Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac

by Elizabeth Zimmermann

"One of America's most ingenious and creative knitters." — Barbara G. Walker, author of Treasury of Knitting Patterns.
Elizabeth Zimmerman once wrote, "So please bear with me, and put up with my opinionated, nay, sometimes cantankerous attitude. I feel strongly about knitting." Perhaps her passionate opinions, as well as her love of wool craft and her delightful style, hark back to her English upbringing or long residence in the Wisconsin woods; in any case, the "Busy Knitter," as she calls herself, is one of the most charming and informative, as well as "un"ventive (her word) knitter-authors anywhere. This book gives full scope to her tireless imagination through a year's worth of projects, fitted to the seasons, moods, and needs of knitters who would like to design their own work.
The year begins with an Aran sweater and proceeds to February baby things, a March Shetland, April blanket, May mittens, and so on through the months, completing the zodiac with November moccasin socks and a December last-minute wishbone sweater. Projects are completed in the midst of canoe trips, fishing expeditions, travel, and snowstorms. The author continuously comments on the project, its history, other ancient and modern customs, and personal beliefs.
Mrs. Zimmerman works step by step with the reader, suggesting alternative methods and ideas as she goes. Her patterns are "classic," historically suited to wool, thus remaining ever-fashionable as well as tasteful and attractive. The knitter may easily adapt the designs at will, creating new, individual projects. Mrs. Zimmerman's hints (such as how to measure gauge when working a pattern and tips for baby's items) help ease the way and will instruct even the most experienced knitter. This corrected edition of the Knitter's Almanac will provide at the very least a year's worth of knitting pleasure to intermediate and advanced knitters and may even help stimulate a knitting passion.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, How To, Essays, Humor

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 1981

About the author

An influential knitting pattern designer, teacher, and writer, Elizabeth Zimmermann advocated knitting techniques to speed progress and simplify pattern creation. She enthusiastically championed Continental knitting, where the working yarn is carried in the left hand, as opposed to the English or American style where the working yarn is carried in the right hand. She also advocated knitting in the round on circular needles rather than back and forth on straight needles. Zimmerman encouraged knitters to understand the mathematical and geometric concepts inherent in knitting.

Zimmermann and her family moved from the UK to New York, eventually settling in Wisconsin. There, she established Schoolhouse Press, arguably the most important knitting publisher of the 20th century. Zimmermann's daughter Meg Swansen took up the reins of Schoolhouse Press upon her mother's death.

Reviews

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Elizabeth Zimmermann's work in general, as she was the writer who made it okay for me to own my own knitting and be my own designer.

But oh, have I learned so much from her!

This book is simply not a book for beginners, though. I'd strongly encourage you to read Knitting Without Tears first, and be pretty comfortable making one of the projects from that before you dive into this one. If you like and find KWT useful, then you can move on to this one and will find it a source of wonderful patterns and techniques.

Though, I admit, part of why I read Zimmermann her delightfully wry and chatty style. She's a marvelous read.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Zimmerman is a woman after my own heart and I aspire to be a skilled and free a knitter like her some day. Some of her designs I won't try, some I dream of trying and others I am itching to put on my needles now.

I look forward to returning to this book later in life when I am wiser and have more knitting years under my belt.

[Regine O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the start you can feel Zimmermann‘s love for the craft - and her understanding of the techniques and the math that is involved in creating a garment is nothing short of amazing. The way she breaks down the construction of the various items is easy to understand and makes total sense - I underlined so many helpful tips that I will definately incorporate in my knitting.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any and all of Elizabeth Zimmermann's books are keepers, in my opinion. This book not only contains her usual humor and down-to-earth knitting wisdom, but is organized to give month-by-month ideas for things that can be knit each season of the year. I've appreciated the idea of knitting mittens, etc. in the summer when they can be done at leisure rather than in the height of their need. Additionally, her summer suggestions are easy to carry with you and don't create weight and heat.

As always her "patterns" are more techniques than patterns, allowing the knitter to create items that are standard, yet unique.

[Mauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little disappointing for me in the patterns department. I prefer more direct descriptions and I can see why some people have take it upon themselves to obtain (borrow?) the rights and rewrite the patterns in a more "modern" manner.

However, the designs are wonderful, as always. They're either complex and interesting or simple and open to each knitter's own embellishments. Elizabeth Zimmerman is no slouch as a writer and it was fun reading through even the patterns I won't try to get her perspective on knitting.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first EZ I've read; she's a knitting legend. The patterns aren't why you read this book, but rather you read it for her wisdom, wit, and humor. I picked up a few helpful tidbits that I am sure I will forget since I didn't write them down, but here are some quotes I flagged as funny/helpful/insightful/etc.

--> THIS "Some may gasp and stretch their eyes, but knitting and reading at the same time is just a matter of practice. Of course you must love knitting and you must enjoy reading; if you don't love them equally, one at a time is sufficient."

"Are you thrift about inch of wool, as I am? I have a neurotic fear of running short at the end of a project by just the length of wool I might hastily waste at the beginning." (So am I!!)

"They say animals can't perceive color (how did they find out?)..." HAHA

(on using different-sized dpns): "Emergency and experiment have taught me that a very motley quartet will finish off a hat quite adequately."

"All I had for white was some deadwhite synthetic--for goodness' sake where did I get THAT? Oh yes; a new knit shop had opened up and I wanted to encourage them, and they carried no real wool of any color I liked."

"Blankety-Blank, as Edwardian authors would say." (I'm stealing this!!)

