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Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook
It’s the essential guide for chicks with sticks—because knit happens.
From the tools of the trade to the knitty-gritty of techniques and patterns, all with easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrated techniques. Stockinette stitch, rib stitch, seed stitch. Increasing and decreasing. All the bells and whistles: fringes, tassels, cables, intarsia, crab stitch, and Fair Isle. Plus the stitch doctor’s own special bag of tricks and how to hook up with other knitters. After the how-tos come the why-to: forty hop, stylish patterns, as good for beginners as they are for purely pros.
Featuring:
From the tools of the trade to the knitty-gritty of techniques and patterns, all with easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrated techniques. Stockinette stitch, rib stitch, seed stitch. Increasing and decreasing. All the bells and whistles: fringes, tassels, cables, intarsia, crab stitch, and Fair Isle. Plus the stitch doctor’s own special bag of tricks and how to hook up with other knitters. After the how-tos come the why-to: forty hop, stylish patterns, as good for beginners as they are for purely pros.
Featuring:
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2000
328 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Stoller
37 books70 followersStoller is the co-founder, co-owner, and editor-in-chief of the third wave feminist, popular culture magazine Bust magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
July 17, 2010
I moved into my aunt and uncle's attic seven winters ago, graduated from college but without a job. No friends except my five-month-old cousin (who was good company, but still!). I had never lived in Minnesota before, but I had heard that the winters were long, cold, and dark. I decided to take up a hobby. Given my newfound nordic surroundings, I thought knitting was just the thing.
I didn't have the money to take a class, so I checked out Stitch 'n Bitch from the library and got some yarn and needles with a coupon to Micheal's. With only this book and lonely nights, I taught myself to knit.
First, Stoller explained the basic elements of knitting. She coupled her instructions with illustrations and witty captions, making them easy to understand and follow. Where more than one method existed, she included instructions for each. (That is how I, a right-handed American, ended up knitting the left-handed English way!) After the basic stitches came (brilliantly) a list of the most common knitting woopsies and how to fix them. The remainder of the book contained fun patterns with illustrations, photos, and clear-as-day instructions. The patterns included projects for pets, babies, and hipsters. I made several of the projects and still wear them.
Once I taught myself to knit that solitary winter, I was hooked for life. Now I never go anywhere without something to knit, and friends and family know to expect home-stitched gifts from me. I have taught others to knit. I even went to a knit-in protest at the state capitol! Knitting has become more than a hobby; it has been a means of making friends, connecting with relatives, and expressing my (limited) creativity. It has been a terrific past-time, and I am grateful to Stoller for opening the door.
I didn't have the money to take a class, so I checked out Stitch 'n Bitch from the library and got some yarn and needles with a coupon to Micheal's. With only this book and lonely nights, I taught myself to knit.
First, Stoller explained the basic elements of knitting. She coupled her instructions with illustrations and witty captions, making them easy to understand and follow. Where more than one method existed, she included instructions for each. (That is how I, a right-handed American, ended up knitting the left-handed English way!) After the basic stitches came (brilliantly) a list of the most common knitting woopsies and how to fix them. The remainder of the book contained fun patterns with illustrations, photos, and clear-as-day instructions. The patterns included projects for pets, babies, and hipsters. I made several of the projects and still wear them.
Once I taught myself to knit that solitary winter, I was hooked for life. Now I never go anywhere without something to knit, and friends and family know to expect home-stitched gifts from me. I have taught others to knit. I even went to a knit-in protest at the state capitol! Knitting has become more than a hobby; it has been a means of making friends, connecting with relatives, and expressing my (limited) creativity. It has been a terrific past-time, and I am grateful to Stoller for opening the door.
March 14, 2007
not your grandma's knitting book!
this is an excellent knitting 101 primer, and i'm not just a member, i'm the fan club president. it made a knitter out of me. who else can explain stitches to you using When Harry Met Sally?! idiot-proof instructions to get you on your way and a great reference book to keep coming back to to brush up. the patterns are actually something you would make (witness the very cute wristbands i knit my first week) and the illustrations are very clear. yay for this series. i'm taking up crochet next...
this is an excellent knitting 101 primer, and i'm not just a member, i'm the fan club president. it made a knitter out of me. who else can explain stitches to you using When Harry Met Sally?! idiot-proof instructions to get you on your way and a great reference book to keep coming back to to brush up. the patterns are actually something you would make (witness the very cute wristbands i knit my first week) and the illustrations are very clear. yay for this series. i'm taking up crochet next...
