book: indigo knits
Indigo Knits: The Quintessential Guide to Denim Yarn from the Founders of Artwork
I was quite impressed with this book for a number of reasons. But before I go into the reasons I want to explain my love for knitting and fibre books. I don’t just use them as a practical pattern book, I love to gaze upon the pictures too, I love to sigh over the fibres and patterns and colours. So when a book has beautiful images I am instantly attracted. Then of course I check out how good the patterns actually are – looking is one thing, making quite another.
This book has some lovely scenic photography of Cornwall, my mothers family came from Cornwall so it was quite lovely to look upon the area, and images of the various fisherman/guernsey/cable sweaters, both pullover, and cardigan are just gorgeous. My mother was a cable expert and would have loved the challenge they presented. For me though, I prefer my challenges in other areas – but I did like the simple tunic style pullovers in soft faded comfort, and the simply delightful crochet cotton skirt, which my daughter is angling for me to make for her.
The patterns in the book are either knitted or crocheted and all from denim/cotton, but another aspect of the book which I was intrigued by was the use of bleach on the denim fibre to highlight the cables -I rather the liked the end result. There is a Jackson Pollock inspired design where bleach turns part of the pattern into brown. And a “Painterly Stripe Sweater” which features the same effect where certain stripes with the aid of bleach change colour, it is quite interesting.
I don’t generally like to knit with cotton – its a strange bias I have, but I enjoy so much the feel of pure wool in my hands that knitting with cotton seems like a waste of time to me. And I am not sure that I could justify spending all the time knitting complex cables in a child’s garment – unless of course there were multiple children to pass it on down the line. However after checking my stash it appears as if I may have enough knitting cotton in white and mauve to knit the “Pirate-stripe guernsey” for my daughter.
About the reviewer: Janette lives in Australia and is spending her retirement doing the things she loves. Gardening, playing with yarn and making things for her grandchildren.
