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knitloon
Gabber Extraordinaire
524 Posts |
 Posted - 01/11/2007 : 07:57:46 AM
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I learned to knit from Sally Melville's series "The Knitting Experience". They're still great references. The spiral bound "Knitter's Companion" stays permanently in my knitting bag. I have a LARGE collection of knitting books, and I wouldn't give up any of them.
View my projects at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitloon/ |
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sdh2
New Pal
15 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 08:02:18 AM
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Have to agree with Katherine Buss book and the Nancie Wiseman "Finishing Techniques." Carry that one with me all the time. Love Knitting Without Tears. My New Year's resolution is to improve my knitting techniques, so I am reading these two carefully and trying to concentrate more when I knit. Interesting to see that most of the books mentioned have been around awhile; stood the test of time.
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queen of the east
Seriously Hooked
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 08:05:46 AM
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I have quite a few knitting books in my library but the ones I use most frequently for reference are:
Odhams Encyclopaedia of Knitting by James Norbury and Margaret Agutter
This book published in 1957 originally belong to my Mum. It is a very useful book filled with technical instructions, stitch patterns and basic sweater patterns.
Barbara Walkers book's for stitch pattern ideas. Also Traditional Knitting Patterns by James Norbury
For Inspiration, The Art of Knitting by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne. A visually stunning book that never fails to spark my imagination.
For Lace knitting I like Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller.
Ann in Montreal |
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suzanne kinnear
New Pal
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 09:17:05 AM
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I have knitting for over 40 years, and rarely consulted a book, till I bought The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville. I bought that one simply because I wanted to knint the Einstein coat. Anyway, the diagrams and directions are very clear and easy to folllow. A beginning knitter (even an experienced knitter like me) can also benefit from The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville. They are each about $20.00 at your LYS and less from Amazon.
suzanne kinnear |
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srbrodeur@verizon.net
New Pal
11 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 09:21:56 AM
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One of my favorites is Vogue Knitting with good illustrations, but another real favorite is Katherine Buss' Big Book of Knitting which is really explicit with photos, especially of some more advanced techniques.
Noëlle |
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stitchellen
New Pal
42 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 09:38:27 AM
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| I learned to knit in 1940. My favorite knitting books are by Barbara Walker and Elizabeth Zimmerman. Although I have a large library of books, they generally serve as eye candy for me. |
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Caffeinated
New Pal
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 09:40:56 AM
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I'm still a beginner (I guess "advanced beginner" would be correct?) and a book that I use a lot, when I need to learn something new, is a book called "Teach Yourself Visually: Knitting and Crocheting" -- this book (I think there is a series that teaches all kinds of things in this matter, much like the "dummies" books) relies on a very large number of detailed photographs, showing everything step-by-step... for some of us, it's much easier than trying to decipher the usual diagrams. I found it very helpful for learning things like YO and such! :-)
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ladonnabubak
New Pal
31 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 09:56:31 AM
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I've been knitting a couple years, mostly small stuff, and still reference Sally Melville's Knit Stitch and SNB, usually for specific techniques I don't know by heart. I also have the Knitter's Companion but have found I hardly use it because half of what I look up isn't in there. Usually find it in SNB.
http://nautiknitter.wordpress.com |
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gcbriden
New Pal
7 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 10:15:05 AM
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| Since I consider myself an advanced knitter, I occasionally delve into my "library" of kntting books. But, when I do, the first one I go to is "The Principles of Knitting". I could not carry it in my knitting bag but I do most of my researching right here in my knitting room which also has my computer for research. |
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conchobara
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 11:42:09 AM
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My very favorite is Vogue knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book by Vogue Patterns. I have used this for cast-ons and cast-offs a dozen times (still have to consult it whenever I do a tubular cast on), stitch patterns, and just about any kind of reference. It is simply the best. In fact, last week a newish knitter friend of mine asked me to recommend the best reference book I could think of. Guess what she ended up buying?  |
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Kathleen-NYC
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 12:08:46 PM
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My favorite is always the latest one I bought. It's the new koigu book.