December 12, 2008
This book opened my eyes to so many possibilities in knitting! Having grown up in the 70's with garish acrylic yarn afgans on the back of the couch of not only our home but every home I went to and every home on tv... to open this book and see what people thought up? Awesome! It's hipster knitting at it's best- because it's not Hipster SNOTTY!
I have made the Hot Head hat in this book several times. The patterns are well written by actual knitters. Debbie Stoller has a wonderful writing style. Her tone is light and funny but she still manages to get the concepts through at the same time. I love the illustrations as well. In the How To portion of the book there are sketches - and the model is wearing black nail polish in the drawings. LOVE THAT.
I have bought this book several times and given it as gifts. I gave one to my teenaged niece and another one to my Mom who is pushing 70. (Put away the ball of acrylic mom and take a look at this!) It's a great book and every knitters library should hold a copy of it.
I have made the Hot Head hat in this book several times. The patterns are well written by actual knitters. Debbie Stoller has a wonderful writing style. Her tone is light and funny but she still manages to get the concepts through at the same time. I love the illustrations as well. In the How To portion of the book there are sketches - and the model is wearing black nail polish in the drawings. LOVE THAT.
I have bought this book several times and given it as gifts. I gave one to my teenaged niece and another one to my Mom who is pushing 70. (Put away the ball of acrylic mom and take a look at this!) It's a great book and every knitters library should hold a copy of it.
February 2, 2013
This book is a lot hipper than I am. While normally I could take or leave that kind of attitude, the book is genuinely helpful. There's an earnestness in its hipness. (It almost reads like "Take Back the KNIT!")
This book is truly for the beginner, and targets a younger audience (or one with a younger sensibility). It helps you start out, select your yarn, it sits with you while you go about your business in text and charts, and flub up and talks you through some potential fixes. It has all sorts of information that I (painfully) picked up over time, paid other people to teach me, or have sadly managed to do without. But no longer!
Knitting is visual and kinetic, and it's a problem when dealing with written material (this book, say). I mean to say it's best taught in person with the teacher moving around and pointing and talking where you can see it and bring it up to your face and poke/turn the work. But in book form, it's a completely different thing.
The diagrams are pretty clear, but I have issues with drawn art vs the photograph. Photography might be difficult to see, more complicated illustrations have some element of 'not quite seeing it' for me because I suspect (wrongly, I'm sure) that the illustrator is taking a short cut or two because drawing all of those loops is a pain and that what I'm really looking for is the part where the yarn just somehow becomes some other strand. I suppose my ideal is the photograph with an illustrated line or two overlaid describing the thing the writer is talking about.
The patterns at the second half of the book are hit or miss for me, but like I said, it's hipper than I am. (And it was published in 2003, if that gives you any idea of how unhip this reviewer is.) Still, there's a good handful I'd be interested in trying and another handful I think would be interesting to people I know.
This book is truly for the beginner, and targets a younger audience (or one with a younger sensibility). It helps you start out, select your yarn, it sits with you while you go about your business in text and charts, and flub up and talks you through some potential fixes. It has all sorts of information that I (painfully) picked up over time, paid other people to teach me, or have sadly managed to do without. But no longer!
Knitting is visual and kinetic, and it's a problem when dealing with written material (this book, say). I mean to say it's best taught in person with the teacher moving around and pointing and talking where you can see it and bring it up to your face and poke/turn the work. But in book form, it's a completely different thing.
The diagrams are pretty clear, but I have issues with drawn art vs the photograph. Photography might be difficult to see, more complicated illustrations have some element of 'not quite seeing it' for me because I suspect (wrongly, I'm sure) that the illustrator is taking a short cut or two because drawing all of those loops is a pain and that what I'm really looking for is the part where the yarn just somehow becomes some other strand. I suppose my ideal is the photograph with an illustrated line or two overlaid describing the thing the writer is talking about.
