Color is the most personal element a knitter brings to her work. Vibrant colors combined in exciting patterns can make a project sing; dull colors or jarring combinations can just as easily break the same project. Yet even experienced knitters often feel uncertain about stepping outside safe but predictable color choices.

Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Kristin Nicholas encourages readers to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. Once awakened to the glories of color, knitters begin to see new possibilities in nature, at museums, in full-color books and magazinesand#8212;everywhere that color makes a powerful statement. Any beautiful display can become the inspiration for an upcoming knitting project!

The fresh collection of 25 designs for hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and sweaters that Kristin has created for Kristin Knits showcases her extraordinary feel for color. Her distinctive palette, influenced by Indian and French provincial textiles, is recognizable in fi ve exciting designs for each type of garment. Whether using Kristin's favorite colors or applying exciting personal choices, knitters will be thrilled to create these projects.

Kristin's innovative stitch combinations are another hallmark of her fearless ways with knitted color. She adds stripes and checks to rib stitches, bobbles and fringe to edgings, and even embellishes entire projects with a few basic embroidery stitches. Welcome to a Technicolor world of knitting!

If you're confident with the needles, but still feel a little unsure about improvising with color, now you can learn to develop your personal fiber palette with Kristin Nicholas. She enthusiastically guides you through the process of harmonizing colors and textures to create knitted garments that are personal, contemporary, and stunningly beautiful.

Nicholas encourages every knitter to look all aroundandmdash;in a flower-filled park, at an art museum, in a child's picture bookandmdash;for colors that please and inspire. Work those colors into your knitting with wide or narrow stripes, surprising bobbles and fingers, or basic embroidery stitches that lend playfulness to even the simplest patterns. Experiment with your wildest ideas. You can always unravel what doesn't work!

Play with your new color freedom with 27 Kristin Nicholas patterns, expressly designed to showcase color in combination. Make your knitting sing with the warm, vibrant colors for which Nicholas is famous, or take inspiration from her to find your own color language. Either way, the results will shine!

Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Nicholas encourages readers to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. The fresh collection of 25 designs showcases her extraordinary talent for color.

Kristin Nicholas was named one of Vogue Knitting'sMaster Knitters of the '90s and has designed knitwear for Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Knitting, and other major magazines. She is the author of Colorful Stitcheryand three other books on knitting. Kristin lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and assorted farm animals.