Favorite Knitting Books?

[holyhelianthus]

Preferably for a beginner.

I know the basics of knitting but I really want to get a book where I can read more on the "how to" part and that also comes with "get your feet wet" projects.

TIA! :

[joshs_girl]

Stitch n Bitch is what finally taught me after three years of trying to learn. But I also really like the first Mason Dixon book for easy patterns to start with. Susan Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats is also a good one and it's nice because all those projects work up so quickly.

[bu's mama]

I also like The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville (there's also the Purl Stitch) which has lots of great explanations & close up photos. There's also the Yarn Girls Guide to...I have the Kids Knits one & it has some great options for nice &/or quick projects.

I get most of the books at my library (I : interlibrary loan) & then purchase the ones I keep going back to.

[DeerMother]

Originally Posted by bu's mama

I get most of the books at my library (I : interlibrary loan) & then purchase the ones I keep going back to.

Me too!!
I just got "Knitting Without Tears" by Elizabeth Zimmermann in an interlibrary loan. Published in 1971. There is technique in the beginning, sort of theory of knitting , and patterns written like tutorials towards the end.

Stitch n bitch also suggests, "Knitting in Plain English" by Maggie Righetti; The Reader's Digest Knitter's Handbook by Montse Stanley; The Ultimate Knitter's Guide by Kate Buller and "How to Knit" and Knitting Workbook" by Debbie Bliss. The Knitter's Guide has techniques along w/ patterns. I can't vouch for it yet, it is on hold at the library.

[Crafty]

:

[zech13_9_goforgold]

I love the library too. One of my favorite books is called "Knitting in America" or something similar to that. It's not a how to book as much as it's a history book. It covers the history of the US through knitting. It also has some historical patterns in it from differnet eras. Lot of fun.

As far as actually answering the question- I only own one knitting book. It's called "The Knitter's Bible" and covers basic ideas like seaming, intersia, fair isle, short row.... Then, it has a "make it your own" kind of section that has lots of knitting patterns to use for whatever you choose (blankets, purses, sweaters...). It also has patterns that use the techniques covered in the beginning of the book. It's very well written.

[SophieAnn]

Knitting for Dummies

It starts with the very basics - casting on, knit, purl, binding off. It teaches you all sorts of other stitch patterns (seed stitch, basket weave, etc.) and lots of how-tos (like working in the round). It covers a number of basic cables, and teaches you how to read cable patterns (both words and charts). I taught myself how to do cables out of that book by working a swatch.

It also has quite a few patterns, ranging from very basic to more advanced. I have knit at least a dozen pairs of socks from their basic sock pattern.

Good book to refer back to for how-to's, pattern short-forms, etc.

[flapjack]

I like EZ's Knitters Almanac for inspirational reading. If you're knitting for your newbies, though, Debbie Bliss's Baby Knits for Beginners has some sweet patterns and talks/walks you through the techniques.

[rootzdawta]

Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Rhighetti was one of the first I got and I highly recommend it!!

[mlh]

My favorite is Barefoot Knits. I doesn't have much "how to's", but has some pretty easy projects and a great way to get some FO under your belt.

[geekgolightly]

i learn better from video. knittinghelp.com has videos of every technique. I went to knitty and found an easy pattern and then I knitted it using those videos for reference. It's free!

For my first pair of socks, I used http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/ I did a pair just a couple months after learning to knit. She shows you e v e r y t h i n g!