Love hand-dyed yarns but don’t always know what to knit with them? Fascinated by independent yarn dyers and want to learn more about them and their businesses? This book will take you behind the scenes with profiles of 25 talented indie dyers written by Donna Arney, accompanied by designs from sock master Chrissy Gardiner featuring a yarn from each dyer. Along the way, learn Chrissy’s tips and tricks for working with challenging colorways and selecting the best pattern to go with your chosen yarn.

Love to knit socks but never tried starting at the toe? Want to knit socks but haven’t because of a fear of Kitchener stitch? Avidly knit toe-up socks but want to further customize your toes and heels to better fit your feet? This is the book for you!

Knit this delicate shoulder-warming rectangle out of your favorite fingering-weight yarn. Perfect for a night at the opera or a concert in the park!

Pick up any thickness of yarn, a matching needle size, and start knitting! This scarf can be made long or short, fat or thin.

This colorway gave me fits trying to find a stitch pattern that would work with it and not against it. After much thought, I decided to try something with simple, linear lace elements. Success!

Inspired by falling leaves and rainy days, this sock pattern features several different stitch patterns which look gorgeous in a subtly variegated or solid-color yarn. The unique cuff is knit flat and sewn into a ring, and then the cuff stitches are picked up and knit downwards. Great for the advanced or adventurous intermediate knitter.

This luxurious little triangular wrap is named for the Japanese Iris (the little eye-shaped lace motifs remind me both of an Iris flower’s bloom and the iris of a human eye). The pattern consists of a short repeat edged with a simple eyelet border, making it easy to expand into a larger shawl.

Cover your bed head with this cute garter-rib hat. Splurge on the glitzy beaded silk for special days, then knit another in soft wool for walks in the park. This hat is so quick to make, you’ll want to whip one up for everyone you know!

Knit these adorable footwarmers, sized for both mothers and daughters, flat and seamlessly using short-rows and attached i-cord. Fast and fabulous!

Needles & Notions: Size 3 US/3.25 mm set of five double-pointed needles (dpns) or two circular needles, 24”/60 cm long or one long circular needle, 36 – 48”/90 – 120 cm long; cable needle; yarn needle; stitch marker

Take your skills to the next level with this entrelac piece, featuring a lace motif in the center of each rectangle. Comes in three different widths for all your neck and shoulder-warming needs!

Slipped stitches, garter ridges and an eye of partridge heel make this the perfect pattern for showing off those variegated yarns.

I call this the “how many cables can I cram into one sock?” sock. It’s toe-up with a gusset and linen-stitch heel flap. Very fun to knit!

Knit up this little drawstring bag as a small project bag, a gift pouch or for a night out on the town! Great for practicing those cables.

These fun socks combine two of my favorite techniques - cables and lace. Great to wear year-round!

A true lace lover’s top! Features a challenging-but-addictive two-sided lace pattern along with an easy fit and shoulder-baring split sleeves. The ideal summer cover-up! Sized from XS to 6X.

I became overly interested in this circular lace stitch pattern last year after swatching it to use on a pair of knee-highs. I ended up using it on said knee-highs and it just about did me in. I decided that I would give it a second chance, hoping it would behave better when used on a flat piece (rather than in the round with calf shaping).

A great introduction to the woven knitting technique of entrelac, this cute baby bunting is the perfect gift for the expectant mom!

Sturdy hemp and a fun smocked stitch pattern make this the perfect reusable market bag. Originally published as “Rutabaga” in Knitscene, Spring ‘07.

This lovely lace shoulder shawl is designed to make the most of your fingering-weight yarn. Simply knit until you’re nearly out of yarn, then bind off! The shawl pictured was made from a single skein of Sea Silk. This pattern also works great with gently variegated sock yarn. Finished size is 40” wide by 21” tall.

Turn up the heat on your variegated sock yarn with this fun lace pattern that shows it off to its full advantage!

The Unique Sheep’s Gradience colorway series is a delight just to look at, much less knit with! Instead of just finding a stitch pattern that would work nicely with the gradience concept (which starts out with a different shade of semi-solid on each end with transition skeins in the middle), I wanted to figure out something that would really sh...

Branches, vines and cables inspired by Portland’s huge urban nature park. The perfect socks for getting lost in the woods!

This pattern is from the now-defunct MagKnits

This “fauxbius” features a 360- degree twist in your knitting (a true moebius is only 180 degrees) that doesn’t require any special cast-on but is perfect for holding a special snuggly yarn close to your neck.

