Ravelry Knitters discussion

Does anyone have a favorite (non-fiction) knitting book? Do you have a particular book that inspires you to pick up the needles? Where do you find patterns?

I have Nicky Epsteins 'Knits for Barbie' and that book is so much fun to read! Makes me wish I was at the photography sessions. I have completed several of the projects for my step-granddaughter.

Also, I recently borrowed from the library 'A Gathering of Lace' and I'm thinking I need a copy of my own!

I absolutely LOVE Scarf Style Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet The scarfs are so beautiful. I've made a couple of them and they are true eye catchers.

One-Skein Wonders - it has some neat ideas for those odd lots of wool that seem to accumulate in your stash.

I've made a mohair shawl out of it, and am contemplating casting on a baby hat I found in it, which is just adorable.

I love Vogue Knitting. I practically learnt everything about knitting from this when I returned to to this fiber art. I also admire Stitchionary series & almost all of Nicky Epstein's.

My old standby is Complete Guide to Needlework from Reader's Digest Editors; I have an 8th edition copy from 1983 (hairstyles of models betray this ;-) ) which I *inherited* from my mother "weeding" her bookshelves. This is a very handy reference to have for MANY types of needlework (and I can do many of them); it has better charts than other guides, and gives you both left-handed and right-handed options. I also like my The Harmony guide to Knitting Stitches Volume 1, which I picked up at the library used book store some years ago for a few dollars; it's a good stich pattern "dictionary," though the pattern is written in slightly different notation than American knitting patterns (e.g., "yf" for "yarn forward" means the same as "yo" for "yarn over"). I generally prefer to create patterns from scratch, or modify very basic patterns, so I don't lean toward books; being fairly well broke probably influences this. It's hard not to have a really great book store or craft store with good books nearby. I'd never buy a knitting book sight-unseen, and since there is not much of a selection available very locally it would be hard to know where to even begin for what would be good (especially since so many of the books call for much fancier yarn than I ever use...not a yarn snob here).

My favorite reference is The Vogue Knitting Book. I have a copy of the previous edition, it has the best left handed illustrations I have found.

I also like Sally Melville's The Knit Stitch and The Purl Stitch. Great basic patterns and instructions that go beyond scarves. I particularly like her advice on how to make your knitting look less homemade.

I am a collector of sock and lace knitting books. My current favorite sock knitting book is Janet Rehfelt's Toe-Up Techniquest for Hand-Knit Socks.

I love A Gathering of Lace, too, as well as One-Skein Wonders and the Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book book is, I agree, the best reference.

I have a short attention span so I like small projects but I hate knitting socks. I've found many items I love in One Skein 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders, and Luxury One-Skein Wonders. I love the Stitch 'n Bitch books, too.

Two other lace books I loved are Lacy Little Knits Clingy, Soft & A Little Risque and Victorian Lace Today. My favorite baby knits book is Knitting for Baby 30 Heirloom Projects with Complete How-to-Knit Instructions and I also love Designs for Kids Hand Knits and Things mostly because of the adorable dog-themed items. On that note, my favorite dog sweater book is Dogs in Knits 17 Projects for Our Best Friends.

On my wishlist is Ocean Breezes Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea in which I love almost every item. And lastly, I just got World of Knitted Toys which is chock full of adorable patterns.

World of Knitted Toys is utterly charming - I got it two Christmases ago as a gift from my father. Great way to help bust a stash, too!

I really like the second 1-skein wonder book (101 Designer One-Skein Wonders) which I got earlier this year, and has some great patterns in it. I'm knitting the Sock It To Me Scarf from it now, actually. (It's a scarf knit from striping sock yarn - I love sock yarn, but don't knit socks, so was excited to see this pattern.)

I've been knitting about three years, and have six bags of knitting stash (I have other stash, too, but I've been doing embroidery, cross stitch, and needlepoint since about 1980.)

World of Knitted Toys is categorized by difficulty level, from easy (a snake) to difficult (elephant, I think).

My new favorite knitting book is Fitted Knits. I am currently working on two of the sweaters and just love the patterns. I am also learning to adjust patterns so the sweaters fit perfectly...

I love Scarf Style too and have made several of the patterns in that book. A keeper for sure.

