Tucked away in a valley surrounded by a luscious landscape and rolling hills, Morehouse Farm is home to two former Manhattan-ites - Margrit Lohrer and Albrecht Pichler - who sought refuge from city life to raise Merino sheep and create the plushest wool of them all. Morehouse Farm Merino Knits opens the gates of this magical farmland with a true city-to-country fairy tale and a fresh crop of patterns for merino handknits.

The author has developed more than forty patterns that range from lacy shawls and classic sweaters to adorable baby garments and colorful mittens, along with a selection of gorgeous accessories for the home - all inspired by the beauty of merino wool and the comfort of life on Morehouse Farm. These inventive patterns include something special for each member of the family, even the cat. Lively sidebars include anecdotes about farm life, helpful knitting tips, and methods for caring for merino wool.

Designs in this book include: "Tufted Chair Pad and Cat Mat", "Striped Blanket and Matching Pillows", "KnitKnot Throw and Wrap", "Reed Shawl and Scarf", "Huck Lace Shawl", "Foulard with Case", "Rabbit-Proof Scarf", "Spiral Ruffle Scarf", "Buggy Mitts and Hats", "Child's Sweater with Matching Hat", "Molly's Jacket, Turtleneck and Hat", "Fringe-Binge Mini Muffler", "Baby Blanket with Booties and Hat", "Hats with Stripes", "Diagonal Scarf", "Double-Sided Hat", "Indian Corn Scarf and Hat", "Molas Mittens", "Bojangles Scarf with Hat", "Beret", "Mozart Trio", "Albrecht's Sweater", "Jeff's Vest", "Erin's Tunic", "Jeff's Mosaic Sweater and Socks", "Kim's Jacket" and "Debbie's Sweater".

Full-color photographs of each handknit set against the lush Morehouse landscape will transport you directly to the farm. As you escape into this charming backdrop, discover the enchanting tale of the farm and follow the wool from sheep to shawl as you read firsthand accounts of caring for the flock, shearing, dyeing, spinning, and knitting with merino wool.

Note that this is not a book for beginners, as there aren't any knitting instructions - just patterns - so readers who want to cast on should already know what they are doing.

Though all mosaic patterns are unique, the basic technique is neither unusual nor excessively demanding. Do you know how to knit a stitch, and how to slip a stitch? That's all you need. If you know these two simplest of all knitting operations, then in fact you already know how to do mosaic knitting. Each fascinating mosaic pattern uses only these two operations, with purling, sometimes, as an occasional option. Despite this extreme simplicity, however, mosaic knitting is quite different from the old method of working designs in color.

Mosaic knitting has many other advantages for the beginner. Any mosaic pattern can be worked on any number of stitches, so there's no need to worry about stitch counting and casting on correct multiples for each pattern. Also, all mosaic patterns knit to the same gauge (number of stitches and rows to the inch) as long as yarn and needle sizes remain unchanged. Patterns can be changed at will in the same piece of knitting, without altering the stitch count or the size. You never have to increase or decrease to accommodate a different gauge when passing from one pattern to another. Mosaic knitting makes no special demands on the knitter's materials. It can be worked on needles of any diameter, from zero to enormous, with yarn of any weight from fine two-ply to bulky. Furthermore, mosaic knitting gives you a choice of two basic fabric styles, garter stitch or stockinette stitch. The same patterns can be used with equal success in both, either, or a combination of them.

This revised edition of the author's 1976 work includes 113 brand new, heretofore unpublished "Magical Mosaics" - so named because they are rotationally symmetric. This book is extensively illustrated with photographs of knitted designs and knitting charts.

Tempted by the versatile and beautiful yarns produced from the fibers of llamas, sheep, cashmere-producing goats, and angora bunnies - as well as from cotton, hemp, linen, and silk - some of the most renowned designers in the textile industry have contributed patterns to this collection. There are more than twenty wonderful projects in all, and each highlights the softness, drape, and quality of the fiber used-from Norah Gaughan's "Architectural Rib Pullover" in cashmere and wool yarn and Vicki Square's "Uma Sweater" in silk yarn, to clever designs like Debbie New's "Cast-Off Clothing" in hemp yarn and Barbara Albright's "Lilliana's Organic Cotton Poncho and Drawstring Pouch" design for organic cotton yarn. Meet the entrepreneurs who are creating beautiful products that are also non-toxic and earth-friendly, using plant-dyed fibers and unique processes. For the adventurous, step-by-step instructions are included for dyeing yarn naturally at home.

Lavishly illustrated and thoughtfully detailed, The Natural Knitter offers a thorough and engaging picture of the natural fiber industry - and a beautiful palette of designs for readers to knit, savor, and enjoy.

Is he sweater-worthy? According to the author no man deserves a sweater until the relationship has progressed to the level of long-term commitment. It's just too risky to put all that time and effort and love into a knitted garment for a man who might be long gone by the time the sweater actually looks like a sweater.

