The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch, Inspiration & Instruction

by Sally Melville, Elaine Rowley (Editor), Alexis Xenakis (Photographer)

The Knitting Revolution? What is revolutionary about knitting today is who is knitting what they are knitting and most of all why they are knitting. What better time for a fresh approach to the learn-to-knit book? The Knitting Revolution focuses on the knit stitch with introductory chapters. This primer is the closest thing between 2 covers to a knitting coach. Hundreds of clear step-by-step photographs take you through each skill. Loads of tips and special attention to details ensure that absolute beginners can complete any of the more than thirty projects successfully. Like knitting today this book is personal passionate powerful-exactly what the new knitter is looking for and irresistible to the already-converted. Author: Sally Melville. Softcover: 162 pages. Made in USA.

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

162 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

This is the space where you are to hear about me, Sally Melville—knitting designer / teacher / author. These spaces are usually written by people other than the person who is written about—for objectivity and all that good stuff. But I suspect what you’d then get is my story as told from the end and with all its ‘high points.’ And I don’t think that’s either inspiring or particularly truthful. Because while the ‘high points’ may define us (to the eyes of the world and in our obituaries), isn’t it really the early stuff with its ‘low points’ that make us who we are? So here are the truly important events that made me a knitting designer / teacher / author. (I’ll write about these in detail in my first five blog entries, but here are the bare bones.)

As a young girl, I couldn’t get gauge so had to write my own patterns.


As a young woman, I made a truly weird sweater that, when fixed, was oddly appealing . . . enough that I could begin selling my work.


The subsequent purchase of a knitting machine taught me how much I truly did not know.


I enrolled in a one-day, knitting design class . . . where everyone wanted to know about the sweater I was wearing (referred to in point 2) and where I was thrown out for passing notes (the pattern for the sweater referred to in point 2).


Back to my knitting machine where my math and writing (both studied in university) got to work and taught me what that class should have.


Soon enough I started my own knitting design class . . . from which no student would ever be thrown out! This became an ongoing group and then the K-W Knitters’ Guild.


I developed more classes—to stay one step ahead of the guild members.


One of our guest teachers pushed me into the light of the public of knitting world.


In 1993 my husband died, and all knitting came to a halt. I took a job as Study Skills Advisor at my local university.


But my daughter asked me to knit a sweater for her boyfriend. So I did—out of leftovers. And it became the centre piece of my first book: see Styles in books.


Styles was wonderfully successful. But what would I do next?


I had a desire to teach the world to knit. The result is The Knit Stitch, which sold really really well and probably led you to this website.

So thanks for coming. Keep in touch, play safe, and keep knitting!
(from her website, listed below)

Reviews

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb handbook for EVERY knitter - get one of these and keep it in your own knitting library ASAP!!

Part of a three-book series, this first entry exemplifies what I believes ought to be in a knittting book: clearly presented instructions, methodically presented, with good patterns that have many, many possible options, and thoughtful forsight as to possible problems. Although posited as a handbook for beginning knitters, there's enough good information here to warrant it's usefulness for all thouse who knit. And most of the patterns are rather nice, albeit very basic, at least in their shapes.

From the back cover:
"A learn-to-knit book that's not just for beginners.
* 25 go-for-it projects
*the skills you need
*the details that matter
*friendly advice, constant coaching
*rescue techniques for common mistakes"

This large paperback is beautifully arranged in several sections, with each having self-contained basic info, a skill or techniques to learn or practice, and several rather nice patterns illustrating each technique. All the patterns are offered in eNORmous size ranges, with excellent needle/yarn information at the very beginning. In short, pretty much everything I love in a knitting book, except for not being spiral-bound. Well, you can't have everything, I guess... (grin)

But both the books in this series that I've seen (#1 - Knit, #2 - Purl) are superb, and well-worth the investment. Now I'm off to convince my library that they really, truly do need to order #3 - Color!!!

[Donna Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweater complete, enjoyed making it. Will use this book again

Starting second sweater, a jacket!

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loath to give 5 stars to anything that doesn't move me to tears (in a good way, like Middlemarch, so this is 4.5 rounded up because Ms. Melville's so delightful in person and such a great teacher. I'm a 53 year-old guy, so I'm less likely to get excited about making some of the garments illustrated (unless they were gifts), but if one worked one's way through the book one would learn an awful lot.

