At times, a single, perfect color is just what a new knitting project needs. But more often than not, the creative knitter envisions exciting color palettes that make her handmade hat unique or add special meaning to a gift for a loved one. Adding fabulous color combinations to a handknit item can be as simple as working with multicolor yarn or as intricate as applying the technical concepts of knitting intarsia. Knitting teacher and author Margaret Radcliffe presents a world of color techniques in a single comprehensive reference that knitters will consult every time two or more yarn colors are in play. Stitchers of every ability -- from the determined beginner in need of clear instructions to the experienced crafter ready to take on a new challenge -- will benefit from the color-combining methods and handy tips and secrets revealed in "The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques." Multicolor knitting techniques are explained with step-by-step illustrations and photographs accompanied by instructive text. Complete chapters on stripes, stitch effects, knitting with multicolor yarns, stranded knitting, and intarsia cover the general theory and how-to behind each method as well as creative solutions for handling tangled yarn, estimating yarn quantities of each color, handling all those ends, and stunning finishing techniques. An additional chapter describes less common techniques such as helix, shadow, mosaic, and modular knitting. Whether the goal is a softly striped throw in nursery pastels, a pair of cozy socks in team colors, or a sophisticated cashmere wrap in a jewellike pattern, "The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques" has all the answers for adventurous knitters.