The patterns at the second half of the book are hit or miss for me, but like I said, it's hipper than I am. (And it was published in 2003, if that gives you any idea of how unhip this reviewer is.) Still, there's a good handful I'd be interested in trying and another handful I think would be interesting to people I know.
February 23, 2025
I borrowed multiple knitting books from the Brooklyn Public Library to begin my knitting quest, and this one was by far the most readable and encouraging. I found it more valuable for learning the legacy and possibilities of knitting than for the actual motions of knitting.
February 13, 2012
When people see you knitting in public (or when they come to your house) they often ask you to teach them. I hope that doesn't sound like bragging, but to clarify, people don't ask me to teach them to knit because I'm such an amazing superlative knitter, I think it's because they realise on some level that it's actually not too difficult a skill once you pick it up. I've given some super-basic knitting lessons to a looooot of people.
This book is the one that I recommend to EVERYONE who wants to learn to knit. Yes, the best way to learn is probably to get someone to show you, but this book is the second best thing for a) when your teacher can't be around to help you or b) if you don't know any knitters to begin with. In my case, it was my mother who first taught me to knit but this book taught me how knitting works. Kind of like the difference between knowing a foreign phrase from memory and knowing which part is the verb, subject, object, etc. Thanks to this book I don't just know how to knit, I know how to solve my own knitting problems and make my own decisions rather than relying on a pattern or my mum.
My only criticism is that a few years on from its initial publication, the "sassy" language of the book seems pretty dated. Knitting has gone from uncool-grandma-hobby to a hip resurgence, and now it's gone back to being lame again because it's the last decade's hot fad. The idea of young people doing crafts isn't particularly subversive anymore, so there's nothing really shocking or ironic about captions like "knit happens" and it kind of makes me cringe. That said, under all the sass it's a really useful book. It's basic enough to stop you getting lost, and it's comprehensive enough to cover most of the problems you'll encounter.
This book is the one that I recommend to EVERYONE who wants to learn to knit. Yes, the best way to learn is probably to get someone to show you, but this book is the second best thing for a) when your teacher can't be around to help you or b) if you don't know any knitters to begin with. In my case, it was my mother who first taught me to knit but this book taught me how knitting works. Kind of like the difference between knowing a foreign phrase from memory and knowing which part is the verb, subject, object, etc. Thanks to this book I don't just know how to knit, I know how to solve my own knitting problems and make my own decisions rather than relying on a pattern or my mum.
My only criticism is that a few years on from its initial publication, the "sassy" language of the book seems pretty dated. Knitting has gone from uncool-grandma-hobby to a hip resurgence, and now it's gone back to being lame again because it's the last decade's hot fad. The idea of young people doing crafts isn't particularly subversive anymore, so there's nothing really shocking or ironic about captions like "knit happens" and it kind of makes me cringe. That said, under all the sass it's a really useful book. It's basic enough to stop you getting lost, and it's comprehensive enough to cover most of the problems you'll encounter.
December 13, 2007
This book has more potential than it lives up to. It was the first knitting book I ever bought and I relied heavily on its instructions for how to knit/purl. As a result I can knit, but my purl is backwards (not a knit, not a purl, something peculiar - but effective as far as I'm concerned). I've since found better instructions on the internet.
I appreciate the attempt to create a guide for the 'younger' set, but besides the scarves, there are no patterns I'd care to follow. Skulls on sweaters is a bit too cool for me.
I appreciate the attempt to create a guide for the 'younger' set, but besides the scarves, there are no patterns I'd care to follow. Skulls on sweaters is a bit too cool for me.
July 27, 2007
Debbie Stoller berusaha mempopulerkan kembali kerajinan merajut karena ia melihat kegiatan ini dipandang sebelah mata dan dianggap tidak cool, 'terlalu kewanitaan, terlalu oldies'. Sebagai seorang aktivis feminis ia tidak rela akan bias gender masyarakat terhadap kegiatan merajut. Tulisnya, "why couldn't we all -- women and men alike -- take the same kind of pride in the work our mothers had always done as we did in the work of our fathers?".
