Life before Colour Correction
I just picked up a copy of Alice Starmore’s “Pacific Coast Highway” from an interlibrary loan. Realize that this same book just sold for $256 CDN on Ebay this past weekend. Crazy, I tell you, crazy.
There are just two items that I might make out of here: the Grant Avenue vest and the Abalone cardigan. I’m obsessing over Grant Avenue right now because I want to get the colours “just right”. It doesn’t help when these photos were published without attention to correct colours! See below:
You can see a real life example of this at Junieann’s site. She knit up Grant Avenue just a few months ago, using stashed AS Campion in the exact colours specified in the pattern. How is it that her vest looks completely different than the book’s photo? Here’s another example on Veronique’s site and also here.
Tags: Alice Starmore, Grant Avenue
You can get the same colors in Shetland wool. There are conversion charts on the web if you google. I have the yarn in my stash to knit someday soon (and thank goddess I have the book!)
The sad truth is, no matter photo engineering or display quality, there is just no such thing as color accuracy. (I’ve been working in graphic design for some years and learned this the hard way) The only only thing you can rely on are yarn shade cards… I always invest in shade cards whenever possible.
There is a group called “Knitting Beyond the Hebrides” that has a large number of AS devotees in membership. I checked the site for you - (http://knittingbeyondthehebrides.org/) they’re doing some upgrading right now, but it is a great resource for all things Starmore. I do remember that there was a detailed chart with all the yarn conversions/substitutions for all her patterns and discontinued yarns.
And I understand the craziness that is the cost of her out of print books! I’ve been trying for 18 mos to get a copy of “Aran Knitting” but have yet to find it for under $200.
Isn’t it crazy how much these books sell for?? I am fortunate to have a good number of her books, that I purchased before they went out of print. I could make a small fortune on them, but they are priceless to me :-).
How lucky to find one in this library!!
This is my first visit to your blog and I’ve got to say “beautiful projects”! Diana had a link to your Baby Norgi and it is just so sweet. For some reason, I hadn’t really considered that pattern when I first saw it on knitty but after seeing yours, I am definitely rethinking. Your paisley lace shawl is beautiful as well. Great blog - I’ll definitely be back.
Vicki