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Wolverine Librarian
New Pal
USA
43 Posts |
 Posted - 01/10/2007 : 4:40:52 PM
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What are some of you favorite knitting books, you know, the one's you either carry in your bag or look at on a regular basis?
Since I am a beginning knitter some of my favorite books right now tend to be technique related but here is my list.
Stitch and B*itch by Debbie Stoller
(The book that helped learn how to really knit my first successful project came from this book)
The Knitter's book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman (Helped me piece my first sweater)
The Knitting Answer Book... by Margaret Radcliffe
(Stays in my knitting bag I will not leave home without it if there's any chance of knitting)
Not your Mama's Knitting ... by Heather Dixon
(In the same vein as stitch and b*itch but better coverage of binding off methods and more on pattern alternatives. There is a yummy project for a knitted lace cardigan with alternate pattern for a matching dress.)
Vogue knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book by Vogue Patterns (Also stays in the Knitting Bag)
I have the first three volumes of the Vogue Stitchionary mostly for reference for intructions for stitch patterns.
So what are some of your favorites?
"Not all who wander are lost" |
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Tangled Jane
Seriously Hooked
Canada
750 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 5:08:54 PM
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Wolverine, I'm drawn to inspiration books with a range of unique patterns to spur on the creativity. Tonight I'm pouring over the Stitchonaries trying to figure out how to wed lace with multicolor knitting. My eyes are crossing (with little picot edgings along the lids). My all-time favorite knitting book is still Kaffe Fasset's Glorious Color.
Jane
http://www.janethornley.com/ |
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fleegle
Permanent Resident
Japan
1507 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 5:13:45 PM
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The one I pull off the shelf most often for reference is Stanley's The Knitter's Handbook.
For inspiration, all of Nikky Epstein's and Barbara Walker's books.
For lace, A Gathering of Lace by Meg Swansen and Sharon Miller's Heirloom Knitting
For just plain old good knit-centric reading, Elizabeth Zimmerman's books.
If I had to pick one to take with me, it would probably be Stanley's book. But I hope I never have to make that choice!
Come visit my blog...
http://fleeglesblog.blogspot.com |
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yarnmama
Seriously Hooked
880 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 5:35:55 PM
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My Vogue Knitting is the first on my list.
Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns and the Handy Book of Sweaters
I have two sets of Stitch dictionaries, the Vogue Stitchioary set (all three) and the Harmony Guides.
Maggie Reghetti's Sweater Design in Plain English and my EZ collection
I have lots of other pattern collection and technique books that I love, but these are the most used.
Catherine Harrison
owner of Knitting Notions:Kettle Dyed yarns, Hardwood yarn swifts and more
http://www.knittingnotionsonline.com |
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yarnlover
Permanent Resident
1729 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 5:51:19 PM
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| My favorite is still Principles of Knitting (out of print) and not one you'd carry around unless an extra 10 lbs in your knitting bag is okay. But, it's my best reference book for knitting know-how. I also use Vogue and Stanley's Knitters Handbook as well as Maggie Righetti's books. |
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Calamintha
Permanent Resident
USA
2886 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 6:25:58 PM
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| Barbara Walker's Stitch Treasury books have provided me with endless hours of entertainment and quite a few nice shawls of my own design. They are also full of good information on technique. Absolutely essential if you think you will ever want to do lace or aran cable knitting. |
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LittleMousling
Permanent Resident
USA
1093 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 7:07:26 PM
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Agreed about A Gathering of Lace (and Victorian Lace Today, which may actually turn out to be closer to my ideal lace book than the first--we'll see how it looks in a year). I don't knit much lace compared to some, but I can open these time and again and want to knit nearly everything (and I'm really, really, really picky. And a little bit vicious ;).
Definitely The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques. I don't literally carry this everywhere, but it's close.
Knitting from the Top, absolutely. There's something about her descriptions that just works for my style. Sparse, sure, but her explanations of shaping just work for me.
Knitting Without Tears. It's a classic for a reason.
-Molly, obsessive but not exclusive socknitter
Stash photos, WIPs and some FOs |
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Diane in Boston
Chatty Knitter
106 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 7:09:53 PM
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I don't know why, but I hate the Montise Stanley book. It seems more complicated than many of the other technique books that I've looked at or some of the information on the Internet.
I love the Barbara Walker books and the Harmony stitch dictionaries and often read them before I go to sleep, which is a bad idea because they stimulate my brain rather than quiets it. I also like The Principles of Knitting which I have out of the library right now. The Maggie Righetti books are fun to read and full of common sense wisdom.
I keep taking books out of the library and have found a number of old books that have interesting sections on particular topics even though the book as a whole may be dated. I also find patterns in old books that are very interesting and could be adapted to more modern shapes.
For lace knitting, I like Victorian Lace Today, though I'm not crazy about knitting some of the patterns, even though they are beautiful, because they are too repetitive. I also like A Gathering of Lace, Folk Shawls, and Lace Knitting (out of print, though available from the library).
