Knitting cardigans or pullovers patterned in several colors is the most fun activity I can think of. It begins with an armload of colors after a visit to the yarn store before I sit for a few hours with a cup of coffee to sketch and think. Even more, I want to knit with all the skeins at the same time to see how the colors work together and if they will work out as I imagine. When I am very impatient, I begin to knit a model from the top down - or only a sleeve - so I can quickly see how the pattern works out and if the colors will "play" together nicely in the garment instead of letting them lie in the basket while I contemplate about which of them will be next. Writing a sweater knitting book is to live in a design paradise full of pretty colors and wonderful yarn qualities. Afterwards, each cardigan in the book brings up good memories from the time it was knitted. The yellow "Clover Cardigan" on page 35 takes me back to the wonderful summer days in our cottage at Randsfjorden, while the "As Seen in Setesdal" pullover on page 53 brings back good memories of Christmas together with the family. I might otherwise forget things that happened in the course of the year, but, when I take out a cardigan or other garment, my memory perks up and I can remember what was happening while I knitted the piece. I knit cardigans all year, summer as well as winter. It is peaceful to sit with a knitted garment in my hands and to dream away in the panels, patterns, and colors. Scandinavian Sweaters is a book for anyone who loves colors and pattern knitting, and you'll find patterns here for the whole family. You might recognize some of the cardigans but they are in new colors. Some of the panels have been revised and the charts have been redrawn.I hope that as you read this book, you'll find your next sweater project and you'll enjoy the fine photos my daughter Sofie Ødegård took.Finally, I would like to say that the pattern instructions are not set in stone but suggest a way forward. You can decide what colors to use and how you want your sweater to look when it's finished. Let yourself be inspired and use your own creative talents for giving the garment a unique look.Kristin Wiola Excerpted from Scandinavian Sweaters: Over 25 Stunning Patterns to Knit by Kristin Wiola Odegard All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