Beberapa tahun yang lalu ia mulai dengan membentuk Stitch 'n Bitch (SnB) grup di New York, sebagai sebuah forum terbuka bagi siapa saja yang tertarik belajar merajut dan bertukar ilmu merajut. Memperkenalkan 'asyiknya' merajut dengan melakukannya di tempat-tempat umum. Usahanya berhasil. Semakin banyak wanita muda dari bermacam tipe (yang girly-girl, yang trendy, yang bertato dan tindik hidung) merajut di kereta, cafe dan bar. Bahkan grup SnB lain mulai bermunculan di berbagai kota. Saat ini hampir 40 juta orang di AS yang senang merajut, dan yang baru-baru rata-rata adalah wanita muda.
Sebagai buku pegangan untuk belajar merajut, buku ini sebenarnya cukup lengkap. Di dalamnya membahas tentang pengenalan alat dan bahan, teknik-teknik dasar, hingga dekorasi. Tetapi mungkin bagi sebagian orang, ilustrasinya yang ditampilkan dengan gambar-gambar bergaya 'tidak serius', kurang begitu jelas.
Buku ini juga memberikan informasi tentang komunitas-komunitas merajut, baik di dunia nyata maupun maya (internet circle groups). Tips-tips membentuk grup merajut, informasi website untuk belajar merajut, juga software, buku-buku dan majalah merajut. Terakhir, kumpulan proyek merajut dengan pola-pola dari anggota SnB, baik yang baru setahun belajar merajut ataupun yang sudah berpengalaman bahkan desainer rajutan profesional. Dari pola-pola yang ditampilkan (misalnya Alien Illusion Scarf, Sparkle Hat, Punk Rock Backpack), mudah ditangkap bahwa buku ini ditujukan bagi kalangan muda.
Buku ini ditulis dengan bahasa yang ringan dan gaya yang menarik, mewakili isi buku yang ingin menyatakan bahwa "Knitting is hip!".
Beberapa tahun yang lalu ia mulai dengan membentuk Stitch 'n Bitch (SnB) grup di New York, sebagai sebuah forum terbuka bagi siapa saja yang tertarik belajar merajut dan bertukar ilmu merajut. Memperkenalkan 'asyiknya' merajut dengan melakukannya di tempat-tempat umum. Usahanya berhasil. Semakin banyak wanita muda dari bermacam tipe (yang girly-girl, yang trendy, yang bertato dan tindik hidung) merajut di kereta, cafe dan bar. Bahkan grup SnB lain mulai bermunculan di berbagai kota. Saat ini hampir 40 juta orang di AS yang senang merajut, dan yang baru-baru rata-rata adalah wanita muda.
Sebagai buku pegangan untuk belajar merajut, buku ini sebenarnya cukup lengkap. Di dalamnya membahas tentang pengenalan alat dan bahan, teknik-teknik dasar, hingga dekorasi. Tetapi mungkin bagi sebagian orang, ilustrasinya yang ditampilkan dengan gambar-gambar bergaya 'tidak serius', kurang begitu jelas.
Buku ini juga memberikan informasi tentang komunitas-komunitas merajut, baik di dunia nyata maupun maya (internet circle groups). Tips-tips membentuk grup merajut, informasi website untuk belajar merajut, juga software, buku-buku dan majalah merajut. Terakhir, kumpulan proyek merajut dengan pola-pola dari anggota SnB, baik yang baru setahun belajar merajut ataupun yang sudah berpengalaman bahkan desainer rajutan profesional. Dari pola-pola yang ditampilkan (misalnya Alien Illusion Scarf, Sparkle Hat, Punk Rock Backpack), mudah ditangkap bahwa buku ini ditujukan bagi kalangan muda.
Buku ini ditulis dengan bahasa yang ringan dan gaya yang menarik, mewakili isi buku yang ingin menyatakan bahwa "Knitting is hip!".
May 6, 2011
I love this book! I've made five of the patterns in it, and they all came out beautifully. The illustrations are very clear and ideal for the beginning knitter. Plus, Debbie Stoller is just funny and awesome (read BUST!) If you're just starting out and you can only buy one knitting book, buy this one.