"Valid reasons for not using any of my funny ways of knitting will be welcomed by me with open arms, so that I can set about improvements."

"If you are one who loved perfection, twist the loop one way for the right-hand increase, and the other way for the left-hand increase. Few will noticed this, but it will give you an inner glow." (LOL)

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before blogs were invented, Elizabeth Zimmermann was the first knitting...well...diarist. She marketed books and yarn through newsletters from her "Schoolhouse Press," which was indeed based in a building that had been used as a school. Each chatty newsletter described a fairly simple project she was knitting, first with a general description that invited knitters to think of their own variations on that type of project, then with what she rather scornfully called the "pithy" or "Blind Follower" instructions for making a copy of what she'd made. This book consists of twelve monthly newsletters. EZ was a designer; her patterns appeared in "Vogue Knitting" and this book includes distinctive designer sweaters, but it's meant to teach readers how to be knitwear designers. Readers follow EZ's thought process as she designs and knits baby layettes and mittens as well as adults' sweaters.

[Teri-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. I'll admit I've never knitted anything from this book, though I have used her I-cord ideas and made a half-pi shawl. But I love her attitude toward knitting - try something out, experiment, fail and fail and then perhaps succeed. And I especially like the little notes about her life, canoeing with her husband or taking down the Christmas tree.

A quick read that I'm always happy to lose myself in for a few hours. I wish I could get my hands on more of her books.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Her style is witty and even a bit snarky, and her descriptions of patterns makes you want to run out and immediately knit all the things! But then you gradually realize that she really thinks these are all pretty easy, but they're not; and then you get to the one that even she admits is "somewhat convoluted" and then you quake in your boots. Inspiring and plain-spoken, but the patterns are deceptively difficult. Full of great tips & tricks.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The casual, journaling voice, wise without being pushy, made for a great late summer / early autumn read. I thoroughly enjoyed EZ's commentary on life, on her companion, the Old Man, and their car trips; she ties in new projects to the season beautifully, and then gives you the information to make your own, and make it your own. I was sad when I finished it but I suppose I may read it again sometime.

[Elisala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comme son titre l'indique, il s'agit d'un livre de tricot. mais pas que! Mois par mois, l'auteure, figure emblématique du tricot anglo-saxon, pourfendeuse de complexes de tricot et autres angoisses existentielles de l'aiguille, nous présente, au-delà de quelques patrons et techniques, ses réflexions sur le tricot, sur le passage du temps, sur les petits évènements de la vie, le tout avec humour et détachement.
Ça fait rire ET ça donne envie de tricoter, moi je dis banco.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

[i]”To the Unsure Knitter, to the Blind Follower, and to all those who do not yet know that they can design their own knitting, this book is encouragingly dedicated.”[/i]

This is an absolutely charming book, the word equivalent of a hug and a cup of tea: Kind, funny, clever, supportive.

While the patterns are hilariously “pithy,” to use her term, the logic behind the pattern is thorough, and I love her musings about the weather, parenting, wool, and her Old Man.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world lost a wonderful knitter and teacher when Ms. Zimmermann died. I would have loved to have the chance to meet and knit with her.

This is an excellent book for knitters of any level. Once you can knit and purl, this book can help you do pretty much anything else you may want to do :)

[Martha Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitters Almanac Book

This book is a pleasure just to read, because of her humor and choice of words to describe one craft she enjoys. She also makes knitting so easy and even though the designs are vintage they can be useable and desirable today. I was fortunate to get a copy.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this method of presenting knitting patterns and the prospect of custom fit knitwear has probably spoiled me for conventional patterning methods. I only wish I liked the patterns themselves a bit better, since the philosophy behind them is so excellent. Most just aren’t my taste, but nevertheless there will definitely be custom fit leggings in my future thanks to this book.

[Angie Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I am not that interested in making any of EZ's patterns...this time, I am going to save her pithy directions for a pi shawl for some future endeavor. I do, however, enjoy her storytelling style and liked her descriptions of knitting projects throughout the year. I have "Knitting Without Tears" to tackle next.

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I’m relatively new to knitting and thought this may give me some insights or tips. While there were some good suggestions I feel most of it is very dated (why is she so against other types of yarn other than wool?! Not everyone who knits live in cold weather country). The book is old so I guess it just didn’t age that well.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of a year of knitting projects. maybe for a new years resolution. A few of the projects are a bit dated but many of them provide opportunity to learn different skills and most are timeless classics

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm probably not going to try anything out of that book (of the patterns that is, the advice in the appendix is amazing!), but just the way she writes is worth reading and buying it.
Was very amused :)

[Ginny Queior · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Elizabeth's great knitting books. A book to have a copy of it and dog ear the pages for the rest of your life. Pull this one out once a year to read and knit from. A wonderful knitter with a couple other books that are also classics...

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining turn of phrase

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore reading Elizabeth Zimmermann's books. So much more then a knitting book; a window into her life....the life of a knitter.

[Lucky Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read. Like her stories more than the patterns. Gives insight on how another knitter thinks when designing. Recommend only reading one "month" at a time unless you skip reading the patterns.

[Diann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with good instruction and patterns. A bit dated but easy to adapt to modern garments.

[Carol Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic knitting book. I admire her ease writing knitting patterns.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I come back to this pattern book so often...

[Alex Blakemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely to read, even if you are never going to knit some of these things...a delightful writer

[Colleen Mole-Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite Zimmermann book for patterns...so many February baby sweaters and Pi shawls have been knit because of this book!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius.

[Anne Hoag · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy is seriously dog-eared. The genius of EZ is, once again, revealed.