Fair Isle Knitting (ISBN 0486457540)

Indispensible:
Hopefully some company like Dover will reprint this book! With 25 pages full of pattern charts in the "Samples" chapter and approximately 120 more charted patterns scattered throughout the instructions for garments, this book is a must-have reference for anyone who is working with colors. Among the patterns, you'll find everything from little "peeries" to big patterns and patterns that incorporate a decrease (the kind used on yokes and tams). The charts are all in black-and-white, with symbols representing the various colors. This is HUGELY important for two reasons: the biggest is that you can sub in your own color scheme with no confusion (this is so critical when you are reversing lights and darks!), and the other is that they photocopy beautifully, so you can tuck a copy of the one you are working right in with your wool and needles for quick reference on the road. The "samples" chapter patterns each have a grayscale photo of a swatch. This is very helpful. In the garments section, you get the following for each and every garment: * grayscale photo of the garment * color photo of the garment * black-and-white chart for each pattern used * grayscale photo of a swatch for each charted pattern * color photo of a swatch for each charted pattern * instructions for making the garment The grayscale photos are very helpful when you are trying to identify contrast and intensity levels to decide which colors to substitute if you are using different yarn or a different color scheme. This book is an absolute necessity. If you can't find a used one, sign one out of your library. It is deceivingly thin (124 pages), but designed like the engine compartment of a jaguar: no "useless clutter" here... just jam-packed with highest-quality parts!

Great starting point:
I did buy this book based on the previous review and I have to agree with most of the points - the black and white samples are a great help and there are TON of stitch patterns in here..which I've used for several different garments with ease. My only complaint may come from the age of the book. I knitted the Child's Zip-Neck Sweater and in the pattern it asks you to divide for front and back and work back and forth. Traditional fair isle is done completely in the round..I believe this back and forth where you purl continental is called 'stranded colorwork' and is not traditional fair isle. I ended up adding a few stitches and steeking for the sleeves - much more than I expected when I flipped through and started this pattern. Otherwise, a great resource and I've found much more use out of taking the samples and incorporating them into other garments than I have using the patterns included.

WONDERFUL:
Delivered before expected, great condition, Just what has been advertized and reviewed. Excellent addition to my hoard of books.