I also appreciate all the information available on the Internet, both on sites like Knittinghelp.com and on lists like this. |
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Calamintha
Permanent Resident
USA
2886 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 7:36:24 PM
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| In line with what Diane was saying, Mary Thomas' Knitting Book which was first published back in the 1930's (I think) and is still in print is a marvelous book with lots of historical information plus helpful tips on how to make many different articles of knitting clothing. No patterns per se but lots of helpful information. |
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knitree
Seriously Hooked
688 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 9:35:33 PM
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Knitting Tips and Trade Secrets from Threads Magazine has provided lots of good information over the years. Vogue Knitting is great. Sally Melville's Knit book has come in handy at times. I don't carry any of them with me, but do usually have a copy of Interweave Knits magazine pretty close at hand, and I use the internet alot ~ Knitty and this forum in particular.
Tree
Taking simple patterns and complicating them... |
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Mickey
Permanent Resident
USA
1670 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 10:46:32 PM
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| EZ's books are full of tips and fun to read. So are Maggie Righetti's, even though she talks nonsense sometimes. "Bäuerliches Stricken" by Lisl Fanderl is my favorite collection of Bavarian-style lace patterns. Kaffee Fassett gives me ideas for colorwork, Elsebeth Lavold for cables, Alice Starmore for both. |
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stellal
Seriously Hooked
New Zealand
956 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 11:09:39 PM
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choose one, I can't but anything by EZ, the pricilla gibson roberts, knitting sweaters in the old way, and Montse stanley, plus my Mary thomas (I am lucky enough to have a vintage one 1938), my Ida Riley Duncan (vintage again 1966). all of these have a common theme - they details how to knit sweaters according to measurements and percentages.
for inspiration - PCR again, Poems of color on Bohus sweaters, and a narrow but chock full paper back with 1800 different stitch patterns.
Stella
I used to follow patterns, now I just make my own up as i go. Most times life is to short to read other peoples instructions - other times I really really wish I had. And my almost new blog www.Knitknitfrog.blogspot.com
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FluffyKnitterDeb
New Pal
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 11:10:49 PM
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I'm pretty surprised no one's mentioned my favorite for knitting techniques, The Big Book of Knitting by Katherina Buss! Great pictures, easy to follow explanations and tons of info without weighing 10 pounds! I love Nancy Weisman's Finishing Techniques too!
For socknitting, if you have a copy of Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks and Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks you'll be set for life! :)
Debi
Fluffy Knitters are well rounded :)
Read my blog at http://fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4291 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 04:17:30 AM
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At last count I had more than 70 knitting books that I've collected over the past 25 years. When I first made the count, I wondered about my sanity, but just about all of them serve a good purpose, whether it's practical or inspirational.
I use Barbara Walker's 1st and 2nd Treasuries the most, and Nancie Wiseman's finishing book, and beyond that I still find a reason to have almost all of the books on my shelf. Mary Thomas is a delight, and Ann Budd's books are handy. Martha Waterman made lace make sense to me, and I love Charlene Schurch's sock book.
I think I have to stop now, before I get lost in the stacks...
Jane
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: My Flickr Album
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morningglory
New Pal
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 05:06:50 AM
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| Great question! I love Sarah Dallas' books (working on socks from 'Scottish Inspirations' now, simple lines, almost Japanese-like deconstruction, love it! I love, too Debbie Bliss, I'm doing several of her designs from the "Cotton Angora" book..No one makes me want to knit for kids (and mine are big now!) like her. I might be in the minority here, but I do like artful photography and interesting designs..I do like the Rowan Magazines. |
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Willi
New Pal
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 05:22:16 AM
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Barbara Walker's Treasury and Afghan book for the patterns. Elizabeth Zimmermann's books especially Knitting Without Tears and I love Wendy Johnson's Wendy Knits. It has some great patterns.
Willi from Batavia |
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Shknitz
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 06:25:22 AM
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When I first started knitting, my LYS owner recommended Knitting Pretty, by Kris Percival. I found this book to be very easy to read and unintimidating for a new knitter. Everything in the book felt "doable" to me. The pictures are beautiful as well.
Other than that, I think having more than one reference book is important in case you can't understand the diagram or what is written in one of them. I like the Vogue reference, Stitch and B@#$%, and believe it or not, Knitting for Dummies as well. |
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ValerieG
Chatty Knitter
107 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 06:46:08 AM
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My favorites are any of the Alice Starmore books. I use her fair-isle knitting books alot and I love the 'knitting for men'
Valerie |
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Willi
New Pal
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 06:49:08 AM
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Barbara Walker's Treasury and Afghan book for the patterns. Elizabeth Zimmermann's books especially Knitting Without Tears and I love Wendy Johnson's Wendy Knits. It has some great patterns.
Willi from Batavia |
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nwilson02
Chatty Knitter
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 06:58:35 AM
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I don't have that many knitting books since I live in a RV full-time and my space is very restricted so all the books I have are my favorites. However, The Knitters Companion by Vicki Square is my constant companion. It goes whereever I go packed in my knitting bag.
Nancy |
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simpleknitter
Chatty Knitter
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 07:33:14 AM
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| Hiatt's Principles of Knitting has EVERYTHING you ever needed to know. second is the Knit Stitch (great photo's). the first is scarce. the second is in print and likely to remain so. |
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Your favorite knitting books
