Fav. knitting book/crocheting book

[AAK]

I am using youtube a lot to help me learn both to knit and to crochet, but would love a great book as well.  Any good ones out there?

Amy

[Llyra]

Are you talking about books for learning? I like Maggie Righetti's books (I may have spelled her name wrong...) They're called Knitting in Plain English, and Crocheting in Plain English. They're good books for both beginner and advanced-beginners-- I'm a fairly experienced knitter by now, and I still use the Knitting in Plain English book frequently for reference. It was the book that really helped me understand knitting.

[ollyoxenfree]

I'm not sure if you are looking for learn-to-knit basics or something else (there are some terrific stitch dictionaries out there). One book I really like is Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears. Although it's essentially about knitting in the round, I find it useful for all sorts of things.

[sapphire_chan]

The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework is a great resource to have on hand for anything of that sort.

[geekgolightly]

The book of knitting patterns I use most frequently is Last Minute Knitted Gifts. 

[AAK]

Thanks, I know I didn't specify because I am not sure what I really want.  I've got the basics of casting on, knit stitch, and purl stitch down from online and a good friend.  But, part of me is itching for a book.  I guess I want it to go over those stitches as well as variations and maybe whatever would be the "next to learn".  I love the idea of a stitch dictionary, but also need a primer on yarn.  I know there are lots of patterns online, but some basic, quick patterns would be great too!  So, basically, any book that you think is worth having for a beginner (or even for advanced beginner--I have high hopes) I would love the title to so I can look it up.  It is nice to narrow down the pool of thousands of titles to a small handful.

Amy

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by AAK 

Thanks, I know I didn't specify because I am not sure what I really want.  I've got the basics of casting on, knit stitch, and purl stitch down from online and a good friend.  But, part of me is itching for a book.  I guess I want it to go over those stitches as well as variations and maybe whatever would be the "next to learn".  I love the idea of a stitch dictionary, but also need a primer on yarn.  I know there are lots of patterns online, but some basic, quick patterns would be great too!  So, basically, any book that you think is worth having for a beginner (or even for advanced beginner--I have high hopes) I would love the title to so I can look it up.  It is nice to narrow down the pool of thousands of titles to a small handful.

Amy

In that case I'd highly recommend the Righetti books.

[Douxbelle]

I really liked stich'n'bitch. I used it after learning the same basics online. First have you do a scarf where you change then colors, then a ribbed scarf. Very good book!

[peainthepod]

Have to second Knitting in Plain English. And the best crochet books I've ever used are The Crochet Answer Book and The Crochet Stitch Bible. Very useful!

[briannas auntie]

I actually like the crochet books that are designed to teach kids how to crochet.  They are easy to follow and the pictures for the stitches are large, so you can see if you are doing them right.  My two favorites are:

Teach Me to Crochet (Leisure Arts publications)

I Can Crochet! (Annie's Attic publications)

I don't know how to knit yet, but I have got two books to teach kids to knit, which I plan on cracking open anyday now:

I Can Knit! (Annie's Attic publications)

Learn to Knit in Just One Day (American School of Needlework publications)

Jessie

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by Douxbelle 

I really liked stich'n'bitch. I used it after learning the same basics online. First have you do a scarf where you change then colors, then a ribbed scarf. Very good book!

Second that!  I'm teaching myself to crochet using her other book, The Happy Hooker.  She explains things really well.