Fearless Knitting Workbook

by Jennifer E. Seiffert

Designed to empower knitters with practical knowledge of how yarn becomes fabric and to boost confidence in tackling common obstacles and mistakes made during the process, this knitting how-to guides fiber artists to success in their craft by explaining each word of standard knitting instructions. This illustrated guide offers classically-designed swatch exercises--such as knit-and-purl patterns, cables, shaping, and lace--that can later be combined to create pillow covers, throws, or scarves, in addition to tutorials on how to identify stitches that are properly mounted and master basic stitch movements and math required for each exercise. Promoting a deeper understanding of knitting and its facets and encouraging a bold approach to some of the more complex and daunting knitting styles and designs, this informative manual is essential in assisting knitters of all levels in gaining crafting mastery.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Reference, Nonfiction

160 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a great book for an intrepid beginning knitter who likes everything explained and doesn't mind not actually making much of anything! I've been knitting for decades now and found the text, mostly, insightful but making swatch after swatch would be too much work for not much gain for me as a beginner! The author could have fashioned each "tutorial" into some sort of project or had the option for that, at least. But, some will find this book very helpful.

[Carole Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fearless Knitting is a great resource book for the knitter. The book has a lot of information about the "how to" knit and the tools needed. The book takes you step-by-step from easy to harder projects. The book also explains the different patterns and the steps in how to knit, purl, and other stitching techniques. By the time you get to the end you might be an intermediate or expert knitter. This is the book where I learned to read knitting charts. There are a lot of written patterns, so don't be discouraged if you can't read a knitting chart. This is the book to learn how to. This is a book to use over and over again.
Once again I pulled out this wonderful book to help me through some unfamiliar knitting techniques.
It is so helpful and I love the diagrams that show where your knitting needle should be when knitting.
This book is for all stages of knitting proficiency. (6/2025)

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can tell that the author of this book likes math. I hate math. Math is my nemesis. I think that I need more right brain friendly explanations of knitting. The concept of this book is great. And it probably works well for people who are good at math and spatial relationships. I know that knitting patterns are mathematical and I like that this author tries to demystify knitting by helping the knitter to learn how to "read" the knitting and fix mistakes. It sounds like such a helpful and wonderful concept. And I really would love to understand it. But it is just way too much like math.
And I just don't get it. It makes my brain hurt to try to understand this book.
However, for those people who like and are good at math, it is probably very helpful.

[Margot]

This is a very awesome learn-to-knit book with chapters on basic knitting skills, along with chapters to practice those skills before moving on to the next. Skills include knitting and perling, increases and decreases, cabling, lacework, and knitting in the round. The one thing this book doesn't have is an exhaustive index. So I found it easier to have a second knitting reference book on hand when I just needed to remind myself very quickly about how to do a particular stitch or a particular knitting pattern.

[Linda Ethier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect next step for those who have mastered knitting, purling, casting on, and casting off. As you knit each 8" swatch, you will learn how to increase and decrease, read patterns, make cables, make lace, knit in the round, etc. Most important, though, you will begin to understand exactly how all those little loops, twists, and connections fit together so that you can create what you want, and avoid or fix what you don't want.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I worked my way most of the way through the exercises in this book and did, in fact, learn some new skills! A very handy tool for learning techniques you thought were too difficult for a beginning or intermediate knitter to do. A few places, I had to go on youtube to actually see done the techniques they were describing on the page, but ultimately, I had a very successful experience with this.

[Kate Burgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for projects that help advance your skills through very levels. Covers tools and technique although the print is a little small and the choice of "colored inks" for printing makes it a little difficult to read at times.

[Heidi]

For some reason it is causing more fear.

[Chieko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great workbook to get your knitting to the next level.

[Rexann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know the first thing about knitting. I started with the first project and worked my way through. I can now tackle any knitting project with success.

[Sue Klasing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good tips