The Anubis illusion knit is based on the figure from the Papyrus of Ani and seemed to be, possibly because of the slightly mysterious nature of illusion knits, an ideal image to try. The piece measures approximately 50 cm by 40 cm and has been designed to be viewed from the side. It is therefore intended to be used as a small wall hanging or as ...

The Elephant Illusion knit has been designed to be viewed from the side so is intended to be used as a wall hanging or as a baby blanket. The size, without the border and using 3.25mm needles and DK yarn, is approximately 70 cm by 90cm but this can be changed to suit your needs with the addition of the border. Approximately 500 metres of each of...

I was asked a few weeks ago if I had any intention of re-charting the Severus Snape illusion so that it could be viewed from the side. My answer was that I had no plans to do this but would happily talk that person through the process, start off the chart for her and then send it to her with advice on how to continue. Unfortunately I got so invo...

The Green Man illusion knit is approximately 24 inches square, when knitted using DK yarn and 3mm needles, and has been designed to be viewed from the side. Its intended use is as a wall hanging but could, just as well, form the centre for a bedspread or throw or even as the centre back of a shawl.

This illusion knit is inspired by Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

The Flying Dragon Illusion knit has been designed to be viewed from the side. The pattern gives instructions for completion of the piece as a shield shaped banner, a square wall-hanging or a triangular shawl.

This shawl was designed to use up lots of oddments of yarn. It needs two contrasting groups of colours. If you prefer, you can use two ‘normal’ plain yarns or either one or two variegated yarns.

Illustriation appears to have several shades of grey but only uses four different yarns. Anyone looking straight at the shawl will see wide bands of colour which are made up of narrow stripes. As the wearer turns a checkerboard effect comes in and out of view. The viewer will see something different from every angle.

As part of the process of designing my illusion knits I am forever looking for famous faces to base designs upon. For this illusion I asked for permission from Casey to use one of the most famous faces on Ravelry. Permission was given and here is the resulting illusion knit.

The choosing of a favourite work of art is very subjective and I suspect that the image that this piece of work was inspired by would not be most people’s first choice. The Scream, by Edvard Munch, is, almost by definition, a rather disturbing picture both because of it’s content and because of the style of painting. It is the surrea...

Two illusions in one!

After completing our First Class Illusion Knit, based on the British postage stamp depicting Queen Ellizabeth II, this latest illusion design, based on another British postage stamp, seemed appropriate. This is the one old penny postage stamp showing Queen Elizabeth’s uncle Edward VIII.

This image seemed very appropriate in this Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Elizabeth II. The inspiration for the design comes from a first class British postage stamp. Using DK yarn and 3 mm needles the completed illusion measures approximately 32 inches (80 cm) by 27 inches (68 cm) and uses about 460 yards (420 metres) of yarn in each of two colo...

The area of Lancashire where we live is known as the Borough of Pendle. It is in the shadow of Pendle Hill. It is famous for the Pendle Witch Trials which took place exactly 400 years ago. Nine women and one man were executed, by hanging, after being found guilty of witchcraft.

The red dragon is widely recognised as the flag of Wales. This dragon motif could also be on a different background for other purposes.

We have been looking recently at national emblems and symbols and flags seemed a natural extension of our original work.

We have been looking recently at national emblems and symbols and flags seemed a natural extension of our original work.

To add to my Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley and Beatles Illusion Knits I decided to look for a female musician. The Cher Illusion Knit is the same size as those others so could form part of a themed display. It is designed to be viewed from the side and measures approximately 70cm by 55cm (28” by 22”) using DK yarn and 3mm needles.

The Heraldic Lion Illusion knit is now available alone and as part of our Royal Standard of Scotland Illusion knit wall hanging pattern. It is approximately 16” (40cm) square and could be used individually or sewn together with other of our similar sized illusion knit designs to create items such as cushion covers, wall hangings or bed cov...

After producing the Elvis Presley and Beatles wall hangings I decided to look for another well known face from the world of music to increase the collection.

People have often asked whether variegated yarns can be used for illusion knits so we decided to experiment with two such yarns. Our conclusion was that when your brain can perceive enough of the design to be able recognise it the yarns can be solid or variegated.

