Kristin's Project in Interweave's Knitted Gifts Book

My friend Ann Budd is a prolific author (The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns and The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns) along with being a book editor and a mom. A while back, she asked me to do a pillow for a book project she was working on for Interweave Press. I suggested a Fair Isle project -- because that is the type of knitting I am/was into at the moment. She said okay and off I went - swatching away. Here is the swatch idea I came up with for this knitted pillow, using my Julia Wool/Mohair/Alpaca. I played with colorwork and light and dark shades by swapping the same colors on a chart.


Then I added some details which picked up the colors in the stripes I separated the patterns with. Here is some duplicate stitch and french knots on the center of the motifs.


Then I wanted to further tie the the contrasting colors together. I added french knots in a color I call Purple Basil every other stitch on either side of the reverse stockinette stitch ridges.


Today in the mail came my copy of Knitted Gifts.


As always, I paged through, looking for my project before examining the rest of the projects.


Besides this project, there are many, many other quick knitting projects that will make great gifts. Most of them are very easy and they range from wearables to home dec to babies and kids. There is definitely something in this book you will want to knit.

Thank you to Ann for the opportunity to design a project for her latest book.