But knitters do want to make soft, warm things for the people they love - new boyfriends included. So what is the proper project for the it's been-four-dates-and-we're-having-a-great-time guy? The "Dinner Date Scarf", customized with the colors of his favorite sports team, doesn't scare him with thoughts of commitment but does give him something warm he'll be happy to wear to football games.

Simple, shaped projects should be saved for more serious, exclusive relationships. Mittens, socks, and hats are all perfect for that semi-committed phase - they require a little more time and effort but can be quickly dropped if things don't work out after all. Only when the ring is in hand should work begin on the merino/cotton blend "Half-Zip Pullover", a classic, not-too-heavy sweater he will wear for years.

The author solves the problem of knitting with many different colours by knitting separate sections in different colours and then joining them to produce a glorious piece of knitting. The principles on which Patchwork Knitting is based are simple to understand and mean that you can have fun knitting in an assortment of different colours without the bother of having to untangle many balls of yarn.

Following a section explaining the technique, 27 of the author's designs are presented. These include: "Child's jacket with car buttons", "Child's jacket with strawberry buttons", "Child's pullover with slip stitches", "Child's jacket with slanting strips", "Jacket in squares for young and old", "Child's jacket with hood", "Child's jacket with herringbone strips", "Brick jacket", "Jackets in patchwork style", "Two small diamond jackets", "Child's mult-coloured jacket", "Jacket with a scale pattern", "Jacket with squares for father and son", "Child's waistcoat", "Short-sleeve jacket for girls", "Gent's jacket with diagonal strips", "Child's jacket with diagonal strips", "Baby's jacket with diagonal strips", "Child's jacket made with quadruple squares", "Child's jacket with kite pattern", "Child's pullover with coloured pencils", "Child's pullover with coloured shapes" and "Child's jacket with shell pattern".

This wonderful book, originally published in German has been translated to english in a version packed full with glorious colour pictures of the designs.

Cat Bordhi has once again turned the sock knitting world on its heel with this long-awaited book. Bordhi has the unique ability to see in an object something completely different from what you or I may see. This book stems from one such observation: The arch stitches in socks don't need to go where we've always put them. With a little understanding, you can put those stitches anywhere within the arch area - for example, in an orderly column or placed randomly - with equally successful results.

Bordhi outlines eight sock architectures based on this principle, with master patterns that can be customized for any foot, yarn type, or needle, in any size ranging from infant to large adult. More than twenty additional patterns round out the collection. This is just book one . . . I can only imagine what'll come next. (Clara Parkes, INTERWEAVE KNITS Magazine

New Pathways for Sock Knitters ignites a bright new era for sock knitters everywhere! - knit the 2 little learning socks, and you're ready for 8 new styles of sock architecture -- over 400 colorful illustrations and photos -- your choice of dpn s, 2 circs, or 1 long circ -- 28 unique patterns, with 8 for babies -- 8 Master Patterns - 1 for each architectural style -- Master Pattern sizing for infants to large men, in 11 gauges -- custom-fit feet of all shapes and sizes Worked in pure stockinette, each style is so elegant you may never wish for more. But if you want to play, the possibilities are infinite: -- let hand-painted yarns spill their colors along new and artful pathways -- harmonize the rhythms of familiar stitch patterns with the book s universal formula, and see the familiar reborn with a new and beautiful look -- combine architectures for infinite hybrid forms, or be the first to try something brand new.

The designs in this book include: "Charlie's Seeded Heart Socks", "Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks", "Robin Hood's Fireside Boots (Elf Toe Option)", "Master Sky", "Max's Springy Ring Socks", "Veil of Leaves", "Cedar Dancing Socks", "Ocean-Toes", "Slipstitch Rings", "Master Cedar", "Charlie's Dragon Socks", "Tibetan Coriolis", "Master Coriolis", "Marcelo's Seven-League Boots", "Simple Socks with a Slant", "Bubble Trails", "Fountain Foxgloves", "Master Foxglove", "Etta Mae's Bootikins", "Philosopher House Socks", "Dove Socks", "Milkmaid's Stockings", "Master Upstream", "Rushing Rivulet", "Margaret Rowan's Silken Slippers", "Clematis Vine", "Cables and Corrugations", "Master Riverbed", "Home & Hearth Eyelet Anklets", "Charlie's Wiggle Socks", "Soft-Hearted Socks", "Woven Ridge", "Master Ridgeline", "Charlie's Sheriff Boat Socks", "Sunrise Socks", "Jeweled Steps" and "Master Sidestream".

The book is broken down into 6 main headings starting with Appliques which has sections describe "Flowers", "Leaves", "Trees", "Fruits and Vegetables", and "Miscellaneous Motifs". The Cords heading is broken down into sections on "Knit Cord Motifs" and "Frogs and Closures". This is followed by a discussion on Embroidery stitches and then ideas for Fringes, Tassels, Pom-Poms and Ties. The following section on Creative Combinations shows how the author has combined groups of these techniques together in 16 beautiful finished garments. An illustrated glossary and index completes the work.