The American Football Helmet Illusion Knit is the latest addition to the sport related series of illusion knits that, so far, includes a soccer ball, an American football and a volleyball. All of the pieces in this series are the same size as each other, approximately 16” (40cm) square, so can be used individually or sewn together with oth...

After producing the Elvis Presley wall hanging I decided to try for another well known face, or rather faces, from the world of music.

The Volleyball Illusion Knit is the latest addition to the sport related series of illusion knits that, so far, includes a soccer ball and an American football. All of the pieces in this series are the same size as each other, approximately 16” (40cm) square, so can be used individually or sewn together with other of the designs to create ...

With illusion knit portraits it is always difficult to find a face that is easily recognisable. Elvis Presley seemed to fit the bill but even with Elvis the different stages in his life and career leave his fans with their own very distinct images of him. Not all Elvis fans will see this particular image as the way they remember the singer. My a...

Illusion knitting meets mitred triangles

The bust of Nefertiti is another of those widely recognisable images that should show up well as an illusion knit.

This American Football illusion knit is the second in an intended series of sport related illusion knit panels, the first being the Soccer Ball illusion knit. Like the soccer ball it is approximately 16” (40cm) and uses 140metres in each of two contrasting colours when knitted using 3mm needles.

You can only see the illusion dinosaur when you look at the blanket from an angle. When you look straight at the knitting you will see stripes and just the faintest shadow of the creature.

The Leonardo Illusion knit has been inspired by the self portrait created by the artist. His original is a subtle, chalk work so this illusion knit is really an experiment in how subtle the design can be and still work as an illusion.

You can only see the illusion duck when you look at the blanket from an angle. When you look straight at the knitting you will see stripes and just the faintest shadow of a duck.

The Fleur-de-Lis illusion knit design measures approximately 16 inches (40cm) square when using DK yarn and 3mm needles. It is designed to be viewed from the side so is ideal for use as an emblem on a garment, as a front/back for a cushion or as the centre piece for a wall hanging or bed cover.

Inspired by the portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci this illusion knit measures approximately 120cm high by 93 cm wide when knitted in my fairly tight style using DK yarn and 3.25mm needles. It is designed to be viewed from the side so is ideal for a wall hanging but could also be used as the centre piece for a bedspread or as a throw.

This illusion is based on a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. It is commonly known as The Praying Hands but is also known as Hands of the Apostle. The original drawing was a preparatory sketch, nearly five hundred years ago, for a painting on an altarpiece which was later destroyed in a fire. It was on blue paper, which is why I chose blue for the shawl.

This pattern was free for the duration of the Woolsack project. Since September 2012 the pattern is no longer free.

This pattern was free for the duration of the Woolsack project. Since September 2012 the pattern is no longer free.

This pattern was free for the duration of the Woolsack project. Since September 2012 the pattern is no longer free.

This pattern was free for the duration of the Woolsack project. Since September 2012 the pattern is no longer free.

Some weeks ago we took part in a Stitched Science Event at the London Science Museum. We were talking about creating patterns from geometric shapes, how to create illusion knits and why illusion knitting works. This shawl came about as part of that. I wanted a piece of illusion knitting that would show the process and demonstrate how and why it ...

When creating these illusion knit designs it is nice to come across faces that are full of character. American Gothic, by Grant Wood, seemed to provide an artwork that would respond to illusion knit techniques quite well.

By popular demand - and just in time for the new film - here is a sideways knitted shawl with an illusion of a more mature Harry Potter.

This was really designed by Pat (Woolhelmina) but we have added it to my designs to keep all our illusion designs in one place.

It is not often that we accept commissions to create illusion knit designs. This is simply because the price we would charge would have to reflect the large amount of work that goes in to the charting and test knitting involved in the creation of the piece. On average the complex illusion knits that we create take us, in the region of, 100 hours...

I am intending to create a series of illusion designs that centre around various kinds of sport. These designs will take the form of small panels that can be used individually as cushions or as the motif on a sweater or put together to form a wall hanging, throw or bedspread.

A lot of people have asked about lettering for illusion knitting so here are ten alphabets for you to use.

In 1996 Tux was created, for Linux, by Larry Ewing. In 2003 Nicolas Rougier created a Baby Tux. Now, in 2011, we have Illusion Baby Tux, based on Rougier’s drawing.

