A knitting sourcebook full of patterns and techniques for making shawls and wraps with ease.
Kate Atherley and Kim McBrien Evans aim to equip adventurous knitters with the skills to knit and create shawls and wraps of all shapes and sizes and to help them forge their own shawl-knitting paths. Tips and tutorials address the technical aspects of shawl knitting, from shaping to adapting stitch patterns to making color and fabric choices. A gallery of patterns using a variety of yarns both mainstream and indie provides knitters with inspiration for customizing and creating their own designs.
More than a dozen patterns illustrate the featured knitting techniques. One-third of the patterns are aimed at beginning knitters, one-third teach intermediate knitters new skills for intriguing results, and one-third offer creative instruction in customizing. The featured yarns are a mix: some luxury fibers, some classics. Together, Atherley and McBrien Evans provide a 360-degree view of the shawl-creation process from designing to knitting.
"Two of my favorite people have teamed up for this truly inspired book that is the first, last, and only book on shawls you'll ever need. Not only do they provide patterns for you to explore, but they go deep into the why of everything—from shapes and stitches to yarns and colors—so that you can break free and create whatever your own heart desires."
~ Clara Parkes — author, yarn critic, and wool expert
"The real genius of Custom Shawls doesn't lie in its clarity (though it's super accessible), or its inspiration (though I dare you to finish the book without ignoring your other projects and starting a shawl Right Now), or in its technical depth (though it will help literally every knitter improve their craft). No, the best part of this book is the way it marries Kate's exceptional technical instruction with Kim's wild creative abandon. And what a beautiful marriage it is."
~ Amy Herzog, knitwear designer and author
"A brilliantly odd couple—technical maven Kate Atherley and vibrant yarn painter Kim McBrien Evans—have made the exact book knitters needed. Knitters love shawls—the perfect project to make and to wear—and now we can knit wonderful ones from this book forever. With impeccable organization and cheerful graphics, Kate and Kim walk the knitter through designing a custom shawl for any yarn. But we're going to start with the lush, painterly patterns—they might take a while."
~ Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne, Modern Daily Knitting
