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Optical Illusions

- The designs in this collection share the common feature that they are not what they appear! The designs follow in the footsteps of the Japanese optical tradition as well as American patchwork designs which delight in forming squares which when pieced together illuminate circular or other shapes or objects. Many designs in the Optical Illusions collection incorporate multiple layers of patterning so that the design changes depending on the way you look at it. Different shapes come to the fore at different times, and sometimes all are perceived at once so that you might be seeing a series of circles, yet a series of squares or triangles at the same time. Alternatively you might see a series of blocks stacked up at first glance, but a series of flowers when you look again.

Knitting
The designs in the book are fairisle designs using only two colours in the row with colour changes all at the same side. Alongside the main design grids there is a set of smaller mirror image charts which you can follow on the purl rows if you prefer so that you are always reading from right to left in the same way you would knit from right to left. (If you are a left-handed knitter, of course you would follow the mirror image chart on the knit rows and the main chart on the purl rows)
   
Optical Illusion design Patchwork collar Optical circles design for knitters Optical Illusion Attic Windows  
Mystery Wheels design from Optical Illusions. This one could even be quilted to emphasise the optical circles. Average float length 3 st. maximum floats 6 st
Optical Circles design
Attic Windows design