Knitting School: A Complete Course

by R.C.S. Libri

It's the best course in knitting ever--a complete instructional manual on every aspect of the craft. Now, complete beginners can learn everything they need to know to knit beautiful and cozy garments, blankets, and accessories. Begin by selecting needles and yarn and then start practicing the basic knitting and purling stitches and their variations, including the loop stitch, slip stitch, and crossed stitch. When you're ready, move on to tubular stitches, and learn to increase and decrease your rows of stitches and bind off to finish your work. Instructions are given for a wide range of garment pieces and styles, including various necklines, collars, sleeves, buttonholes, and pockets. Find out how to correct mistakes and mend holes. Add interest to your projects with decorations such as pearls, sequins, and jewels; jacquard and smock stitches, embroidery, braids, fringes and pompoms. Make baby booties, mittens, gloves, socks, sweaters and more.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Debbie Handley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disapointed in this book. While it does cover many aspects of knitting it does so in such an abreviated manner that it leaves the reader asking many questions-at least it did me. I'm a continental knitting too-learned to knit from my German mother and felt this type of knitting was barely covered.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the illustrations confusing.

[Gale Penton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful resource

[Min · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally published in Italy, and the Italians are very gifted at arts and crafts. This book covers all the basics with clear full-color illustrations on every page. It is particularly good on how to knit collars and how to make knitted darts-the latter is something I have not seen in other books.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the techniques in this book I have seen in video form through either youtube, or knitpicks / knittinghelp. I am a visual person so seeing the videos of how to do something is very helpful to me.

However, this book was also very detailed. It went step by step through what tools a person would need, to the yarn, CO, Knits vs purls, English vs Continental etc... I also really enjoyed the section about how to fix mistakes. Sometimes it's hard to see in a video exactly where a needle was inserted to pick up a stitch, so to see it in colored illustrations with directions was helpful.

The one thing I didn't really like, the book seemed to be geared towards someone who was going to be knitting their own design of a sweater. So there were pages about different necklines, sleeves, etc... I wouldn't have minded that and I'm sure it will be helpful in the future, but considering the title I didn't expect this to be so detailed.

I thought it was going to be more about mistakes, and stitches. So that was a little disappointing, but other than that I enjoyed the book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great help with figuring out the basic finishing details that might not be pictured in a pattern. It has color drawings of knitting and covers casting on through sweater making and beyond.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the absolute beginner. This book has everything you need to know to design and knit your own sweaters. From cuff design to smocking to fitting advice. Excellent.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

Has very nice diagrams of how to do various stitches. Also a good one of how to sew a sock.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference book for new knitters.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For good basic coverage of design details, i will be using this guide to teach others. Primarily drawings of the process, the multitude of clear graphic illustration are an excellent teachers' tool.

[Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best knitting books I have read so far.