Albers, Josef. Interaction of Color, Revised and Expanded Edition (Yale University Press, 2006). A classic work on color theory.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, trans. Charles L. Eastlake. Theory of Colours (Dover Publications, 2006). A classic work on color theory.
Itten, Johannes. The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten Based on His Book The Art of Color (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1971). A classic work on color theory.
Melville, Sally. The Knitting Experience Book 3: Color (XRX Books, 2005). Color theory, plus musings on using color in knitting and instructions for projects.
Menz, Deb. Color in Spinning (Interweave Press, 1998). Information on color theory, with detailed studies of dyed and blended color in yarn.
Menz, Deb. Color Works: The Crafter’s Guide to Color (Interweave Press, 2004). Provides excellent information on color theory and on working with color in fiber crafts. Contains a cardboard scale of shades from white to black and instructions for using it to determine the value of colors.
Morton, Jill. Color Logic (Color Voodoo #4) (COLORCOM, 1998). Just one of the excellent e-books available at www.colorvoodoo.com, with practical information and understandable examples.
When researching this chapter, I surveyed many of the pattern stitch dictionaries available, looking for stitches that used multiple colors and those that might lend themselves to color changes. I found a great deal of overlap among these sources, so you’ll find many of the patterns included here are featured in several books. Some are my own inventions, but chances are other knitters invented the same patterns in the past and may have included them in their own books. There was no way to include all the pattern stitches that work well with multiple colors in this single chapter, and so you may find the following list of additional sources useful.
Knight, Erika, ed. Harmony Guide: Knit and Purl: 250 Stitches to Knit (Interweave Press, 2007). Pattern stitch reference.
Modesitt, Annie. Confessions of a Knitting Heretic (ModeKnit Press, 2004). Explanation of standard versus non-standard stitch position and styles of knitting.
Norbury, James. Traditional Knitting Patterns from Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Italy and other European Countries (Dover Publications, 1973). Collection of traditional pattern stitches.
Radcliffe, Margaret. The Knitting Answer Book (Storey Pubishing, 2005). Explanation of standard versus nonstandard stitch position and styles of knitting.
Vogue Knitting Magazine Editors. Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Three: Color Knitting (Sixth&Spring Books, 2006). Pattern stitch reference.
Walker, Barbara G. A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (both Schoolhouse Press, 1998). Pattern stitch reference.
Zilboorg, Anna. Knitting for Anarchists (Feet on the Ground Press, 2002). Explanation of standard versus non-standard stitch position and styles of knitting.
Blanchard, Nanette. Stranded Color Knitting, 2nd edition (Self published, www.lulu.com, 2005). Practical how-to.
Bourgeois, Ann and Eugene Bourgeois. Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified (Martingale and Company, 2000). Practical how-to.
Christoffersson, Britt-Marie. Swedish Sweaters: New Designs from Historical Examples (The Taunton Press, 1990). A gallery of traditional garments, followed by instructions for new designs.
Don, Sarah. Fair Isle Knitting (revised edition) (Dover Publications, 2007). Excellent source of pattern charts.
Feitelson, Ann. The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color and Patterns (Interweave Press, 1996). Covers history, traditions, techniques, design considerations, and color interaction, in addition to instructions for garments.
Gibson-Roberts, Priscilla A. Salish Indian Sweaters: A Pacific Northwest Tradition (Dos Tejedoras Fiber Arts Publications, 1989). Documents the history, traditions, and patterns of these sweaters.
Hansen, Robin. Favorite Mittens (Down East Books, 2005). Republication of selected mittens from Fox and Geese and Fences (Down East Books, 1983) and Flying Geese and Partridge Feet (Down East Books, 1986). Traditional Maine mittens, including stranded patterns.
Keele, Wendy. Poems of Color: Knitting in the Bohus Tradition (Interweave Press, 1995). Inspirational history of the Bohus knitting cooperative and its designs.
Lind, Vibeke, trans. Annette Allen Jensen. Knitting in the Nordic Tradition (Lark Books, 1997). A survey of knitting in the region organized by type of garment, with lots of pictures.
