Knitted Sweater Style: Inspirations in Color

by Jo Sharp

Well-known Australian knitwear designer Jo Sharp introduces her vibrant collection of 42 outstanding sweater designs in this, her first book of original patterns. Patterns for men, women, and children are inspired by examples from nature, cultures, and textiles from around the world.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another "interesting..." book from a definitely talented designer, who has, it appears, been allowed to go all-out with her love/adoration of patterning! Far, far over-the-top for my admittedly occasionally puritanical tastes, I found this book to be just OK due to the over-all "busyiness" of the designs, something that I occasionally find fun to look at, but never would wear and would almost never make up for anyone else.

There's a definite difference in my mind as to "intricate" versus "busy" patterns - it's not the complexity of the color arrangements nor often the graphic qualities of the designs themselves that didn't "work" for me here, it's just that so few of these patterns were, for me, beautiful. Many of them were rather chunky/clunky, not somehow pleasing to look at, kwim? YMMV, though, and they might seem rather nice - if terribly involved in the colorwork - for some knitters, especially those who need smaller sizes (yes, another Pet Peeve...).

I've enjoyed Ms. Sharp's designs in other books, and was sadly disappointed by them here. But this was, I believe, one of her earliest books (1997) and it's sub-title "Inspirations in Color" were certainly true/descriptive! I won't give up on her books as, unlike Kaffe Fassett her designs don't seem to repeat themselve endlessly as yet; admittedly I've ony seen a couple of her books so far and have looked at simply tons of Fassett's patterns, so my sampling isn't accurate... I loved Fassett's designs initially, and still find myself absolutely stunned by the beauty and fascination some of his patterns exhibit, but many, many of his later designs just seem terribly "chichi" now, and he has a tendency to take one idea and repeat it over and over and over in a pattern book, alas.

ANYway, I love colorwork, and Ms. Sharp does some of it extremely well. Here's hoping some of her newer books prove to be more interesting for my tastes (and, siggggh, that she might include a couple of larger patterns too... yeah, fat chance... (grin)).

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful patterning using Fair Isle and intarsia techniques as well as stitch patterning but the silhouettes are so boxy I couldn't get over it. Were sweater shapes still so generous in the late 1990s? I almost thought this book was from the 1980s... Nice photography. Stitch chart, schematics, and color diagrams when needed. I generally like Jo Sharp patterns but this one is for color pattern reference only!

[Drew Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

The designs are beautiful but primarily for advanced knitters and lots of intarsia so keep that in mind.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 2 out of 5]

All boxy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

a few that I'd like to make, a good book to flip through for colour and pattern inspo