The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting: Learn to Knit with more than 30 Cool, Easy Patterns

by Nancy Queen, Mary Ellen O'Connell

Chicks, start your sticks! This time it’s all about knitting

Stop letting worry knit your brows, ladies. Let go of your fear of knitting, and take hold of The Chicks with Sticks® Guide to Knitting. With more than 30 simple, chic projects plus simple step-by-step instructions, this book is the complete guide to starting and enjoying this fun, rewarding hobby. New knitters can finish up their first projects in a weekend; more advanced beginners (that is, the ones who have knitted scarves before) can move to the next level. Call your posse and settle down in the living room or at the coffeehouse. The Chicks with Sticks will take care of the rest, from essential tools and materials to basic lessons to more than 30 doable projects, including cool belts, beautiful scarves, felted bags, stylish wraps, and snuggly sweaters.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chick that taught my knitting class highly recommended this book for beginners, and I am so glad that I bought it! The instructions are clear and very easy to follow. The projects are fun, each one builds on the last in size and skill. The book is also just very nicely put together. And it doesn't read like some dry instruction manual ... it's bright and friendly, and spot-on! I have referred to it many times already, and I have a feeling this won't ever be some book that just collects dust while sitting on my bookshelf!

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my knitting adventures, I skipped a lot of basic learning to go at it trial & error. This was great, but it makes it harder to teach others, or explain how you do things. The Chicks with Sticks have written a fun book that will get you from the urge to knit, to knitting sweaters. The patterns are basic, but not boring, and there are many useful tips along the way. They also teach every stitch and technique right-handed and left-handed. Overall, a well rounded beginner's guide to knitting-the perfect gift for a new knitter who wants to expand their skills.

[AshleyiSee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a harsh critic of knitting books, but this is one of my favourites by a long shot! I love that the patterns are progressive and that the authors teach the reader about how to find the correct yarn instead of using expensive and difficult yarn to find!

I recommend this book to any and all beginner knitters! Buy it! Love it! And do every single pattern to learn and practice your skills with Jo-Ann's or Michaels yarn before spending the big bucks on the nice stuff!

I love, love, love this book and I my first sweater is no longer a scary aspect of knitting!

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly done knitting guide for the beginner all the way through to an intermediate level!! The Authors did a fine job of taking a novice and or self-taught learner like myself through the basics in a methodical & relatable way. There are many projects to enjoy and test your skill development while at the same time giving an enthusiastic knitter projects to contemplate & envision as your proficiency develops. Definitely one for my library!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book/instructional manual was so helpful in getting back on track with knitting. I have made all the patterns that I find interesting out of the book, but I always refer to it as I need to remember stiches while working on other patterns. Great for beginners or people who just need a refresher!

[Elaine Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the color pictures in this one, and IIRC this had the diagram that finally got me purling successfully. Made one pattern: the "Boyfriend Scarf", which took me a month (off and on) and which C LOVES. Would probably be my top pick of a knitting book so far.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book for beginners although I found the chick-related puns and wordplay tiresome and I'm beyond the cheerleading tone. I'm knitting, already, let's just get on with it! Also, why is it the "Boyfriend" Basket Weave Scarf. Apparently, I'm tired of the gender-bias within this book, too. I didn't care for the organization of the book. I know the projects move from easy to difficult but I didn't like the technical lessons interspersed between projects, I'd rather have them all together. That said, the projects are rather basic, simple shapes, helped infinitely by the gorgeous yarns chosen. I like most of them except the lumpy felted bag.

[Debbie Frizzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far the easiest to follow knitting book I've read so far. I am more a visual learner and I love the technique of writing out the pattern on note cards that the authors suggest. I wouldn't consider myself a beginner and it's nice to see the progression of projects. I've been wanting to make a sweater and I'm going to try at least two of the ones listed in this book. I just need to decide on a yarn!! So excited to find this book. I am going to buy myself a copy for keeps.

[Nellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another library book borrowed in the quest to find the missing poncho pattern
Another good book on learning to knit as a youth.
The book is "arranged in lessons to teach you to knit providing building blocks for the next lessons." page 8
Tools required, reading labels, choosing colors, and measuring are the basic beginning steps. You move on to quick pattern of a purse. Other projects include scarf, wrist warmers, hat, sweaters , and vest. There is even a section on fixing mistakes.

[Janie Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best How to Knit book . Shows gradual basics with a pattern to use those skills. Practically all patterns rate you as an Advanced beginner which really gave me more confidence to advance myself through the book. Many other patterns seem to discriminate, those who feel they can accomplish, which had me shy away from attempting. Look forward to making many projects in the book.

[Mariko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pick up a copy of this book whenever I find it in a used book store. It is a good beginner book, neither intimidating nor unstylish. I like to add a copy to the tote bag of basic supplies I include when I donate knitting lessons to fundraisers.