Her crochet book, Happy Hooker, is great too -- I taught myself how to crochet in a night using only that book (no web videos needed!)
Her crochet book, Happy Hooker, is great too -- I taught myself how to crochet in a night using only that book (no web videos needed!)
March 28, 2012
Great resource for the beginning knitter.
Between this book, youtube, and my friend JK, I am now able to: cast on, knit, purl, and bind off CONSISTENTLY and with success.
Dudes, let the yarn bombing begin!
Between this book, youtube, and my friend JK, I am now able to: cast on, knit, purl, and bind off CONSISTENTLY and with success.
Dudes, let the yarn bombing begin!
June 21, 2016
I loved the writing style of this book....very creative! Being a brand new knitter a little over 2 years ago, this book has been a great go-to when I've needed to look up how to do certain techniques. It's a keeper!
July 11, 2016
It's a great book, and I've finished ages ago. But it is a constant reference book that I go back to all the time. So it's kind of a forever browsing kind of book :)
October 13, 2025
'Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook' written by Debbie Stoller
I have had this book since about 2004, and have made several things out of it, my fave being "The Alien Scarf" which I made for a gift for a family member; he loved it!
So, as I mentioned...somewhere else (I think) I learned how to knit several years ago from the mother of a boyfriend I was with for a while. She was German (his dad was British-American and career Army) and she taught me how to knit because I was curious and an artist who likes to create things, whether multi-media in art, or in making food, lol. She taught me Continental (European) style technique which is a different method from how most people I've met in the States knit. Easier, I think...
So my point (yes, yes there is one!) is that Debbie is a great teacher and her books (welp, I haven't read all of them, yet) are the best at showing how to knit the stitches via lots of detailed illustrations & some photos (took an in-person class from her a few years ago which was a lot of fun!). She goes into both English-American style knitting and also Continental as well, so whatever style you choose to learn, she's got you covered!
She's really patient with her students, too, repeating her explanations (good at show & tell), even when someone (um...raises hand...heh-heh) keeps screwing their project up and needs going over instructions...again & yet again! (face palm)
Anyway, just now getting back into fiber arts after having my supplies stashed away for the last 5 years while I moved around (yet again!). Will be starting a new project in knitting soon!
Getting her 'The Happy Hooker' crochet manual soon, so that'll be fun since I've never done that yet.
If you're interested in learning how to knit, get this book, it's great!
Now I'm trying to decide what to make next! There's a couple of new babies in my family, so contrary to what's usually expected, I'll make something for the parents, lol!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
I have had this book since about 2004, and have made several things out of it, my fave being "The Alien Scarf" which I made for a gift for a family member; he loved it!
So, as I mentioned...somewhere else (I think) I learned how to knit several years ago from the mother of a boyfriend I was with for a while. She was German (his dad was British-American and career Army) and she taught me how to knit because I was curious and an artist who likes to create things, whether multi-media in art, or in making food, lol. She taught me Continental (European) style technique which is a different method from how most people I've met in the States knit. Easier, I think...
So my point (yes, yes there is one!) is that Debbie is a great teacher and her books (welp, I haven't read all of them, yet) are the best at showing how to knit the stitches via lots of detailed illustrations & some photos (took an in-person class from her a few years ago which was a lot of fun!). She goes into both English-American style knitting and also Continental as well, so whatever style you choose to learn, she's got you covered!
She's really patient with her students, too, repeating her explanations (good at show & tell), even when someone (um...raises hand...heh-heh) keeps screwing their project up and needs going over instructions...again & yet again! (face palm)
Anyway, just now getting back into fiber arts after having my supplies stashed away for the last 5 years while I moved around (yet again!). Will be starting a new project in knitting soon!
Getting her 'The Happy Hooker' crochet manual soon, so that'll be fun since I've never done that yet.
If you're interested in learning how to knit, get this book, it's great!