McGregor, Sheila. Traditional Fair Isle Knitting (Dover Publications, 1981) and Traditional Scandinavian Knitting (Dover Publications, 2004). Both books document history and traditional techniques and serve as a reference for pattern charts and garment shaping.
Norbury, James. Traditional Knitting Patterns from Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Italy and other European Countries (Dover Publications, 1973). Collection of traditional pattern stitches.
Pagoldh, Susanne, trans. Carol Huebscher Rhoades. Nordic Knitting: Thirty-Patterns in the Scandinavian Tradition (Interweave Press, 1991). Organized by country, this book includes historical information as well as new designs.
Schurch, Charlene. Knitting Marvelous Mittens (Lark Books, 1998). A collection of ethnic mitten designs from Russia.
Starmore, Alice. Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting (The Taunton Press, 1988). The best resource for Fair Isle from start to finish, including history, technique, designing sweaters and other garments, pattern placement, and a large section of pattern charts.
Upitis, Lizbeth. Latvian Mittens (Schoolhouse Press, 1997). Traditional designs and techniques, including history and locale.
Zilboorg, Anna. 45 Fine and Fanciful Hats to Knit (Lark Books, 1997). Bright colors, wonderful patterns, lessons in shaping. A great source of inspiration.
Zilboorg, Anna. Fancy Feet (Lark Books, 1994). Documents traditional patterns and sock construction of Turkey. Republished as Simply Socks in 2001.
Cartwright-Jones, Catherine, and Roy Jones. Enchanted Knitting: Charted Motifs for Hand and Machine Knitting (Interweave Press, 1997) and The Tap-Dancing Lizard (Interweave Press, 1992). Source of charts for intarsia.
Duckworth, Susan. Susan Duckworth’s Knitting (Ballantine Books, 1988). Original designs and a source of inspiration for combining color and texture.
Fassett, Kaffe. Glorious Knits (Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1985) and Kaffe’s Classics (Little, Brown and Company, 1993). Collection of designs by the master of knitted colorwork.
Fassett, Kaffe and Zoë Hunt. Family Album (Taunton Press, 1989). More intarsia inspiration.
Galley, Sarah. “Rock around the Block,” in her blog Let Me explaiKnit (explaiknit.typepad.com/let_me_explai-knit/2006/08/rock_around_the.html, August 4, 2006). Discussion of intarsia in the round and explanation of joining using the interlocks at color changes.
Liljegren, Lucia. “Hand Knit Seamless Argyle Socks with Short Row Heels,” in her blog The Knitting Fiend (www.thedietdiary.com/cgi-bin/Argyle.pl). Uses the basic concept of working the upper half of argyle diamonds separately, then filling in between them with a new color, joining the new area to the old using wrapping and slipped stitches.
Neatby, Lucy. A Knitter’s Companion: Intarsia Untangled: 1 and 2 (DVD) (Tradewind Knitwear Designs, Inc., 2008). Personal instruction from this incomparable teacher; includes everything you need to know, plus lots of tips and tricks to make the intarsia experience more pleasurable.
Stuever, Sherry, and Keely Stuever. Intarsia: A Workshop for Hand and Machine Knitting (Sealed With A Kiss, Inc., 1998). The best practical reference in print for intarsia techniques.
Thomas, Mary. Mary Thomas’s Knitting Book (Dover Publications, 1972). Source of information on working intarsia circularly, under “Festive Knitting.”
Thompson, Suzann. “Argyles without Seams,” Knitting around the World (Taunton Press, 1993). Explains a method of knitting argyle one diamond at a time, while joining to the adjacent diamonds (pp. 38–41).
Bartlett, Roxana. Slip-Stitch Knitting (Interweave Press, 1998). Mosaic pattern stitches.
Christoffersson, Britt-Marie. Swedish Sweaters: New Designs from Historical Examples (Taunton Press, 1990). Includes a few examples of entrelac sweaters.
Dandanell, Birgitta, and Ulla Danielsson, trans. Robin Orm Hansen. Twined Knitting: A Swedish Folkcraft Technique (Interweave Press, 1989). The best source of information available on twined knitting and the best explanations of this technique. Lots of historical background.