After that:
1. Dazzling Knits - and the several other modular knitting books I have.
2. Sally Melville's 3 Knitting Experience books.
All of these are currently stacked on the coffee table.
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kadiddly
Permanent Resident
USA
3076 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 12:44:19 PM
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The book I've used the most? The Knitter's Handbook: Essential Skills and Helpful Hints from Knitter's Magazine. I just really like how the information is provided in it. I also like Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman for technique questions.
For inspiration, I like Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge and Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace. I'd love to get the Stitchionary books, as well.
"Alright everyone, back to your knitting..."
- Fred or George Weasley, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie)
Backstage Stitches |
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jandgbert
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 1:14:23 PM
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| I don't have a very extensive knitting library, but this summer I purchased THE KNITTING ANSWER BOOK by Margaret Radcliffe and have used it rather extensively. In fact I do carry it in my knitting bag. |
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ArtLady
Warming Up
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 1:22:21 PM
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If I could only keep one "HOW TO" book...it would be:
The Knitter's book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman
When I travel, and can only take one reference book, it is:
The Knitter's book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman
BECAUSE:
1) The diagrams are easy to understand and follow!
2) Being smallish in size, the book is easy to take along, and not too heavy.
Art Lady |
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meme527
New Pal
USA
10 Posts |
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natrs_410@hotmail.com
New Pal
5 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 1:37:00 PM
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I like the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. THe knitting section has good illustrations/photos and desriptions/explanations.
Knitter's Companion is the one that stays in my project bag.
I also like the condensed version of the Vogue Knitting: The ultimate knitting book and the Knitting answer book.
I'm relatively new to knitting and rely on the how-to type books a lot.
Patricia
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LadySpring
Chatty Knitter
127 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 3:25:06 PM
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I just got Barbara Walker's Fourth Treasury and I really like it but I haven't used it for anything yet. That book along with the Stitchionary series and Nicky Epstein's books are great for inspiration. I find that I'm doing more of my own designs now as opposed to patterns from books. For technique, I like Nancy Wiseman's book and The Knitter's Bible. The Art of Knitting Book that queen of the east mentioned is beautiful and fantastic for inspiration, even though it focuses primarily on knitting machine designs. I use all the books in my knitting library fairly frequently, either to find inspiration or to pass the time, so it's hard for me to say which I like the most or use most frequently.
Knittin' harmony,
Erika
Knitters know a good yarn or two... |
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scraffan
Permanent Resident
1844 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 5:27:05 PM
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365 Days of Stitches Calander. (For general ideas)
For fun Meditation for Women Who Knit too much by Stephie McPhereson aka The Yarn Harlot
Books that inspire Poems of Color By Wendy Keele (Bohus knitting)
and then there are my favorite magazines (Won't get into those now)
Which one would I want to take? Can't I just take them all with me? They are all small and portable
scraffan |
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KnittingCommuter
Chatty Knitter
USA
278 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 5:41:19 PM
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I own the Stitch and bee-hotch by Debbie Stoller, the Vogue Ultimate Knitting Compendium and Nancy Wiseman's Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques and refer to all constantly. I also have Montse Stanley's book and agree with Diane from Boston -- I do not like this book. It has yet to solve a problem for me when I am looking for something. Don't own an Elizabeth Zimmermann yet, but would definitely like to add one to my small collection.
Ducky's Mom |
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Mermaid Knits
Permanent Resident
USA
1129 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 5:57:06 PM
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I believe I've had the most inspiration and use out of Barbara Walker's Second Treasury. All her books are the first ones I go to for fun viewing and scanning and looking for design inspiration. There is a special place in my heart for Newton's "Designing Knitwear" because it gave me the confidence to design away.
Arctic-mermaid
http://www.flickr.com/photos/MermaidKnits/ |
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Your favorite knitting books