Fun colors and asymmetric construction make this funky granny square scarf a fun, quick project to crochet.

Warm up your little ones with these quick, easy hats and mittens adorned with simple colorwork patterns and topped with two different i-cord options. A great introduction to stranded colorwork or duplicate stitch! Sized for 18 mos-4T+.

$2 from the sale of this pattern will go to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Cozy, chunky yarn and a simple colorwork pattern make this hat & fingerless mitt set a must-have for chilly change-of-season days. A great first colorwork project!

Fine-gauge luxury yarn and an old-fashioned leaf lace motif combine to make this stunning rectangular wrap perfect for warming your shoulders in style.

A simple cabled sock pattern appropriate for the adventurous beginner or intermediate knitter. These lovely socks knit up quickly in worsted-weight yarn. Perfect for keeping your toes toasty on a chilly morning! $2 from the purchase of this pattern will be donated to help fund Diabetes research in honor of Karen Graffeo.

Retro striping and an easy fit make this the ideal pullover for the kiddos in your life. Knit seamlessly in the round with minimal finishing.

Named after my husband’s family retreat in the Adirondacks,

Stylish wrap-top construction and an interesting cable pattern combine to make this warm-weather sweater a must-knit.

Stylish wrap-top construction and an interesting cable pattern combine to make this warm-weather sweater a must-knit. Also sized for XS-XL.

This short-sleeved, scoop-neck top is a quick, fun knit. Constructed seamlessly in-the-round for minimal finishing, it features a fun lace rib at waist, cuffs and neckline.

This short-sleeved, scoop-neck top is a quick, fun knit. Constructed seamlessly in-the-round for minimal finishing, it features a fun lace rib at waist, cuffs and neckline.

Wavy cables adorn this sock, which was inspired by the two rivers running through the city of Portland - the Willamette and the Columbia. Written for two circular needles but easily convertible to DPNs. Great for the advanced or adventurous intermediate knitter.

Note on yarn quantity: You may want to purchase but leave unwound a third skein if you are making the largest size. If making the smallest size, you may want to leave the second skein unwound as you may be able to get by with a single skein if the foot length is relatively small.

Seamless construction, a zippered front, roomy hood and simple cable trim make this the perfect sweater for even the fussiest of kids and ‘tweens.

An intricate cabled sock pattern appropriate for the adventurous intermediate or advanced knitter. Inspired by a cable pattern resembling lobster claws, this sock also features a twisted stitch pattern and includes instructions for both a short row heel and traditional heel flap.

Inspired by the ocean waves that lap the beach in Manzanita, a beautiful little town on the Oregon coast, this tam is perfect for keeping your head warm on a stormy day. This pattern was originally commissioned by T-SPOT in Manzanita, Oregon.

Retro striping and an easy fit make this the ideal pullover for the guy on your knitting list. Also available in a matching kids’ version! Knit seamlessly in the round with minimal finishing.

Cables and lace in a deeply-colored cashmere yarn. What could be better? This is the ultimate luxury scarf and an ideal treat for you or a very lucky recipient.

Learn to knit socks from toe to cuff on two circular needles with this fun pattern in a range of sizes and three interchangeable ribbing patterns. Sized for newborn through men’s M (foot circumferences 4”-10”).

I decided to keep this one simple and somewhat boyish with easy cable columns interrupted by occasional rounds of garter stitch. A fold-over cuff is inspired by manly work socks and the pattern is sized to fit the whole family, It can be worked either top-down or toe-up for ultimate flexibility.

This rectangular wrap features a delicate lace pattern in a lovely floral motif. When worked in your favorite laceweight yarn, this piece will be a timeless heirloom to be enjoyed for many years.

Comfortable shaping, seamless construction and simple textural details make this a sweater you will reach for in your closet every time. It’s made with thick yarn, so it knits up in a flash!

This shawl was a total experiment in shaping that happened to turn out just right. I wasn’t sure if it was actually going to work until I bound off and tried it on, and I’m quite delighted with the result! The patterns are bird-inspired, prompted by the popular Portlandia meme “put a bird on it” which also happens to be the name of this stunnin...

This scarf was knit from one precious skein of buffalo-down yarn and named for the Lakota holy woman also known as White Buffalo Woman. Just as Ptesan-Wi taught the Lakota people many skills they needed to survive, this scarf will improve your lace knitting with stunning results.

Featuring a winged cable pattern on the front, this roomy sweater has modified drop shoulders and side-seam button plackets for ease of fit. Great for layering!

