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Idiot's Guides: Knitting
Knitting is one of the most popular crafts among people all ages, but if you've never picked up a set of needles before, it's hard to know where to begin. Geared toward the absolute beginner, Idiot's Knitting teaches the basics of knitting in a series of lessons using full-color, step-by-step photo-rich instructions that enable you to clearly see how each stitch, finger movement, and yarn movement is executed. Lessons are accompanied by practice projects, allowing you to try out your newly learned skill. As the lessons become more advanced, so do the projects, so you'll not only get instant gratification by knitting a project right away, you'll also become more proficient as you learn and have the motivation to keep going. In addition, the book includes over 20 fun and fresh projects along with galleries of stitch patterns for beginner and intermediate-level knitters. This completely illustrated guide is an essential tool for every new knitter. Features to the absolute beginner who has never picked up a pair of needles before, with clear, easy-to-understand illustrated instructions. Clear, comprehensive, color step-by-step instructions for all of the basic techniques of knitting — casting on, binding off, knit and purl stitches, and so much more. Stitch galleries with nearly two dozen patterns for decorative stitches such as cable, seed, and lace. Practice projects throughout help the reader learn and practice techniques. Handy guides teach how to decipher a chart, read a pattern, increase and decrease rows, buy the right yarn for your project, and more.
- GenresKnittingNonfictionCrafts
Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
27 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 6, 2018
Very well laid out books, great instructions, helpful hints and some nice easy enough patterns to choose from. Quite a few kids patterns as well as adults. I do like one pattern well enough but it does require more than 2000m of DK yarn which could put you back serious $$. It would have to be worked up in a colour I could wear with anything.
January 19, 2015
I just finished up reading the Idiot’s Guide to Knitting by Megan Goodacre. I’d heard an interview with the author on the Knit Picks podcast, and I was impressed enough to pick up a copy.
Now, why am I reading a beginners book? First, I like to have something to recommend to new knitters because I remember being terribly frustrated when I started out. I ended up learning from a mish-mash of friends looking over my shoulder, YouTube videos, and mediocre beginner books from my library. I’ve been on the hunt for a program that involves slightly less cursing.
Second, there are still some things I don’t know how to do. Colorwork is a big one for me. For years, after some huge failures, I just avoided doing anything more complicated than stripes. I think, once I whittle away at my queue a bit, I’m going to give it a try again.
Anyway, the review.
Is this book really for beginners?
I’m happy to report: Heck yes. It covers techniques at a glacial speed, with a great mix of diagrams and photos. This is just what a beginner needs. Too many books try to teach casting on, knit stitches, purl stitches, and binding off in the first few minutes.
Even with going slow, though, she manages to cover a wide array of techniques. She goes all the way up to cables, colorwork, and knitting in the round! I think this is the first time I’ve seen a book cover this many things and still be a beginners book.
Goodacre also covers things most beginning books avoid. I’ve never seen a book talk about picking out yarn (most just say to use the yarn in the pattern), or the differences in various kinds of yarn. I learned how to substitute through guessing, and that’s an expensive way to learn.
Finally, she goes over mistakes. This is something I wish I’d had, back in the day. The only solution from my knitting circle? Rip back and try again. *sad trombone* She goes over dropped stitches, fixing stitches, and getting rid if stitches you don’t need.
The patterns are actually nice (most beginner books suffer from having incredibly ugly patterns), and the author takes care not to use any techniques or stitches that haven’t been explained before. I’m going to be trying several out!
Digital version
My only critique has to do with the digital version. I read mine on my Kindle Fire, and it was pretty obvious that they weren’t planning for a digital audience. There’s no useful table of contents for tablets. The index only has page numbers (so no hopping around). I couldn’t zoom in on text, which was an issue for some pages, since the text and color caused some weird dithering. I could still read it, but it wasn’t pleasant.
Also, I’m on the biggest Fire. Had I been on a smaller tablet, I’m pretty sure this book would have been unusable.
I hope that they fix this in the future, because this would be an awesome book to have on your phone, knitting on the go.
Now, why am I reading a beginners book? First, I like to have something to recommend to new knitters because I remember being terribly frustrated when I started out. I ended up learning from a mish-mash of friends looking over my shoulder, YouTube videos, and mediocre beginner books from my library. I’ve been on the hunt for a program that involves slightly less cursing.
Second, there are still some things I don’t know how to do. Colorwork is a big one for me. For years, after some huge failures, I just avoided doing anything more complicated than stripes. I think, once I whittle away at my queue a bit, I’m going to give it a try again.
Anyway, the review.
Is this book really for beginners?
I’m happy to report: Heck yes. It covers techniques at a glacial speed, with a great mix of diagrams and photos. This is just what a beginner needs. Too many books try to teach casting on, knit stitches, purl stitches, and binding off in the first few minutes.
Even with going slow, though, she manages to cover a wide array of techniques. She goes all the way up to cables, colorwork, and knitting in the round! I think this is the first time I’ve seen a book cover this many things and still be a beginners book.
Goodacre also covers things most beginning books avoid. I’ve never seen a book talk about picking out yarn (most just say to use the yarn in the pattern), or the differences in various kinds of yarn. I learned how to substitute through guessing, and that’s an expensive way to learn.
Finally, she goes over mistakes. This is something I wish I’d had, back in the day. The only solution from my knitting circle? Rip back and try again. *sad trombone* She goes over dropped stitches, fixing stitches, and getting rid if stitches you don’t need.
The patterns are actually nice (most beginner books suffer from having incredibly ugly patterns), and the author takes care not to use any techniques or stitches that haven’t been explained before. I’m going to be trying several out!
Digital version
My only critique has to do with the digital version. I read mine on my Kindle Fire, and it was pretty obvious that they weren’t planning for a digital audience. There’s no useful table of contents for tablets. The index only has page numbers (so no hopping around). I couldn’t zoom in on text, which was an issue for some pages, since the text and color caused some weird dithering. I could still read it, but it wasn’t pleasant.
Also, I’m on the biggest Fire. Had I been on a smaller tablet, I’m pretty sure this book would have been unusable.
I hope that they fix this in the future, because this would be an awesome book to have on your phone, knitting on the go.
February 8, 2020
Great photos and intro to knitting
I really enjoyed seeing all the graphics for increasing BF and decreasing. The stitch patterns were also good for experienced and new knitters
I really enjoyed seeing all the graphics for increasing BF and decreasing. The stitch patterns were also good for experienced and new knitters
June 16, 2022
Definitely a good instruction book on knitting with good photos to show techniques. Great reference book.
January 10, 2014
Loved this! I spent a few frustrated days on Youtube before I picked this up, and I'm glad I did! My only nitpick is that there wasn't much for lefties, so I just did everything backward. It did get a little confusing sometimes, but I was still able to figure it out more quickly than I could via video or other resources I tried to read. If you're right-handed, no problem at all! The directions are clear and easy to follow. I now love my new hobby!
November 16, 2013
Great book for beginners or knitters that need a refresher. Starts at the beginning, including choosing yarn, reading patterns, and goes through cables, color work & knitting in the round. I've been knitting for 10+ years and still found useful. Also, this book has projects in it that I would actually make unlike many other beginning knitting books.
January 2, 2015
I'm glad the Idiot's Guide franchise has finally moved to high quality, glossy pages and solid design. This book is easy to read and very visual.
November 6, 2016
This is a very well written reference book. I already know the basics, but I still found it useful to expand my knowledge. I really found the pictures helpful. I was also pleasantly surprised by the stitch gallery and included projects.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews