Books
It’s a Book! A Year of Techniques
Cause for celebration: the print edition of A Year of Techniques has arrived in the MDK Shop. It’s the battery-free, lovely-to-hold, easy-to-carry edition of the wonderful how-to series that has captivated knitters all over.
Maybe you’ve been watching and waiting to jump in? Maybe today is your day!
In one volume, you’ll have all twelve projects that make up A Year of Techniques. Each pattern introduces a new technique, so by the end of each project, you’ve learned something new and you have a great finished object to love and give. (Or keep.)
We’re happy to send you your print edition, as well as whatever kits you’d like to have. (See below.)
Choose whatever project you like to start. Work them in any order. We promise, from personal experience, that each project can easily be made in 30 days—or much less if you get in The Zone.
Our Fearless Leaders
The words that come to mind about Jen and Jim Arnall-Culliford are: Cheerful. Cool headed. Supersmart. To take lessons from this pair is something we’d jump to do. Now, we don’t even have to head to England to learn with these very special teachers.
The Techniques
Jen says: “We have a selection of nifty cast ons, some colorwork techniques, and many ways to make your knitted fabric three-dimensional. We hope that having worked through A Year of Techniques with us, you’ll be inspired to continue to develop your skills in the areas that most interest you.”
You’ll learn:
- Helical stripes
- Intarsia
- Judy’s magic cast on (both for starting closed tubes, and as a provisional cast on)
- Knitting on a border
- Garter stitch grafting
- Pinhole cast on (also known as Emily Ocker’s circular cast on)
- Reading cables from charts
- Short rows
- Afterthought heels and thumbs
- Mastering dominance in Fair Isle knitting
- Turning a heel
- Steeks
The Designers
The designers are all wicked clever. An illustrious, admirable, smartypants group.
Bristol Ivy, Ella Austin, Ella Gordon, Martina Behm, Mary Jane Mucklestone, Rachel Coopey, Romi Hill, Sarah Hatton, Jen Arnall-Culliford, Jim Arnall-Culliford, Tin Can Knits, and Woolly Wormhead.
The Instruction
What’s nice about this print edition is that it lets you stop and ponder. The step-by-step tutorials are detailed and carefully created. There are five billion photos (that is an exaggeration) in these how-to tutorials, and they make a great hard-copy reference when you’re on a yacht in the Mediterranean (or other locale with spotty wifi, aka the back yard) and you can’t access the Year of Techniques video tutorials here on MDK.
The Yarns and Projects
We have all the yarns you’ll need to make all the projects in A Year of Techniques. So far, we’ve launched kits for the first seven projects, and we’ll continue to introduce a new kit at the beginning of the month, for the next five months. Right now, here’s what’s available now in the Shop:
Hyacinthus Armwarmers kit by Jen Arnall-Culliford, using Zauberballs.
Brambling Shawl kit by Bristol Ivy, using Fyberspates Cumulus.
Alex the Mouse by Ella Austin, using Socks Yeah! Currently restocking kits for this popular mouse.
Talmadge Cloche Hat kit by Romi Hill, using Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply.
Antirrhinum Socks kit by Rachel Coopey, using Socks Yeah!
Little Tern Blanket kit by Tin Can Knits, using Fyberspates Vivacious DK.
Wood Warbler Cowl kit by Martina Behm, using Schoppel Gradient (aka a bigger Zauberball!).
Ruschia Hat kit by Woolly Wormhead, using Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran.
We’re looking forward to learning more with Jen and Jim—now that we have our official print textbook, it feels like we need to go buy pencils and binders. Something about a book makes things feel all official. Hope you’ll come to class with us!
The book is a treasure to inspire and instruct for many years to come. I ordered mine when this “year” began. I now have a dedicated box in my yarn closet for all things Year of Techniques.
Dear Husband,
I do not need another pretty necklace. I just put new brakes and tires on my truck and dropped my sewing machine off for a tune up. There is no room in the kitchen for any more cool tools or gadgets. I do, however, NEED A Year of Techniques from the MDK shop. I will be happy to order it, wrap it and attach a gift tag with your name prominently displayed next to the from, place it under the tree and act completely surprised and delighted when I open it. (I’m sure no one will notice if some of the pages already look a bit well fondled!) My knit buddies will be amazed by your thoughtfulness.
XOXO,
Your Wife
PS- the Field Guides will make great stocking stuffers or small gifts to scatter under the tree (you can tell the kids to get them), and I’m sure a couple pairs of new handknit socks will find their way into your sock drawer once A Year of Techniques takes up residence in my knitting bag.
Yes. This my Christmas list too!
I’ve been sitting on the fence about A Year of Techniques, but the book has put me over the edge. I look forward to receiving it!
I bought this last weekend at Yarndale in Skipton (a must-visit event for any yarn-a-holic). Already it’s proven it’s worth (garter stitch graft) and, in my opinion, stands alongside Elizabeth Zimmerman’s “Knitting Without Tears”& “The Opininated Knitter” as well as Montse Stanley’s “Knitter’s Handbook” and you gals at MDK!
I’ve been part of the patterns since the second month. Will be get any kind of discount on the physical copy?
How wonderful to have a hard reference for when we need to have some screenless knitting time. OR, when our screen is how we watch Father Brown WHILE knitting.
I ordered the book when I signed up for the Year. The book is well thought out with clear pictures and instructions in a readable font. This book has become a treasured reference book.