Now I'm trying to decide what to make next! There's a couple of new babies in my family, so contrary to what's usually expected, I'll make something for the parents, lol!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
January 12, 2025
Attempting to pick up knitting because my sewing machine wakes up the baby. I remember my mom going through this book when I was a kid, and I remember thinking even then - man, those patterns are funky. While the patterns are definitely still “funky fresh early aughts cool city girl who works a corporate job and makes knitting hip,” the informational parts of the book are very helpful. The introduction, with its emphasis on the ancient sisterhood of knitting, was surprisingly touching. I really enjoyed this and will be seeking patterns out elsewhere.
November 20, 2025
I was so stoked to find a copy at Value Village recently. This book was circulating around amongst my mom’s book club friends sometime circa 2007. I remember loving the sassy tone and trying to knit the iPod sleeve pattern. As I return to knitting for the first time in years I’m finding it to be a very solid guide. Plus the patterns are so so deliciously 2004 :)
April 1, 2021
Did i technically read this? Yes. Do i want more time with it.. yes
Literally i had it checked out for ages and kept renewing and only used it like the last two weeks now i have to return it and check it back out again cuz i hit my renewal limit or whatever
Literally i had it checked out for ages and kept renewing and only used it like the last two weeks now i have to return it and check it back out again cuz i hit my renewal limit or whatever
February 18, 2018
I used this book in combination with YouTube videos in my journey to knitting, and I am happy with the results! The book is easy to follow and hilarious. This “bitch” was in stitches. Eh? Knitting pun? Okay, never mind. Great book, though!
February 24, 2015
Well, what can I say - I learned to knit from this book (with perhaps a few You Tube videos where watching someone's fingers was needed) so it must have been a success.
Stoller's jokey, irreverent style can get a little irritating at times, but it's still much preferable to a dry old Reader's Digest How To ... style, because a cuss and a joke can make things stick. And I've gone from barely knowing one end of a knitting needle from another to knitting a snood (you may know it better as a cowl) and then a hat using 5 double pointed sticks: yes five of them, at the same time too!
There are things in this book that I haven't yet tried (such as intarsia, used in Fair Isle patterns) but if I waited until I'd done everything in this book then I'd never review it. So ... if you want to learn knitting from a book, then this has at least one successful pupil.
Oh - I bought this book because of one specific pattern "Under the Hoodie", which was why I wanted to learn to knit in the first place (having shrunk my favourite knitted hoodie). I haven't yet made that jumper, but will come back when I do :).
(#13 in my Year of Reading Women)
Stoller's jokey, irreverent style can get a little irritating at times, but it's still much preferable to a dry old Reader's Digest How To ... style, because a cuss and a joke can make things stick. And I've gone from barely knowing one end of a knitting needle from another to knitting a snood (you may know it better as a cowl) and then a hat using 5 double pointed sticks: yes five of them, at the same time too!
There are things in this book that I haven't yet tried (such as intarsia, used in Fair Isle patterns) but if I waited until I'd done everything in this book then I'd never review it. So ... if you want to learn knitting from a book, then this has at least one successful pupil.
Oh - I bought this book because of one specific pattern "Under the Hoodie", which was why I wanted to learn to knit in the first place (having shrunk my favourite knitted hoodie). I haven't yet made that jumper, but will come back when I do :).
(#13 in my Year of Reading Women)
April 24, 2014
I am always just missing things. I was born a generation late for the women’s lib movement. I completely missed Brat Pack movies; I was a mere 5-year-old when St. Elmo’s Fire came out and just watched it for the first time a few weeks ago. I found Stitch ‘N Bitch ten years after its first printing.
But what a jewel in the desert, this treasure I found in a used book store. Stitch ‘N Bitch highlights the anti-knitting sentiments of the early feminist movement, how it was looked down on as domestic drudgery in a time when women were climbing corporate ladders. But now, a whole new generation is reviving knitting, reconnecting to their roots with a modern twist.
Debbie Stoller shares her family’s connections to knitting, basics on learning to knit, and ways to create your own Stitch ‘N Bitch group. For any knitters who haven’t read this book (or perhaps felt turned off by the title), I highly recommend giving this book a read-through. It’s a wonderful addition to any knitting library and a much-needed bridge between feminism and fibrous arts.
