Meet The Projects!

Publication day for my new book, Short-Row Colorwork Knitting – The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide, is almost here, and I wanted to walk you through the projects in the book and introduce the guest designers!

‘Fogrande’ shown in Malabrigo Rios

‘Fogrande’ shown in Malabrigo Arroyo

‘Ripplish’ shown in Malabrigo Arroyo

Let’s start with the Hats shall we, as they’re probably the least surprising projects to be found in a book authored by me!

‘Fogrande’ features a leaf motif, that’ll be more familiar to folks who’ve dabbled a bit with short-row colourwork or tried one of my Elemental patterns. The main part of the Hat is worked sideways, and then stitches are picked up and worked downwards for the brim. This, essentially, is a combined modular method of Hat construction, and I designed it this way for two reasons. Firstly, because I wanted to have some modular projects in the book, as garter stitch and short-row colourwork lends itself so well to modular techniques. And secondly because if the whole thing were to be knitted sideways, that would then mean grafting across a colour change. Which isn’t difficult, I have a tutorial for it, but it would have meant an extra tutorial in the book where space was already tight, and I didn’t want to include anything other than basic garter stitch grafting.

‘Forgrande’ is also one of the projects that’s written for 2 yarn weights – sport and worsted. There are 10 projects in the book, 2 of which are written for 2 different yarn weights, and because I’m me and this is how my brain works, there are 4 projects for sock weight, 4 for sport weight and 4 for worsted weight. Making that happen was very pleasing.

The second Hat is ‘Ripplish’, which is a beret worked in the round featuring one of the ‘Repeatable’ motifs. It’s a simple shape and an ideal introduction to using short-row colourwork in the round. It features a plain crown, allowing the motif around the Hat to stand out.

‘Montes’ mitts shown in Malabrigo Sock

‘Wavelength’ cowl shown in Malabrigo Rios

‘Calathea’ scarf shown in Malabrigo Rios

Knowing that I would only design Hats, and knowing that Hats don’t sell as well as shawls and other accessories, and knowing that I really needed a range of projects within this book to highlight the versatility of the motifs, I invited a number of guest designers to create patterns that used the motifs in a number of different ways. This was such an amazing and humbling thing – having my fellow creatives design something from my motifs and technique was really something!

First up is the ‘Montes’ mitts by Šárka Dvořáčková. Šárka is not only my Czech translator, she’s also a fantastic designer and tech editor, and she’s already designed a number of glove patterns to match my Hats. I knew she’d be the ideal person to design mitts for this book! Šárka made clever use of one motif by scaling it and mirroring it, using the entire motif for the body of the mitt, then cleverly working it around the thumb. Worked sideways and grafted, they are easily adjusted in size by tweaking gauge, and there’s notes included about that.

Then we have the ‘Wavelength’ cowl by Justyna Lorkowska. Justyna uses one of the linear ‘Repeatable’ motifs to create a striking cowl pattern that can easily be adjusted – again, notes about that are included. This is a cosy, roomy cowl with a lovely drape and really highlights how a simple motif can create such a striking effect!

The first of the scarves is Calathea by Carol Feller. Carol uses two motifs here in combination, and reverses the colours between sections, which creates further interest. You could just as easily use two high contrast yarns or more tonal yarns and still achieve a gorgeous scarf – which is one thing I love about this technique – it’s very forgiving of colour combinations because it’s the short rows that are doing all the work!

‘Parallelism’ scarf shown in Malabrigo Sock

‘Parallelism’ scarf shown in Malabrigo Rios

‘Triangulum’ shawl shown in Malabrigo Sock

‘Parellelism’ by Karie Westermann is the second project in the book that’s written for 2 yarn weights – sock and worsted. Karie specifically wanted to design a pattern that would gently introduce knitters to the technique, using a simple motif to create a striking design. This is one of the ‘Adjustable’ motifs – the stitch dictionary section of the book is divided into 3 sections – ‘Adjustable’, ‘Stackable’ and ‘Repeatable’. It really does work so well, highlighting that using short rows to create colourwork patterns doesn’t have to be difficult at all. And with the 2 samples we wanted to show how a more muted colour combination works as well as a high contrast one.

‘Triangulum’ by Caroline Dick is the first of the small shawls, though to be fair both small shawls are more medium in size! Caroline used one of the ‘Stackable’ motifs to create a statement border to a triangular shawl, using modular techniques. The border is worked first, and the stitches picked up from there and decreased to create the shape. As with all of the patterns in the book, it is easily adjusted for different sizes, and notes are included for that. One aspect that I really like about this shawl is that it breaks one of the rules in this technique, and deliberately so! I explain much more about this particular rule in the book and why it’s so important, and in the ‘Design’ chapter discuss how Caroline has achieved this, and it’s very effective.

