AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary: 200 Modern Knitting Motifs

Easy to use, incredibly modern designs, endlessly useful, beautiful to look at again and again. If you don’t know how to steek, this is the book that will entice you to finally learn. You can’t look into this book and walk away without being seized by an overwhelming yearning to create and wear a dozen different patterns. Not like “hm, that’s interesting” more like “Whoa! I NEED that.” As a cowl or a cardigan bottom band or a starburst sweater collar or sock cuffs, or a waistcoat peeking out under your suits. I saw the first 3 pages of stitch patterns and was already debating color combinations from my existing stash. Midway through the book I was calculating stitch count needed to match left and right sides of a cardigan from Ann Budd’s famous top-down book. By the end of the book, I had 3 sketches of garments I’m preparing to knit. This book has everything from subtle robots to hypnotic curving stripes to sophisticated geometric fabrics, to absurd pooping pigs. Every pattern is a unique, modern approach to stranded colorwork. About one-third of the designs are easy, short float patterns. One-third are extreme, huge motifs that would challenge even the most skillful knitter. And the remaining third are designs that offer modest challenges with managably-long floats. Every single design (even the pooping pigs or marching zombies) is aesthetically pleasing. There’s a real balanced eye behind these patterns. Even the easy 2MC/2CC designs are impactful statements. The most dangerous thing about this book is maintaining enough self control to NOT rush out and buy yarn for multiple projects all at once. Complete ONE project and then reward yourself for Bravery While Steeking by then buying yarn for your next project. You only have 2 hands at the most. Be reasonable. With this book comes great responsibility. The Alter-Knits Stitch Dictionary is a valuable resource that couples very well with Ann Budd’s Top Down Sweater guidebook, or TinCan Knits free seamless raglan sweater pattern called Flax Light, or a free toe up sock pattern from Ravelry.

The 200+ motifs start with a fresh, creative take on lovely traditional motifs, moves on to some playful variations and improvements on old faithfuls such as horizontal, vertical stripes and squares, and the grand finale are several unique, original, one of a kind, newly designed motifs. Zombies, hippos, raccoons & garbage cans, mushrooms, bicycles, owls, bears, bats, .... Some motifs are inspired by the vertigo inducing ideas of M.C. Escher - a treasurer trough of new, fresh, inspiring, smile-inducing patterns! At the very end five basic patterns, very well explained, that can be used as is or altered to fit your needs and ideas. The technical side is also worth mentioning: Excellent, crystal-clear pictures, the knitting itself done on top-level, the charts nicely laid out. Technical explanations, hints, tips and tricks are contained to the necessary minimum: Enough to understand and be inspired; but not too much to be boring. A great deal of encouragement, and cheer-leading by the author: take this book and run with it! Nothing is chiseled in stone, do it your way! Be your own designer and artist. This book is a treat and should not be missing from any knitting book library, no matter how large or small!

Great book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stitch dictionary! You won’t find your typical motifs, but rather unique and original designs that are as wonderful as they are inspiring! I have already started a pattern using a slightly motified version of one motif. The layout of the book is excellent! The colors chosen for each sample expertly showcases its motif. The charts are correct and clear. I have done little colorwork so the section explaining how to hold dominant and background colors and carry floats was perfect for me! The patterns at the end are fun and offer a variety of different knits to showcase the motifs. This book will provide knitters with an endless amount of inspiration and fun! You might even find yourself designing your own unique motifs! Highly recommend for every knitter’s library!

Generally, I like to keep my knitting pattern purchases to a minimum since there are so many good free patterns. BUT...I love this book--the way it's laid out, the way it's written, the way it's photographed. It was worth every penny and I'm so excited to create with it! If you are new to knitting, this book would be a fabulous way to get a better handle on stranded knitting, tension, and pattern repeats in small, doable samples that could easily be turned into coasters or some other small thing. If you are an experienced knitter, this book is great for adapting & spicing up patterns like sweaters, legwarmers, baby garmets....EVERYTHING! The motifs are all (or mostly) created in two colors, but could easily be adapted for more colors, depending on your aesthetic. There are a few patterns in the back of the book as well.

Disappointed that there is not more pictorial / tutorial representation of the techniques she discusses. The charts are nice, I was expecting something more alternative than a skull and bones pattern, but the sheep, and bees motifs are wonderfully creative. The charts are nice, instructions include substitution charts that can be plugged in if you don't like what's presented in the written pattern. Informative, her discussion of yarn weight and how to figure out stitch count although short is helpful. Nice book, definitely for Intermediate to advanced knitters.

Such cool and unique patterns. Can’t wait to make so many things with it.

What a fantastic book !! It is amazing, the patterns are great. The sections about how to hold the yarn, one would not ordinarily think about, the author explans the how's and why's and gives pictures as examples which helps alot. Three minor quibbles. #1 I wish the book had been comb book bound so that it wouid lie flat #2 I wish some of the charts that accompany the patterns were bigger. It would have meant more pages but I would be willing to pay more for that and to have the book comb bound. #3 and the final quibble, I wish the author would have shown examples of how to cast on using two or more colors of yarn.

I love colourwork and was looking for something less traditional and these patterns hit the mark. But this book offers so much more. There’s a section at the front with clearly explained tips and advice for everything from catching floats to matching colours. There’s a section at the back with some knitting patterns for projects. The swatches themselves are beautifully photographed with clear charts next to each image. Most useful of all is an index of the patterns with a stitch and row count, which is invaluable for incorporating designs into your own pattern. I love love love this book and cannot recommend it highly enough.

可愛いすぎる2色の編み込みパターンが満載で、ページをめくる度ウキウキさせてくれる大切な一冊です。

Tiene motivos muy bonitos y los patrones del final son fáciles de seguir. Muy recomendable.

Molto bello, tanti disegni interessanti e una dettagliata spiegazione delle basi per la maglia a due colori. Alla fine 5 progetti: una cuffia, un maglione, un collo, un cardigan e un paio di guanti. A me piacciono cardigan e collo, ci proverò a farli.

Avis à tous les amateurs de jacquard! Ce livre en anglais est formidable! La première partie du livre (13 pages) est dédiée à la technique du jacquard. La seconde, la plus importante présente sous forme de diagramme, avec une photo de l'échantillon, les différents motifs, 200! Tous originaux, modernes! Une mine d'inspiration. La dernière partie du livre propose des patrons. Il y a un bonnet (avec des variantes proposées), des moufles, un col, un pull avec un yoke en jacquard (of course!) et un magnifique gilet tout en jacquard. J'adore ce livre! Un magnifique ajout à ma bibliothèque.