But what a jewel in the desert, this treasure I found in a used book store. Stitch ‘N Bitch highlights the anti-knitting sentiments of the early feminist movement, how it was looked down on as domestic drudgery in a time when women were climbing corporate ladders. But now, a whole new generation is reviving knitting, reconnecting to their roots with a modern twist.
Debbie Stoller shares her family’s connections to knitting, basics on learning to knit, and ways to create your own Stitch ‘N Bitch group. For any knitters who haven’t read this book (or perhaps felt turned off by the title), I highly recommend giving this book a read-through. It’s a wonderful addition to any knitting library and a much-needed bridge between feminism and fibrous arts.
September 8, 2015
This book is so fun! I picked it up on a whim and bought it right away after flipping through the color photos of the projects it contains. I couldn't pass up the hat with kitty ears!
The writing style is like listening to a good friend who wants to teach you how to knit. It covers both basics (knitting & purling) & the more advanced techniques (cables, Kitchener stitch, etc). I already knew how to knit before I bought the book, but this is going to be a handy reference to hold on to when I tackle more involved projects, and to remind me of simple things that I forget how to do!
The patterns are so fun, each is by a different knitter and they all have appeal. I've already bookmarked several for future knitting (if you were curious, I plan to make the felted bag, the kitty ear hat, and maybe the fluffy cat bed — and I don't even have a cat). As a bonus there are sewing patterns/instructions for knitting accessories: a tote bag, a straight needle roll-up case, and a hanging circular needle organizer. I definitely plan to make those, too!
The writing style is like listening to a good friend who wants to teach you how to knit. It covers both basics (knitting & purling) & the more advanced techniques (cables, Kitchener stitch, etc). I already knew how to knit before I bought the book, but this is going to be a handy reference to hold on to when I tackle more involved projects, and to remind me of simple things that I forget how to do!
The patterns are so fun, each is by a different knitter and they all have appeal. I've already bookmarked several for future knitting (if you were curious, I plan to make the felted bag, the kitty ear hat, and maybe the fluffy cat bed — and I don't even have a cat). As a bonus there are sewing patterns/instructions for knitting accessories: a tote bag, a straight needle roll-up case, and a hanging circular needle organizer. I definitely plan to make those, too!
July 21, 2011
I haven't followed any of the patterns yet, but I love this book without them. The author has a PhD in psychology of women and is the founder of a feminist magazine called BUST, which also happens to be very cool. Along with some of her own family history, which I thoroughly enjoyed, she gives a short history of knitting. Who knew that Egyptians knitted blue and white socks in 1000 A.D.?! I also loved the American Red Cross poster from WWI asking women to "Knit Your Bit" because "Our Boys Need Sox" and apparently they did so right alongside injured soldiers who knit for their comrades to continue their service while recovering in the hospital (which might be useful information for PTSD research). Plus there is lots of info about fiber, tools, organization, stitches, casting, binding, technique, diagrams, fun word play and even knitting rhymes. Most importantly, this book makes me want to knit, which I suppose is the point.
January 4, 2009
I was looking to learn how to knit and was recommended this book as a learning manual by both a friend and a reliable knitting store in my neighborhood. And so I enthusiastically purchased it.
I have to say that for cold start beginners (I knew how to crochet had NEVER knitted before, had never closely inspected anyone knit before), you're better off watching a video of knitwitch.com (which is really how I learned how to cast, knit, and purl--it's an amazing site!) It's just way too difficult to learn how to knit off a diagram, or at least the diagrams in Stitch 'N Bitch.
Once you learn the basics, however, Stitch 'N Bitch is awesome. I also like the enthusiasm with which it is written and the very down to earth voice and tone.
I have to say that for cold start beginners (I knew how to crochet had NEVER knitted before, had never closely inspected anyone knit before), you're better off watching a video of knitwitch.com (which is really how I learned how to cast, knit, and purl--it's an amazing site!) It's just way too difficult to learn how to knit off a diagram, or at least the diagrams in Stitch 'N Bitch.
Once you learn the basics, however, Stitch 'N Bitch is awesome. I also like the enthusiasm with which it is written and the very down to earth voice and tone.
July 16, 2017
Not a good book in general. The design is low-budget black and white.
