Field Guide to Knitting

by Jackie Pawlowski

At last, a field guide to identifying and working more than 200 knitting stitches, from stockinette to Orenburg lace!
 
There are so many intriguing ways to knit yarn that it’s often tough to pick the right stitch. Help is on the way with Field Guide to Knitting , the stitch dictionary that belongs in every knitting bag.
 
This handy go-to reference book takes a comprehensive look at knit and purl stitches as well as cables, laces, ribs, and edge treatments. Learn to tell k2togs from ssks and to differentiate between ribbed basketweave and basket cable. Each entry reveals the history of the stitch, the best stitch gauge for achieving pattern definition, the garments most suited to the pattern, and more. Complete patterns for executing the stitch (and its variations) are also included. More than 200 full-color photographs make it easy to compare how stitches will look before committing yarn to needles.
 
Whether you just need to know if moss stitch is the same as seed stitch or you’re planning a complicated Aran sweater, Field Guide to Knitting has all the answers.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Reference

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

the ebook version was absolutely awful. the information layout didn't mesh well at all with the knit samples. but beside that, there are FAR better books out there which are much more comprehensive for such basic stitches, with way better photo swatches. i mean, regardless of how much i blow up a swatch image it was still only such a small fragment of a knitted swatch to view. also, old shale and feather and fan are NOT the same stitch. and if i were trying to learn brioche from this book it would make zero sense to me. it sucks that i'm going to bash a knitting book this hard but it must be done. if someone is trying to learn basic stitches i would certainly recommend pretty much any source i've encountered before this one as it might put a new knitter off for good by confusing them further.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource, with each pattern accompanied by yarn consumption stats, where the stitch works best, the properties of the fabric made, and even a short history. The photos are clear, and each group of stitch types is worked in a different color or yarns.

Two little things I wish were different:
1. The photos could be grouped with each chapter instead of one large batch in the middle of the book.
2. All the instructions are in written form, it would be nice to have a chart to refer to for the lacy patterns.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love lists, dictionaries, and reference books. At bookstores, I browse the reference section as often as fiction or crafts. The Field Guide to Knitting has everything I could ask for.

Most stitch dictionaries are big, glossy, coffee table books that, while gorgeous and delightful to page through, are impractical for daily use. FGtK has the same great swatch photos and step-by-step instructions in a compact, handy pocket-sized book that'll fit right in your knitting bag.

[Cathyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this stitch dictionary different is that it compares how much yarn each stitch pattern will take. Useful when trying to make some luxurious, expensive yarn go as far as possible.

Also describes the properties of each stitch and suggested uses - its elasticity, texture, whether it's reversible, etc.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful reference, well organized. Easy to find the type of pattern you're looking for. Would be nice if it had a binding that would let it lie flat, and even better if patterns were on a single page.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference/stitch guide. I like that it has symbols for things like yarn consumption, stretch, etc. for each stitch pattern.

[rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

best way to start any knitting project. easy to follow and so so so useful.

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Countless wonderful projects are out there, just waiting for a knitter like you to think them up.