Simply warm and wonderful, these quick wristwarmers feature a simple thumb gusset and stretchy seeded rib pattern that looks great in both solid and variegated yarns.

These stretchy ribbed socks are knit in a simple but unique twisted seeded rib. Perfect for showing off those variegated yarns or for knitting on the bus!

A zigzagging cable rib looks great in both gently variegated and solid-colored yarns.

Whip up this fun and functional set in a few evenings. The stretchy rib will accommodate a wide range of kid-to-adult heads and hands - just adjust the length to fit!

Knit up a quick gift set for the guy-and-gal pair on your list with this simple pattern that pairs two fun stitch patterns with sumptuously soft cotton yarn. Finished dimensions are approximately 8” x 8” square.

Entrelac is one of my favorite knitting techniques. I love its modular nature - the triangles that start and end every other row, the center rectangles knitted onto the piece as you go. If you loved my other entrelac wrap pattern, Birch, Stampede is like Birch’s big sister!

A simple lace pattern and luxurious fringe make this scarf a quick must-have winter knit.

Lacy vines run up the front and back of this sock, which is inspired by ivy-covered walls and wisteria-entwined pergolas. A great first lace project for the adventurous beginner sock knitter. Sized for women’s M.

Designed especially for Lavender Sheep’s Vineyard colorway, which debuted at Sock Summit 2009, these fun toe-up socks feature a unique scalloped fold-over cuff and knotted stitch pattern that works well with variegated yarn.

Slipped stitch patterns are almost always the way to go when beating a feisty colorway like this into some semblance of submission. Purl stitches also add some interest and break up the colors differently than knits, so a slipped stitch design with a purl background ended up being ideal for this yarn. The stitch isn’t overly complicated, becaus...

This snuggly knitted coat utilizes a unique pattern of ribbing that mimics the short-longshort pattern of a syncopated jazz beat. Knit seamlessly for minimal finishing. Pictured with approximately 5” of negative ease.

This neck-down triangular shawl has a simple graphic eyelet pattern and a knitted-on border. Sure to become a treasured heirloom!

Try your hand at this simple-yet-stunning lace design, perfect for putting some fun into those solid-colored sock yarns.

February is one of my favorite months,as it includes both Valentine’s Day and my lovely daughter Sydney’s birthday. Sydney is a sporty tomboy with a girlie-girl center, as demonstrated by her love of anything pink and frilly, preferably adorned with kittens, hearts, butterflies and/or unicorns. Assuming she’s not on her way to soccer practice, ...

I created these socks for my husband, who had been pestering me for a pair of socks ever since I learned how to knit them. I made lots of excuses, mainly that his feet were too big. I finally designed these socks as his Christmas gift, knitting them in a worsted-weight yarn to make the 12" foot length less painful for me! The pattern is a ...

Stretchy rib, waist shaping, fun cable panels and totally seamless construction make this an engaging summer knit.

This lovely naturally-dyed yarn from local Portland dyer Stevanie Pico reminds me of mossy forest floors and dappled sunlight filtering through treetops. I couldn’t think of putting anything on these socks but leaves, and seeded rib panels seemed the perfect interlude between falling leaves down the front of the foot and climbing vines up the b...

A pretty knit-purl texture pattern recalls branches and streams spotted along a forest path. This sock knits up wonderfully in sold, semi-solid or gently variegated yarns. Great for sock knitters of all abilities!

Knit from the toe-up on either dpns or two circular needles, this is a great first cabled sock project. It features a hybrid heel that combines the best of short-row and gusseted heel-flap construction.

Don’t get dizzy at the sight of these socks with cables that wave lazily down the leg. A fun twist on a simple cable pattern!

Sail the stormy seas with these stranded colorwork socks that utilize two different shades of semi-solid blue yarn to suggest waves on the ocean. Contrasting heel is worked using short rows.

This easy-fitting pullover features seed stitch borders, side slits, a wide neck and saddle shoulders with a lovely textured stitch pattern throughout. This pattern is also available in sizes XXL-6X.

What is it? You’ll have to knit along to find out! It’s got colorwork, is knit toe-up, and is named after progressive dinner parties, where guests go house to house and find new and different meals at each one…that’s all I can tell you!

This preview pattern includes the newborn size, which knits up lightning fast and is incredibly cute. If you enjoy this pattern, you can get it in five more sizes along with 14 other toe-up sock patterns and a wealth of toe-up sock knitting information in the book Toe-Up! Patterns and Worksheets to Whip Your Sock Knitting Into Shape by Chrissy ...