I feel sorry for beginners who find this book, like I did before I knew better, and think this is what knitting can be: The patterns are severely lacking in fashion sense, some are incredible poorly written, I learnt that the hard way. A lot of the patterns look rushed and poorly made, not at all flattering.
The books motto is "not your grandmas knitting". Whatever, book.
Grandmas did incredible work of things we newer knitters can only dream of, vintage knitting books and leaflets are amazing. Learn from them and not this fairly cheap-looking book. Youtube has some excellent resources from all over the world and it's all for free.
I sold my copy, good riddance.
I feel sorry for beginners who find this book, like I did before I knew better, and think this is what knitting can be: The patterns are severely lacking in fashion sense, some are incredible poorly written, I learnt that the hard way. A lot of the patterns look rushed and poorly made, not at all flattering.
The books motto is "not your grandmas knitting". Whatever, book.
Grandmas did incredible work of things we newer knitters can only dream of, vintage knitting books and leaflets are amazing. Learn from them and not this fairly cheap-looking book. Youtube has some excellent resources from all over the world and it's all for free.
I sold my copy, good riddance.
April 7, 2019
This book was so helpful with learning how to knit. This book breaks down every aspect to knitting and the tools/yarn to use. It includes some pretty cool knitting patterns at the end that I can't wait to try. I also love a good feminist hobby book and this was just what I needed to start my knitting journey. I love the humor of Debbie Stroller and the pictures were fantastic. I had to use YouTube videos alongside this book because it helped me practice the stitches. If it helps, Debbie Stroller has a YouTube Cowl Scarf tutorial on the good housekeeping channel and it was so easy. I made that my first project and it turned out to be such a stylish and comfy scarf. I would absolutely recommend this book to any beginners wanting to learn to knit.
December 30, 2009
This was the first real knitting how-to + projects book I ever purchased. I actually bought it before I had taken any knitting classes in the hope that I would be able to teach myself. Ultimately, that little plan didn't work out. I also attempted a pattern from this book as one of my first non-supervised projects: a felted bag. Despite my vast lack of knowledge and expertise, the bag turned out pretty well, but I ended up donating it to Goodwill.
There are a few intriguing patterns in this book, but as I've purchased more and more knitting books, this one has fallen by the wayside. It is a good reference for techniques and how-to, but not my favorite relative to projects.
There are a few intriguing patterns in this book, but as I've purchased more and more knitting books, this one has fallen by the wayside. It is a good reference for techniques and how-to, but not my favorite relative to projects.
May 16, 2018
Approximately 70% is knitting patterns, most of which A) I have no interest in making and B) are beyond my skill anyway. (No, I'm not interested in making clothes. Or iPod related stuff.) Just a fair warning, I hear with this series the patterns in the books tend to have a lot of errors in them, so if anyone WANTS to make them they'll have to hunt down the corrected versions.
For me it's just 2.5 out of 5 stars, I've read worse knitting books... but I've also read a lot better.
For me it's just 2.5 out of 5 stars, I've read worse knitting books... but I've also read a lot better.
November 17, 2011
I'm so inspired after visiting Hill Country Weavers in Austin (http://www.hillcountryweavers.com/main/) and talking with knitting buddies Kristen and Chaiti!
The instructions in this book are clear and I look forward to making some of the patterns... but does anyone actually wear knit bikinis? Ew.
The instructions in this book are clear and I look forward to making some of the patterns... but does anyone actually wear knit bikinis? Ew.
February 11, 2023
This taught me how to knit. It is nice to you. It encourages you. I has techniques and patterns and Debbie Stoller smiling at you from the front. It may as well be the Hitchhiker's Guide to Knitting because Debbie Stoller seems to be saying "DON'T PANIC" and you know what? I won't.
December 12, 2011
Slightly more helpful in getting me going with knitting; in particular, picked up good technique for holding yarn while working. Only made one pattern, and that was a basic ribbed scarf. Wouldn't mind trying some other things if I pick up my own copy.
September 20, 2012
Everyone in fiber crafting knows about this book. Detailed instructions and fun beginning projects are included for newbies to knitting. This is one of the bibles for knitting. Good for referencing any needed skills.
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