Knitting, Crochet and Crafts

The Big 3 Knitting Techniques Book: Knit Sweaters Mittens Hats and More

How to Use Stranded Color Knitting, Slip Stitch Knitting and Relief Stitch Patterns to Create Beautiful and Unique Garments

Would you be interested in finding a brand new knitting technique book that is also a stitch dictionary and pattern book — all rolled into one slim, compact, portable volume you could toss in your project bag and easily take with you anywhere? And would you be excited if this book covered not just one, but THREE of the most visually interesting knitting techniques?


What if you could also learn how to take several ultra-simple patterns for mittens, sweaters and a hat and learn how to transform them in zillions of different ways using different color combinations and stitch patterns? Do you like the look of mixed and matched patterns, but hesitate to knit them yourself because you aren’t sure how to combine the patterns in a way that looks appealing?


If any of these ideas sound exciting to you, there’s a brand new knitting book you’re going to want to know about. Keep reading to learn more about The Big 3 Knitting Techniques: How to Use Color, Slip Stitch, and Relief Stitch Patterns to Create Beautiful and Unique Garments.

What You Need to Know About This Knitting Book:

The Big 3 Knitting Techniques Book by Ann-Mari Nilsson, Published by Trafalgar Square Books
The Big 3 Knitting Techniques Book by Ann-Mari Nilsson, Published by Trafalgar Square Books


Author: Ann-Mari Nilsson


Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books


Copyright Date: I’m reviewing the English translation of this book, which has a copyright date of 2018.


ISBN 13: 978-1570769030


ISBN 10: 1570769036


This book is available in the following format: Hardcover Without Dust Jacket

Number of Pages: 128
Knitting Skill Level: Knitters who have achieved at least a skill level rating of intermediate will get the best value from this book. However, I think the book is also a good value for beginning knitters who aspire to advance their skills. You will learn a LOT from swatching these stitch patterns and experimenting with these techniques. Just be aware that, if you’re a total beginner, it will take some practice and effort for you to succeed with knitting these patterns.

The Knitting Techniques You’ll Learn About in This Book:

Stranded Color Knitting

(This is basically the same technique as Fair Isle knitting).


These hat and mittens are worked using the multi-color stranded knitting technique. You can knit these projects exactly as pictured, or you can adapt these stitch patterns to other types of projects. You can also customize these hat and mittens with different knitting stitch patterns. You'll find charts for these stitch patterns, plus the hat and mitten patterns in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book. This photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.
These hat and mittens are worked using the multi-color stranded knitting technique. You can knit these projects exactly as pictured, or you can adapt these stitch patterns to other types of projects. You can also customize these hat and mittens with different knitting stitch patterns. You'll find charts for these stitch patterns, plus the hat and mitten patterns in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book. This photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.

Slip Stitch Knitting

Here you can see a couple of example projects that were knitted using the slip stitch knitting technique. The versatile hat and mitten patterns are included in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book, along with this stitch pattern and a variety of others you can use for making these projects and others that are similar. You can knit these projects exactly as shown, or you can try using the same stitch pattern on your other knitting projects.
Here you can see a couple of example projects that were knitted using the slip stitch knitting technique. The versatile hat and mitten patterns are included in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book, along with this stitch pattern and a variety of others you can use for making these projects and others that are similar. You can knit these projects exactly as shown, or you can try using the same stitch pattern on your other knitting projects.

Relief Stitch Knitting (Surface Texture Patterns)

Here you can see a couple of examples of projects knitted using surface texture stitches, also known as relief stitches. If you happen to like this classic textured stitch pattern, you can use it on other projects too; apply it to the vests or sweater pattern or other types of knitting projects. The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book includes many other relief stitch patterns in addition to this one, empowering you to explore the technique in depth. This photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.
Here you can see a couple of examples of projects knitted using surface texture stitches, also known as relief stitches. If you happen to like this classic textured stitch pattern, you can use it on other projects too; apply it to the vests or sweater pattern or other types of knitting projects. The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book includes many other relief stitch patterns in addition to this one, empowering you to explore the technique in depth. This photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.


Some of the Other Topics Covered in This Book:

  • Yarn
  • Stitch Count and Gauge
  • Sizing Garments
  • Knitting Needles
  • Casting on
  • Edge Stitches
  • Pattern Fit
  • How to Splice Yarn
  • Thumbholes in Mittens
  • How to Care for Handknitted Garments
  • Darning to Mend Worn Spots
  • More!

Knitting Projects Included in This Book:

Basic Knitted Hat Pattern

The hats pictured above are all variations of the basic knitted hat pattern you’ll find in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques. It is an intermediate level pattern designed for women’s size medium (21 inches / 53 cm). As written, the pattern is slouchy, but it can easily be adjusted for a sleeker fit if you prefer. There are instructions for making an optional pompom.


Pictured in the book are 9 different variations of this hat pattern, which are all styled to match the mitten pattern which is also included in the book. Each of these 9 variations is well worth knitting — but you could also use the stitch patterns in the book to customize your own variations on this pattern.

Mittens

The mittens pictured above are all variations you can make using this basic women’s mitten pattern. This is an intermediate level pattern designed for women’s size medium (Hand circumference of 7 1/2 inches / 19 cm).