‘Tidal’ shawl shown in Malabrigo Arroyo

‘Streckade’ shawl shown in Malabrigo Arroyo

‘Damascena’ shawl shown in Malabrigo Sock

‘Tidal’ by Lola Johnson uses a ‘Repeatable’ motif as a statement piece, creating beautiful ripples across the fabric that move with the body. This is one motif that makes clever use of slipped stitches, allowing the short-row colourwork to appear ‘broken’ – it’s a technique I’ve used to great effect within the book to avoid the need to break the yarn or join the work in sections, and avoid long floats. I think it’s subtlety here, with the way Lola’s used it, is beautiful.

‘Streckade’ by Linnea Ornstein uses a ‘Repeatable’ motif for an all-over effect. This shawl really highlights how you can incorporate shaping within short-row colourwork. The shawl starts at the tip, and increases outwards into a wide, wrapping shawl. It’s construction allows you to make the shawl larger or smaller as you desire, and is simpler than it looks!

‘Damascena’ by Paola Albergamo is a beautiful example of both combining different motifs (a ‘Repeatable’ and ‘Stackable’) and also using different construction methods. Starting at the centre and working outwards, the shawl can be adjusted in depth before the knitted-on border is worked. Isn’t it stunning? And like so many of the projects in this book, it’s a lot easier to knit than it looks!

This is the third modular construction in the book, and each one uses a different way – my ‘Fogrande’ Hat has you picking up stitches from the body to work down; Caroline’s ‘Triangulum’ shawl starts with the statement border with the stitches picked up for the body; and Paola’s shawl has a knitted-on border. I love modular knitting, personally, so I’m really happy to have projects in the book that show just how fun it can be.

Image cover for Woolly's 2024 book. The title is 'Short-Row Colorwork Knitting' with the subtitle 'The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide' and the details '50 stitch patterns, 10 projects' also visible. All text is in a central banner across the cover, with wood pine behind the text. To the top of the cover is a piece of knitting with a golden yellow and teal alternating stripes pattern. To the bottom of the image we see an organai leave pattern in yellow and blue, and a leave and stripes pattern in dark grey and pink. It is visually striking and bursting with colour.

‘Short-Row Colorwork’ book – front cover

‘Short-Row Colorwork’ book – back cover

And that’s a round up of the projects – I do hope you like them! I really enjoyed working with each designer, and I’m chuffed that each project uses the motifs in different ways, encompassing a variety of construction techniques. This colourwork method is most effective on garter stitch, and garter stitch lends itself to all sorts of fun things, and I’m glad we’ve been able to show you a sample of what you can do with it.

The publication dates are 30th April 2024 in Noth America, and 14th may in UK and Europe. You can buy the book on Amazon via the button below – it’s a ‘one-link’ which will take you to your local Amazon store. You can also find it at your local book or yarn store – it’s being distributed by GMC in UK/EU and Ingram in US, both major distributors, so it’ll be widely available!

Woolly Wormhead

Woolly Wormhead is an internationally reknowned knit designer, specialising in Hats, technique and construction. Their patterns and techniques have been used by thousands of knitters worldwide. Join The Woolly Hat Society to be the first to learn of their latest projects and special offers!

12 Comments

  1. Dorothy Van Daele

    So beautiful. So very beautiful. Colours, motifs, shapes. I just want to keep looking, exploring all the surprises. So ingenious! The scarves, shawls and mitts are so in the spirit of your designs. The malabrigo yarns are shown in such lovely combinations. Congratulations on this wonderful, unique book. I can’t wait to see the package on the front porch!

    Reply
    • Woolly Wormhead

      Thank you! I can’t wait for it to arrive, the distributors have stock now so it won’t be long! And I’m probably a bit biased, but I think you can’t go wrong with any combination of Malabrigo 😉

      Reply
  2. Sinead

    I’m thrilled to learn that you have written a book! The designs are stunning. Congratulations! I’m off to order my copy.

    Reply
    • Woolly Wormhead

      Thank you! It was a lot of work but I’m very proud of it 🙂

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
      • Julie

        I would really like to buy this book
        will there be an alternative to Amazon?

        Reply
  3. Pam Munro

    I preordered this book in January! I’m so excited. Congratulations!

    Reply
  4. Lynda

    I just ordered your book from my local bookstore. I’ve usually shied away from projects with short rows, but I think this book will change my mind about them! Such beautiful designs!

    Reply
    • Woolly Wormhead

      short rows are magical – I hope this book helps encourage you to try them more!

      Reply
  5. Alice Sykes

    BRAVA, Woolly – no reply needed. Just sending CONGRATS on this massive and beautiful project. So looking fwd to my pre-order’s arrival…Amazon sent a notice a few weeks ago that the originally published delivery date had been slightly delayed. Kudos to you, Genius Gurl!

    Reply
  6. Heather from Australia

    I have pre ordered my book and cant wait for it to arrive, congratulations on the release it all looks so beautiful a great deal of work and time has gone into it, you must be proud, well done.

    Reply

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