I've been knitting for over 4 years and still have much to learn, and there were new tips in this book. It's not terribly long, and the new tips stand out in stark contrast to the patterns, so I'd suggest everyone at least skim through it to see what you might pick up, even if you know the basics (and then some) already.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't check, but I hope there's a "Purl Experience Book" that is a companion to this very thorough, engaging, eye-catching, colorful, useful/practical introduction to knitting (just knitting: the knit stitch only). The patterns range from scarves to men's sweaters, children's knits, and full-length dresses, yet a beginning knitter could easily conquer them all. Good starting point for would-be knitters with no one to physically guide them through the process.

[Milinda Yount · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book with excellent instruction on the very basics a total novice like me needs. Lots of patterns for real items with photos that can be made with only the most basic stitches (essentially all knit stitch with some increase/decrease).

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and cannot wait to pass it on to my granddaughter.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of books by Sally Mellvile are the best knitting books I have read. And I've read a lot of them.

Her interest and sense of enthusiasm about her subject comes through clearly. While the photos are somewhat dated due to hairstyles most of the patterns are clothes that one can knit and wear today and in the future. Most books with patterns contain (at most) two patterns I might knit. sally's always has many and the techniques she teaches not only save you time (how nice is it not to have to rip 12 rows out to fix a dropped stitch?) but allow you to adapt the pattern in any way you'd like.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these patterns. This book contains the Einstein Coat, which will be completed by me one of these days!! I actually had it almost done and realized my yarns didn't match, so completely frogged it! 5/25/14: found a copy of this at Half Price Books, so will start in again on my Einstein Coat!

[wixlet]

I've had the book for years and frequently looked at the finished pieces with longing, but I still haven't been able to teach myself to knit. But to be fair, I haven't really applied myself just yet. Perhaps this year!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the clear instructional photographs for technique. I don't so much love the designs, but there's still much to be learned from the book even if you don't knit any of the patterns. Same as for the Purl Stitch.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

the more I knit, the more I go back to review this book to learn the exact way to do stitches and patterns and just general knitting ways. If I had to start all over I might have gone through this book from the beginning to end instead of haphazardly looking up answers to my many questions!

[Belknits · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for the beginner knitter. It has great photo instruction, and it's well written. I made the Einstein coat early in my knitting career, and it got so many compliments - plus it's really easy!!

[Sue K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! I love the simplicity and the style of it. The book can sit on my shelf forgotten for years....then I decide it's time foe an Einstein and it comes out again. I thumb through it and find all sorts of treasures that I had forgot about. Her patterns are timeless and a joy to make!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for a true beginner. I warn you, though, it didn't take long for me to get bored with the very simple (and sometimes just ugly) patterns, which prompted me to take a class so I could learn more!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a solid intro book to knitting - all sorts of great diagrams, coupled with well written bits. The patterns seemed a little dated, even though the book was published in 2007 - but nevertheless, this one is a gem and I will be adding it to my personal library

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great knitting book - especially for people who are spending good money for great yarn and want to be able to wear the pieces for decades, since the majority of the designs are classic. Worth buying!

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference for people who are just starting. I picked it up years later, because I wanted to see how other people do things, and if I was doing them "right." I'm not, but oh well.

[Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me how to knit! Any new knitter can start at the beginning and work their way through, increasing skills in an incremental yet interesting manner.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool book to just look through and get inspired from all the colors and patterns.

[BookMouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, some nice instruction. While I don't care for the asymmetrical designs, there are some that I do like in this book, and actually might get around to knitting in this lifetime.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Sally's patterns!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book when I was a new knitter. I only ever made a couple things from it, but I still have them all. I just wore the mittens from here today! Easy patterns, wonderful advice. LOVE HER!

[Tsimplekelly]

Classic learn how to knit book, Sally knows what kind of patterns people love, I have knit two sweaters and a scarf from this book and loved them all....

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are great! I've been knitting forever, and even for me, there were still projects to do!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good how-to book for knitting. Techniques well explained with good pictures. One of the better ones I have seen.

[Deb]

Even though I was a fairly experienced knitter when I got this book, I learned a great deal. It's worth it for the Einstein Coat alone!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent intro to knitting.

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is where I learned it! Great beginners book, Easy patterns

[Laurie Traverse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for persons just starting out with knitting.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My go-to book.