Review: Gradient Style by Kerry Bogert


Title
: Gradient Style: Color-Shifting Techniques & Knitting Patterns
Editor: Kerry Bogert
Pages: 160
Genre: Nonfiction, Instructional, Crafts
Source: Free ARC from Interweave

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: As stated under the Source (above), I received this book for free from Interweave via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

Goodreads Summary

“Gradient yarns and colorful color-shifting patterns are everywhere in knitting today! Knowing what and how to knit with color-shifting yarns, and how to combine colors for successful color-fade projects, can be a challenge. Let the Editors at Interweave be your guide to the colorful world of knitting gradients with Gradient Style. Inside this comprehensive guide to putting gradients yarns to work you’ll find:

–Detailed information on selecting, combining, and knitting colored yarns into unique gradient effects.

–Tips to help avoid common color-shifting mistakes such as color pooling and uneven striping when working with gradient skeins.

–20 beautiful gradient knitted patterns to explore gradient techniques in inspiring, wearable designs including both garments and accessories!

Shift your knitting to another colorful level with Gradient Style!”

Review

One of the things I find most intimidating when it comes to making (knitting, crocheting, quilting, general sewing, etc.) is colorways. I love using color, but I don’t feel as though I have an eye for what goes well together (my mother is very gifted in this regard!). For this reason, I often purchase coordinating fabrics within a particular line (can’t mess up too badly if they were designed to go together, right?) and yarns that are designed to create a certain multicolor look (they are striping or create an ombre look without any effort on my part). It takes the pressure off, usually achieves the look I want, and all I have to do is follow a pattern. Easy peasy. It’s great that these options are out there for the color-challenged (or just color-terrified!), but it also limits your options. And truthfully, it feeds my creative need more when I’ve done it the “hard” way. Fortunately, there are books like Gradient Style to help people like me take a bolder approach with our designs.

In truth, the majority of the book consists of patterns. Gorgeous, drool-worthy patterns. Twenty of them! And the book is worth a purchase for that reason alone. But the front sections are essential for makers who want a firmer grasp on color theory and techniques that create different types of gradient styles in any project. The explanation of color theory is better than many I’ve seen (not that any have ever stuck with me; my mind is like a sieve when it comes to color theory terminology), and the pictures and graphics that support that explanation are excellent. That section is followed by several different techniques for creating gradient looks within your knitting project (though it would translate to crochet rather well, I think) using a couple of preferred colors. It explains how to use other colors to tie together colors that might not blend well if put right next to each other. It’s all easy to understand, well-supported visually, and then backed up by the stellar patterns that follow. Essentially, it’s a lifesaver for people like me.

I found Gradient Style to be extremely useful, and I’m putting it on my wish list (hmmm…Mother’s Day is coming up). If you don’t trust yourself to mix colors in your fiber arts, this is for you. If you love great knitting patterns with beautiful gradient style, this book is for you.

2 Replies to “Review: Gradient Style by Kerry Bogert”

  1. I am inexperienced enough to assume, it would all magically work out. Now I understand–it won’t. This sounds like a fun book; I hope you are the recipient of it come Mother’s Day.

    • Just today I saw a meme about the importance of creating swatches before embarking on a knit or crochet project, particularly as it relates to color. It illustrated how two colors that look nice next to each other when in the skein, don’t necessarily look as good when worked next to each other. It would be terrible to start a large project and find that you’d made a huge mistake in color choice. Education and swatches are the way to go!

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