I wanted this illusion knit to be another portrait so I spent quite some time trying to find the right subject. Looking for a face that is easily recognisable and shows interesting character is not always as simple as you would think it should be. I think that I have found such a subject though in Albert Einstein.

Using DK yarn and 3mm needles this illusion knit came out measuring 33 inches by 23 inches. It is intended to be used as a wall hanging or as the centre for a throw or bedspread.

This cushion was really designed and made by Pat (Woolhelmina) but I have added the pattern here to keep all the illusion cushions in one place. (If you are looking for illusion afghans, they are in our Woolly Thoughts designs. Confusing, isn’t it?)

This illusion knit was inspired by a photograph of a Yorkshire Terrier provided by the dog’s owner.

The Twilight illusion knit was inspired by the series of films in The Twilight Saga. It was knitted in DMC Petra count 5 crochet cotton on 2mm needles to check how well illusion knitting would show up using finer yarns than those I would normally use.

I’ve been looking, for a while, for a recognisable landscape or place to try as an illusion knit. The Great Pyramid and Sphinx seemed a good idea as it is a view known to many.

A black and white baby blanket with the illusion of a panda. Look at it from straight in front and you only see black and white stripes; look from an angle and you will see the panda.

I have long been an admirer of the work of the Pre-Raphaelites and this latest illusion knit makes use of the Proserpine painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

This illusion was inspired by Andy Warhol’s screen prints of Marilyn Monroe. It uses similar unusual colour combinations but cannot precisely recreate Warhol’s style as only two colours are used in each of the ‘prints’.

Two illusion cushions based on the work of M C Escher.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring Illusion, or perhaps The Girl with a Purl Earring, has been designed to be viewed from the side so is intended to be used as a wall hanging or as the centre of a bed cover.

We were recently asked to make a tea cosy for a local event. At first we declined then decided it would be a good opportunity to try out another way of using illusion knitting.

Another illusion knitting experiment. It didn’t come out exactly as we thought but is still very interesting and surprising.

Another illusion baby blanket - a friend for our Teddy Bear.

The Sunburst Illusion Knit came about following discussions with Cynthia Butcher about NASA’s SDO First Light images and videos.

Does illusion knitting work in circles?

An illusion - in more ways than one!

Twelve basic illusion shapes.

Pattern update - July 2012 - to add instructions for wall-hangings.

The Zebra Illusion knit has been designed to be viewed from the side so is intended to be used as a wall hanging or as a centre for a bedspread.

Where’s the bear?

The Tutankhamun Illusion knit is 210 stitches high by 151 ridges of knitting wide (88cm by 65cm in using DK and knitting tightly with 3mm needles) and has been knitted to be viewed from the side.

I have created the Tiger’s Head Illusion knit design as part of a tutorial on designing your own illusion knit.

This illusion knit pattern is one of a growing list of designs and is based on the character from the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling.

The Hagrid illusion knit is based on the character from the J.K.Rowling Harry Potter books.

This Moonrise Illusion knit is very much an experiment in using images other than those of people or recognisable characters. Would it be possible to get enough shading into a piece of knitting to indicate areas in a landscape?

The Dalek Illusion knit, inspired by the cult TV series Doctor Who, is smaller than my other illusion knit patterns. It is the result of requests from various Doctor Who fans, after David Tennant left the series, and I intend to add more “characters” as time allows.

The David Tennant Illusion Knit came about following requests from various Doctor Who fans after the actor had left the series.

A further experiment in illusion or shadow knitting. This time I wanted to look at knitting the piece so that it could be viewed from the side instead of from below. This then allows the completed illusion to be used as a wall hanging.

The Draco Malfoy illusion knit is intended to form the other end of a scarf to the Harry Potter illusion although it could easily be used separately.

The Gollum character from The Lord of the Rings.

Having come across the idea of illusion or shadow knitting I decided, being a fan of the Terry Pratchett Discworld series, that Death’s Head would be a very appropriate design to try using this technique.

This is my second experiment in illusion or shadow knitting. The object this time is to try to extend the basic idea to create shadows, for definition, with the mixture of the two main colours.