The Big 3 Knitting Techniques includes pictures of 9 different variations on this mitten pattern — the 3 you see pictured above, plus others too. They’re all wearable and attractive — I want to knit them all!

Pullover Vest

This vest is a sleek, close-fitting design you could layer underneath a jacket or cardigan for extra warmth when it’s cold outside. The pattern is sized for women from XS through XL and is graded for 5 sizes. The actual bust measurements range from 33 inches (84 cm) to 45 3/4 inches (116 cm).


This photo shows you multiple possibilities for how you could style the vest patterns using the stitch patterns you'll find in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book by Ann-Mari Nilsson. You could make any of these exactly as pictured, or you could customize your own variations to suit your unique sense of style. The photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.
This photo shows you multiple possibilities for how you could style the vest patterns using the stitch patterns you’ll find in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book by Ann-Mari Nilsson. You could make any of these exactly as pictured, or you could customize your own variations to suit your unique sense of style. The photo is courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books and is used with their permission.

Buttoned Vest

This pattern is graded for the same range of sizes as the pullover vest pattern mentioned above. It is an intermediate-level knitting pattern.

Knitted Cardigan Sweater Pattern

This is an advanced-level pattern for women in 3 sizes: XS, S and M (34″, 36 1/4″, 38 1/2″) / (86, 92, 98 cm). If you want to learn how to do steeks, this pattern will teach you.


If you want to knit a sweater just like this one, use the Fine Little Cardigan pattern plus the Halsing Fair stranded colorwork stitch pattern found in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book by Ann-Mari Nilsson, published by Trafalgar Square Books. OR you could customize this silhouette using any of the other stitch patterns presented in the book.
If you want to knit a sweater just like this one, use the Fine Little Cardigan pattern plus the Halsing Fair stranded colorwork stitch pattern found in The Big 3 Knitting Techniques book by Ann-Mari Nilsson, published by Trafalgar Square Books. OR you could customize this silhouette using any of the other stitch patterns presented in the book.

The Best Things About This Book

This pattern collection is likely to spark your creativity. If you aren’t already an expert at the 3 knitting techniques covered in the book, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised at how this book will help you take your knitting to amazing new levels. It gives you the opportunity to do a TON of customizing and personalizing to your knitted projects.


You can take the garment and accessory patterns in this book, mix and match them with the stitch patterns in this book, and create thousands — millions — zillions of variations using different color combinations. The possibilities are mind boggling and virtually unlimited.


The stitch patterns presented in the book are all creative, wearable and useful — not a single dud in the group. There are houndstooth designs, geometrics, traditional Scandinavian style designs, argyle, stars, diamonds and more.


The patterns are all quite classic in nature; you will not find anything outlandish or bizarre in the entire collection. If you make any of the designs from this book, they’ll likely still be wearable a couple of decades from now — or even farther into the future.

Other Observations About This Book:

The stitch patterns are all charted out, which is quite helpful. The charts are large and clearly readable — a big bonus for those of us whose eyesight isn’t the greatest. The chart symbols are clearly explained. However, written-out text instructions are not included for each stitch pattern.

Conclusion

This is a beautiful book, and I’m delighted to recommend it to other knitters. I think it’s well worth the money, assuming you need either women’s sweater and accessory patterns or knitting stitch patterns in the 3 knitting techniques this book covers. I treasure my copy of this book, and I think you will really enjoy it, too!

Where to Buy This Book:

Similar Knitting Books and Related Resources

More Stranded Colorwork and Fair Isle Knitting References

Fair Isle Knitting Book: 22 Traditional Patterns from Where the Atlantic Meets the North Sea by Carina Olsson, Published by Trafalgar Square Books
Fair Isle Knitting Book: 22 Traditional Patterns from Where the Atlantic Meets the North Sea by Carina Olsson, Published by Trafalgar Square Books
  • Fair Isle Knitting Book: 22 Traditional Patterns from Where the Atlantic Meets the North Sea — Find colorful Fair Isle knitting patterns in classic silhouettes.
  • Knit Yourself In — This book features some of the most interesting knitting patterns, charts and concepts I’ve ever come across. The focus of the book is colorful knitting patterns designed in the Danish “Hen Knitting” tradition. If you don’t know what that is, click through to read my book review — because I introduce the concept of hen knitting in the review. It’s a GREAT concept that resonates with many knitters. You’re likely to love it!
  • Winter Knits From Scandinavia — This is a lovely, engaging knitting pattern book featuring stranded color knitting patterns that are suitable for women, men and children. Exceptional photography and delightful projects make this book especially appealing. The projects included in this book are mittens, hats, socks and a cowl.
  • The Alterknit Stitch Dictionary — This is not your everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill knitting book. It’s a stitch dictionary with a quirky “personality”. The subject material in the book is entirely focused on stranded colorwork knitting designs. Some of the stitch patterns are classic and some of them are pretty weird (pooping pigs and grim reapers, anyone?) but they’re all interesting to knit. The book also includes helpful reference information for learning how to do the stranded colorwork knitting technique.

Learn More About Knitting

Posted By: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 8-5-2023.