Duckworth, Susan. Susan Duckworth’s Knitting (Ballantine Books, 1988). Innovative explorations of entrelac.
Høxbro, Vivian. Domino Knitting (Interweave Press, 2002). The European take on modular knitting.
Høxbro, Vivian. Shadow Knitting (Interweave Press, 2004). The source for both technical explanations and pattern instructions.
Ling, Anne-Maj, trans. Carol Huebscher Rhoades. Two-End Knitting (Schoolhouse Press, 2004). Includes wonderful contemporary designs in twined knitting.
Luters, Ginger. Module Magic (XRX Books, 2004). A guide to modular knitting that is both practical and inspirational.
McGregor, Sheila. Traditional Scandinavian Knitting (Dover Publications, 2004). Includes information on entrelac.
New, Debbie. Unexpected Knitting (Schoolhouse Press, 2003). Goes way beyond the usual knitting concepts to explore the frontiers, especially in the realm of free-form modules and complex geometries.
Schreier, Iris. Modular Knits: New Techniques for Today’s Knitters (Lark Books, 2005). Complete how-to lessons on knitting modules all in one piece so no joining is necessary.
Schulz, Horst. New Patchwork Knitting: Fashion for Children (Saprotex, 2000) and Patchwork Knitting: Pullovers, Jackets, Waistcoats (Saprotex, 2000). Modular knit from the German master.
Walker, Barbara G. Mosaic Knitting (revised edition) (Schoolhouse Press, 2006). The bible for mosaic knitting techniques and charts.
Zilboorg, Anna. Knitting for Anarchists (Feet on the Ground Press, 2002). Methods of working with strip knitting.
Thompson, Gladys. Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arans (Dover Publications, 1979). Source for the best bobble anywhere (page 171).
Wiseman, Nancie. The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques (Martingale and Company, 2002). Absolutely the best guide to perfect finishing.
Zilboorg, Anna. Knitting for Anarchists (Feet on the Ground Press, 2002). Strip knitting techniques particularly adaptable to adding edging.
Budd, Ann. The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns (Interweave, 2002) and Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns (Interweave, 2004). Excellent sources of basic patterns for sweaters and other garments.
Bush, Nancy. Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear (Interweave Press, 1994). History, techniques, and instructions for traditional socks. This book also includes an introductory section that allows you to design your own socks.
Fee, Jacqueline. Sweater Workshop (Down East Books, 2002). Design your own sweater.
Gibson-Roberts, Priscilla A. Simple Socks: Plain and Fancy (Nomad Press, 2001). Design your own socks, with short row heels and toes.
Gibson-Roberts, Priscilla A., and Deborah Robson. Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters (expanded edition) (Nomad Press, 2004). Lessons in simple traditional sweater designs, so you can do it yourself.
Hansen, Robin. Knit Mittens! (Storey Publishing, 2002). Patterns for mittens, plus information on fitting your own.
Newton, Deborah. Designing Knitwear (Taunton, 1998). Everything a knitwear designer needs to know from an expert in the field.
Righetti, Maggie. Sweater Design in Plain English (St. Martin’s Griffin, 1990). Down to earth, practical introduction to sweater design and fitting.
Starmore, Alice. Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting (Taunton Press, 1988). The best source available for designing stranded sweaters and tams.
Turner, Sharon. Teach Yourself Visually Knitting Design (Visual, 2007). Provides master patterns for a variety of simple projects.
Vogue Knitting Magazine Editors. Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (updated edition) (Sixth&Spring Books, 2002). A complete knitting reference book that includes information on designing various sweater shapes, including armholes and sleeve caps, necklines, and details like collars, pockets, and borders.
Walker, Barbara G. Knitting from the Top (Schoolhouse Press, 1996). Guide to designing your own top-down sweaters.
Zilboorg, Anna. Knitting for Anarchists (Feet on the Ground Press, 2002). Completely details how to knit a sweater in strips without using a pattern.
Zimmermann, Elizabeth. Knitting without Tears (Fireside, 1971; reprinted in 1995). Encouraging, conversational source of information on designing circular sweaters, socks, mittens, and hats.