MDK Field Guides are a series of travel-sized pattern books that explore the big world of knitting. Each edition has a theme and contains three patterns, along with essays, tips, and bonus features. And each beautiful little hardcopy comes with a download code for the digital version.
We picked a selection of our favourites, but if you're looking for a Field Guide that's not here, send us an email or give us a call and we will happily bring it in for you!
No. 1: Stripes
Be the first on your block to start your collection of Mason-Dixon Knitting Field Guides—little books that explore the big world of knitting.
No. 2: Fair Isle
We are unabashedly pro-colorwork. This Field Guide sets you up for success with four projects that allow brilliant color play and a bit of skill sharpening along the way.
No. 3: Wild Yarns
Hand-dyed and multicolor yarns make us giddy with delight; we collect gorgeous skeins without a care for what we might actually knit with them. Field Guide No. 3 has three great designers’ best ideas for projects that do justice to these magical yarns.
No. 4: Log Cabin
This is it. This is all you need to get the hang of log cabin knitting. With enormous pride, we introduce our concise guide to a boundless idea. With this easy technique, you’ll head off on a grand adventure of beautiful, colorful projects.
It’s easy. It’s addictive. Log cabin knitting allows you to play with color and pattern to spectacular effect.
Follow the three inspired patterns, or set off with your own log cabin idea. This book will set you up for a whole new world of fun.
No. 5: Sequences
Rich, gorgeous, simple to make.
This Field Guide introduces the ingenious idea of sequence knitting, the “unvention” of Cecelia Campochiaro.
Cecelia’s four designs provide the perfect canvas for you to play with her gorgeous knit-and-purl stitch patterns.
Rediscover the endless puzzle of knitting all over again with these elegant, simple projects.
No. 6: Transparency
As we shed the layers of winter, we crave light, warmth, air. In our knitting, and in our lives.
In this Field Guide, beloved Amy Christoffers explores different ideas of transparency in four playful, accessible designs.
No. 8: Merry Making
This is the Field Guide that gives us the chance to make merry. To make plenty. To have near at hand a collection of clever designs that have a twist of fun and a splash of style.
For the designs in this Field Guide, we turned to one of the most skilled merrymakers we know, the inimitable Thea Colman. Thea took to heart the idea of designs that can be made quickly, easily, with enough variation that they never get old, and in lots of sizes.
You’ll see in these designs all Thea’s signatures: a crazy cable, graphic colorwork, juicy texture.
If you’re the organized, plan-ahead type, consider this Field Guide your prospectus for building a bountiful pile of hats, mitts, cowls, and coasters in time for holiday gift-giving.
If you’d rather wait until the stakes are higher and time is short, know that you have this Field Guide at the ready, full of quick gifts for all. Even with the best planning in the world, there’s some thing festive—or necessary—about dashing off a cute hat in the nick of time.
No. 9: Revolution
For more than 30 years, Norah Gaughan has set our minds awhirl. She is a true revolutionary—a genius of construction, a master of cables, and a fearless innovator. These four designs are an extraordinary chance to play in Norah’s world.
No. 11: Wanderlust
The essential introduction to one of knitting’s greatest pleasures: the handknit sock. From the master of mix-and-match design, Wendy Bernard, comes all you need to knit beautiful socks. When you hit the road, be sure to pack this little book and a skein of delicious yarn.
No. 16: Painterly
Kaffe Fassett to the rescue! Just when we need him most, the beloved master of colour and pattern gives us a new collection of 5 designs to dazzle and amuse us. For every knitter who loves playing with colour, Kaffe’s designs are extraordinarily fun.
Now, we introduce a whole new world for knitters used to working only stranded colorwork. Simple intarsia.
These rhythmic, geometric designs are the perfect starting place for knitters who are new to the technique. We include lots of tips and tricks for knitting intarsia, as well as complete charts and clear instructions.
No. 19: Marls
Field Guide No. 19 is all about the fascinating technique called marling—knitting with more than one strand of yarn at a time.
We hear it a lot: I love this yarn, but what do I make with it? Cecelia Campochiaro has a jillion ideas—her marling designs are perfect for your knitters in search of fun ways to play with yarn.
No. 20: Atlas
You are going to love these fresh, inspiring designs from knitwear legend Erika Knight, who always has her finger on what we want to knit and wear right now.
Beloved British designer Erika Knight has the sublime ability to pare down a knitwear design to its essence. In Erika’s vision, handknits are “soft armor” for our lives, an idea that resonates deeply with us right now.
The featured yarn for this Field Guide is MDK’s new wool, Atlas. The gauge is 20 stitches over 4 inches/10 cm, so we hope you’ll find easy candidates in your shop’s selection of worsted-weight and DK classics.
No. 21: Brioche
Field Guide No. 21: Brioche is perfect for knitters new to the technique, with how-to instructions, tips and hints, and four patterns that set a knitter up for brioche glory.
The focus is on two-color brioche, because that’s the most straightforward way to get the hang of it.
Experienced brioche knitters will love this Field Guide, too. These designs are modern and simple, perfect for that the sweet spot we call “knitting below your skill level.”
We were total brioche newbies when we started working with Nancy on this Field Guide. Now, with Nancy’s guidance and a set of gorgeous designs, we’re confident brioche knitters. We hope you have fun sharing this Field Guide with your knitters.
No. 22: Grace
Grace stars Joji Locatelli’s four new, must-knit-now designs.
Joji knows what knitters like to knit, and each of the projects in this issue taps into the joy of knitting. Joji’s design skill is on full display: There’s no fuss to these designs, yet they are the exquisite pieces we’ll reach for when we’re craving a dash of grace.
As her thousands of fans can attest, there’s something about Joji Locatelli. Her hundreds of designs are full of surprising touches and inventions attest to a curious mind.
While the details and style of Joji’s patterns vary, they share a kind of knitterly charisma. Each garment bears the stamp of wearability, casual confidence, and a touch of the grace Joji beams into the world from her home in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
No. 23: Glow
Welcome to a world of exuberant color and pattern, from the brilliant, beloved designers Arne and Carlos.
This is knitting at its most joyful. Knitters love the way Arne and Carlos tap into Norwegian knitting traditions, but with a modern sensibility.
Known by knitters the world over, Arne and Carlos are particularly beloved for their weekly video podcast, Sit and Knit for a Bit, in which they welcome knitters into their home in Norway for a warmhearted, wide-ranging chat session.
No. 24: Spark
We’re chuffed to bits to announce the brilliant designer who’s the star of this Field Guide:
Olga is easily one of the most inventive designers working today. She has created five brand-new designs that take us on a fascinating ride—these are all designs that will work beautifully with yarns you currently carry.
Olga understands what knitters love. They want knitting that isn’t too difficult but has cool surprises along the way.
No. 26: Moss
Hélène Magnússon is a designer who has Iceland in her heart. As you’ll soon discover, her love for this place and this culture is highly contagious.
Your knitters will love the fast way these five projects knit up.
Please note that the first four designs will work well with Istex Lettlopi—worked with a single strand, not held double—as well as the yarns mentioned below.
No. 27: Sock Odyssey
Jump into the joys of sock knitting, with ’s four amazing designs for Field Guide No. 27: Sock Odyssey.
We’re using DK weight yarns, rather than the typical fingering weight.
What a difference that change makes! Socks knit up faster. They’re extra cushiony. And with Fatimah Hinds as our guide, we embark on a fantastic journey of clever cables and intriguing techniques.
It’s the perfect portable project for summer.
