over the years, I’ve done several stranded colorwork hats, a rather unattractive intarsia vest in super bulky yarn, and I love two color entrelac. My latest thrift shop score included 10 colors of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. Doesn’t it seem like this book is the perfect match? Of course, I don’t count on getting so lucky twice! Thanks for a great giveaway. KittenWhiplash on rav.
I’ve only done tiny bits of colorwork but am interested in branching out.
Love this!!!!
knitbybitdesigns-RAVELRY
Beautiful! As a quilter and a knitter, I love it.
The third jumper that I ever made was using colour work, I was in High School and was using scraps of my mums handspun wool! No pattern, I just would pick up strands of colour & work them into triangles, squares or circles! I actually still have the jumper, it’s big, hideous but can’t bear to throw it out!
I made my first pair of color work mittens for Christmas this year – red and green of course! Our Monday Night Knitting group is going to do a color work KAL this year. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than to make the gorgeous cowl shown at the top of this blog post!