Optical Illusions Click here for picture Optical Illusions The designs in this collection share the common feature that they are not what they appear! The designs follow in the footsteps of the Japanese optical tradition as well as American patchwork designs which delight in forming squares which when pieced together illuminate circular or other shapes or objects. Many designs in the Optical Illusions collection incorporate multiple layers of patterning so that the design changes depending on the way you look at it. Different shapes come to the fore at different times, and sometimes all are perceived at once so that you might be seeing a series of circles, yet a series of squares or triangles at the same time. Alternatively you might see a series of blocks stacked up at first glance, but a series of flowers when you look again. Most of the designs in the book are suitable for both 24 and 40 stitch machines and electronics, are quick and easy to knit and all have at least one version with short floats. In addition the designs double up as textured fabric designs which can be knitted on the garter carriage. A selection of the textured versions are illustrated in the book. Optical Illusions costs £6.50 (approx 10.40 USD) + 50p postage in the U.K. See ordering information for overseas postage.

Art Deco Designs click here for pictures The Art Deco style evolved during the 1920’s and 1930’s and celebrated clean, even stark lines, new shapes and incorporated a feeling of power and movement. Art Deco sits well both with classic and minimalist themes and now seems to have come full circle. Once again at the beginning of the new century we have come to appreciate this unfussy, sophisticated and slightly quirky design style. There are 20 designs in this collection - some linear or angular, some circular, rounded or oval, some designs incorporating a feeling of movement and energy others reflecting calm and order. There are a number of border designs as well as the full complement of all-over textile designs, all suitable both for garments and furnishing fabrics. Knitting The designs in the book are suitable for both 24 and 40 stitch machines and electronics using the fairisle setting, and are quick and easy to knit. In addition many are very successful knitted as textured designs on the garter carriage. As usual the all-over designs feature short floats, but with the borders I have allowed myself some leeway. The odd area of long floats in these designs allows a bolder design, or allows a design to taper off into a plain area of fabric so there is no perceptable join between the two areas, and the finished knitting will appear as a single bordered fabric. Since normally only one repeat will be knitted, the floats can be easily dealt with. Art Deco Designs costs £6 (approx 9.60 USD)

Eastern Promise Contemporary Japanese-inspired designs click here for pictures This collection gathers together a very varied selection of designs although they are echo the distinctive simplicity and clean lines of Japanese and eastern style and all are based on two knitting colours only. The book contains 49 punchcard diagrams, based on 26 design ideas and producing over 60 different fabrics if you count the totally different ones that are sometimes obtained just by swopping dark and light yarns around! As usual the design ideas in the book are suitable for both 24 and 40 stitch machines and electronics using the fairisle setting, and are quick and easy to knit with short floats. They can be used both for garments and interior furnishings, and many are also very successful knitted as textured designs on the garter carriage. (In the next paragraph, if you click on the blue highlighted words you will open a picture file, so if you just want to read straight through quickly, don't click! You can wait till the bottom of the paragraph and then go to the pictures, if you prefer) There are a number of bold distinctive designs featuring circles, fan shapes and lozenges, a group of "optical" designs - where shapes and lines seem to emerge from nowhere and change depending on the way you look at the design. There is also a group of purely abstract contemporary designs where irregular shapes emerge subtly from a textured looking background. These are particularly useful for those seeking almost floatless knitting - some have a maximum float length of 3 stitches. In addition to these there are a number of stencil designs based on the japanese stencil tradition - a couple of designs which "patchwork" different fabrics together in interesting crazy paving effects, and finally for those who yearn for something leaning towards the traditional - some more intricate designs mirroring Japanese stencils, fern and floral shapes. Eastern Promise costs £6 (approx 9.60 USD) click here for pictures of Eastern Promise designs