[Riona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems like a decent knitting book, but not my favorite. The tone of the text is a bit irritating in an overly perky peppered-with-exclamation-marks way and it's trying too hard to be cute. I started rolling my eyes on the second page, which proclaims: "Are you destined for knitting? Take a quick quiz!" and goes on to ask such probing questions as "Do you have a lot of stress in your life?" and "Do you like to make cool stuff?" OMG you guys, knitting is my DESTINY! They also have cutesy names for everything - their tips and shortcuts are "Cheep Tricks", information about the pattern and skills involved is "Chick Feed", and ideas for variations are listed under the header "Fly the Coop!" Are you groaning yet? The best-slash-worst part is the "Recipe for Success" which has an extremely strained analogy that details how knitting is like baking a cake. I feel the need to quote it here so I can continue to giggle at it after I've returned this book to the library:

" The 'recipe' (skill level): Is the pattern designed for an apprentice or a master chef?
What 'ingredients' (materials) will you need to whip up this tasty morsel?
'Serving size' (completed measurements): Make the right amount for the number of guests or, in the case of a knitting pattern, the right size garment for the wearer.
What 'temperature' (gauge) will the chef use to bake the cake? Remember, just as temperature varies from oven to oven, gauge varies from knitter to knitter!
Finally, follow the instructions for putting it all together. Just as baking may have some interesting terms and abbreviations, so does knitting. Once you become accustomed to reading knitting lingo and schematics, the better 'chef' knitter you'll be!"

I don't get it. Does anyone find this comparison genuinely helpful? I just think it's dumb.

It also has some serious gender bias and assumptions of heteronormativity - the "Boyfriend Basket Weave Scarf", for instance, looks decidedly unisex to me, so why assume it is for men? Why assume all your readers are female? Why assume all these females have boyfriends? Why can't the boyfriends knit their own scarves? Maybe I should have expected it from the name "Chicks with Sticks", but whatever. These are minor quibbles, to be sure, but they bother me no matter how easy they are to overlook. /rant

This stuff probably wouldn't bother me at all if the patterns were great, but I'm not really impressed. Most of them are extremely plain, so it's all about what yarn you choose. A few scarves (one is in garter stitch and one is a rib - do you really need a pattern for that?), several variations on almost the same sweater, 2 beanies that are very similar except one is for men and one is for women (see gender bias above), a couple decent shawls (I'm sorry, wraps), some wristwarmers that I actually might make. Plus some washcloths (??) and a bunch of purses that I have no interest in (but then, I've always been a fan of the ginormous leather satchel). I might end up making some of these, but none of them is really inspiring me. The photos are gorgeous, though, and the book is laid out well. A decent resource.

[Atlantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and unique patterns- marked some to try. My only complaint would be that it needed more pictures of the stitch-work.

[Debbie Handley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best beginner how to book on knitting I've found so far as I relearn how to knit-I learned how to knit in my teens but never got further than the knit stitch. Here I am at 59 picking it up again and reteaching myself with books and DVD's. I like everything about this book. I love how it is organized-it teaches you a bit than offers you a project that uses those steps.

I really like the color photos and how everything is explained in an easy to understand matter. So far I've checked out around 10 books on knitting from my local library and this one is among my favorite.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a hip, modern format that would appeal to any teen who knits. I thought the patterns were age appropriate and still challenging. I also liked how they used color to spruce up their pages. I would probably recommend to a young teen knitter, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just borrowed this from the library and it has a few patterns that look good. There is a hat that I want to try to replace the pattern I have been using for my hats. I hope mine turns out as good as the one in the book - OK, it won't come out as good because I am using cheap yarn that I already have instead of the more expensive yarns suggested in the book, but the look should be similar - mostly I am looking for the fit.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very, very good. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, even though I'm terrible at reading instructions! There are also some really cool projects in it, which makes me very happy and excited to start getting past scarves and knit stich blankets! Hello hats, jumpers and those awesome arm warmers!

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a life-saver. I have used it to get myself through several very different knitting projects and it has taught me how to knit in the round, how to sew seams, and so much more. I'm still new to knitting so I'm not quite ready for all of the patterns yet, but I have used two of them so far and find them really easy to follow. The finished products - a scarf and a hat - both look great!

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful. The directions are clear and easy to follow. The lay out of the book is very nice - each section addresses a different aspect of knitting. The patterns are beautiful - very modern and simple. I think I'm going to have to buy this one.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! I'm knitting! Very fun book to read and easy step-by-step instruction for beginners. Cool projects that gradually get more challenging as you master each skill outlined in the book. Projects that you knit are stylish and something that you wouldn't mind being caught dead in.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to get started on knitting. Instructions are clear and they start out with basic projects and gradually build on each skill. The projects are fun and things you want to make without being super hard. I highly recommend this book to beginner knitter.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute projects make this a good book for beginners. The skills are taught a few at a time for each project -- nice if you are learning as you go along, not fun if you are trying to use it as a reference.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only found one pattern I was interested in doing. There was a "boyfriend" scarf but I'd made it using a pattern calling it something else. The friend in IA who I made it for has used it several years and loves it.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

THe photoe were more inspiring than the text, but they remained yummy nonetheless. Nothing terribly fresh about the patterns, but they did step the beginning knitter nicely through a variety of skills/stitches.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover before diving into my first knitting project. I knew the basic knit and purl, but I've never made anything beyond a square. I am determined to become a knitter, I am already a crocheter. This book makes it look simple, it teaches each technique used in each pattern.

[Pooch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for beginning knitters. Patterns progress in an orderly way to provide additional techniques. The general information, diagrams, and charts are presented in a clear and concise way. It is a good reference for intermediate knitters, as well.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I love the Chicks with Sticks. This is a fun, basic book, and there is a gorgeous sweater on page 100.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful patterns. A good book for a beginner.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a knitting book I can follow AND with projects I would actually want to do. Now I just need to find the time to do them...

[Aquit · Rating 2 out of 5]

A okay knitting book. There's only one pattern I'm willing to try out. I did like the instructions on how to knit and stuff.