The Knitting Experience Book 2: The Purl Stitch, Becoming Intuitive

by Sally Melville, Alexis Xenakis (Photographer)

"Picking up where The Knitting Book 1: The Knit Stitch left off, this primer on the purl stitch uses clear, step-by-step photographs to guide beginner knitters through unique knitting projects. A natural progression of skills is taught, and each skill is punctuated by a knitting project, enabling new knitters to create an entire wardrobe featuring jackets, sweaters, hats, socks, and mitts. The book acts as a knitting coach, offering advice, anticipating difficulties, and providing rescue techniques. Patterns are presented in an accessible format with ample text, photographs, and line drawings. While this book is written for the new knitter, more advanced knitters will enjoy the knitting projects as well."

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

184 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

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 second volume 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:
* 25 go-for-it projects
*more skills you need
*more details that matter
*more wardrobe-building styles
*friendly advice
*constant coaching"

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!!!

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars, + 1 for the author being so wonderful. I'm past this book in terms of my knitting development, but wanted to read it for thoroughness. If you're using her program to build up your skills, you're in good hands, but it's not quite the most exciting read for someone who already knows what they're doing.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great learning to knit book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great source!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Sally Melville manages to convey her enthusiasm for knitting throughout this book.

I took the book out of the library because of the great classic patterns contained in it, even though I was somewhat skeptical about an entire book dedicated to the purl stitch.

This is the second book in a series of five. It is so interesting and well-written (including some history of knitting) that I'm going to have to find the other four books and read them as well.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid reference book for the knitter. Again, not the most inspiring patterns, but this is made up for with gorgeous photos, well written bits, and indisposable diagrams and instructions on a variety of stitches. Including a section on fixing mistakes - which I think I will copy and carry with my knitting projects forever..... :)

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best arm warmers in the world are in this book. I'm a self-taught knitter for the most part, and it's interesting to go thru these books and see how things are supposed to be done. I've managed so far on my own, but some day I'm going to really sit down and figure how how to do things right.

[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 Knit Stitch.

[Lain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book -- not as great as the first, but still a terrific new knitter guide.

[BookMouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good photos and nice instruction. As with her other books, I don't care for her asymetrical designs.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like primer. Sally Melville is a fantastic teacher.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't really get into this one.

[Tsimplekelly]

Another awesome Sally Melville book, great patterns, not sure if I knit anything yet from this one, but have used it as a resource for tips and information

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent photos, great reference guide.

[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! This book featured a hoodie that can be completed for anyone, child to adult.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with "The Knit Stitch" one of the better how-to books. Good for beginner's(like me) or even more advanced knitters

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

another dood book for beginners

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd in the collection by Sally Melvijlle.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like a really good book, good teaching sections. But I'm not feeling super drawn to many of the patterns.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. But I like the Knit Stitch patterns more.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, goes over some material in first book which was better