My current fave is Victorian Lace Today. I'm currently working on my 4th shawl from that book. I think I've gotten my money's worth!

new current fave has got to be NORWEGIAN HANDKNITS, by Flanders & Kosel

Itty-Bitty Hats by susan b. anderson. i now look for babies so that I may knit them a hat from this book.

The Book that I seem to reach for over and over again is The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I have made so many items using the "recipes" from this book.

Jen wrote: "The Book that I seem to reach for over and over again is The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I have made so many items using the "recipes" from this book."

Me too! It's so good. I just made a pair of her cable rib baby socks (from Knitting Daily and perhaps published elsewhere). Ann Budd just has a knack for writing good, easy-to-understand and appealing patterns. Julie

Julie wrote: "Jen wrote: "The Book that I seem to reach for over and over again is The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I have made so many items using the "recipes" from this book."
..."

I have this book and must admit that I have not spent much time with it. I really need to explore it more. Thank you both for the reminder!

Fitted Knits and anything else by Stefanie Japel are books I am trying to knit cover-to-cover. I had to frog the one I made from Glam Knits to make some sizing changes, so hopefully I'll finish that soon.

Anything by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I love all her books! I think I love most that she doesn't give patterns but formulas that you can use as-is or take it further and explore. I learn every time I read through one of her books.

I got hooked on knitting from the The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes. Learning more about the fiber got me excited about trying it out on new projects. I also love Knitting Circles Around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles. I just completed my first pair of socks using this method. Way fun!

It's impossible to choose just one. I do tend to favor The Knitter's Book Of Wool by Clara Parkes.
I think the spinner in me likes that book because of all the wonderful information on various sheep breeds.
I also like Knitting Rules. I honestly don't think there will ever be just one favorite for me.

The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks

I find the most inspiring books are those that have garments you'd want to wear. My favourites are published by Interweave Press: 1) Simple Style 2) Lace Style 3) The Best of Interweave Knits (all edited by Ann Budd, I think). Stephanie Japel's two books: Fitted Knits and Glam Knits are also delightful - with patterns that are "friendly" for new knitters too.

I recently discovered the book Haiku Knits by Tanya Alpert, which has some lovely pieces.

Dawn's wrote: "I find the most inspiring books are those that have garments you'd want to wear. My favourites are published by Interweave Press: 1) Simple Style 2) Lace Style 3) The Best of Interweave Knits (all ..."

Oh, I just looked through Haiku Knits at my LYS. It is a beautiful book, so artistic! The use of different textures of yarns in interesting ways makes this book really stand apart!

The Knitter's Book of Wool is really interesting. The other book I liked was A Perfect Shade of Red (history of red dye).

My sentimental fav is Glorious Knits. I have knitted since I was 8, but in my late 20's is was not really doing much. I saw this book and it caused me to start knitting seriously again. I will always love this book.

I've just started knitting about 1.5 years and I'm envious of knitters who don't need patterns. Books that I like are: Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin, Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding, Knitting on Top of the World by Nicky Epstein, and Sock Innovation by Cookie A.

I just got from the library and it is really good. Probably going to have to buy it.

Julie wrote: "Jen wrote: "The Book that I seem to reach for over and over again is The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I have made so many items using the "recipes" from this book."
..."

This is my most used book also. Love it. It's my go to pattern book - you can make almost anything out of any yarn in any size.

I love reading what everybody else has posted. Funny how no two knitters are alike and it seems to be very true of knit-readers!

Since I started this post, I purchased 'Knitting for Peace' which I love as it has many thought provoking knitting projects. Knitted dolls for AIDS babies. Yeah. I also found a copy of Annie Modesitt's 'Confessions of a Knitting Heretic' which I feel genuine sympatico everytime I read it. I recently was given a copy of Anna Zilboorg's 'Magnificient Mittens & Socks' and believe the challenge of her beautiful projects is good for my soul! Thanks for sharing, everybody. Have you read anything new?

I really love "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Moverson. Lots of great ideas. My favorite patterns are the old ones from my gramma and the ones that I write down on post-it notes that spring up from my brain

One of my very favourite books is Picture Perfect Knits pb Every time I pick it up I want to start a new project! You can read my review of it on my blog http://www.thecraftybookwormreviews.b...

And don't forget by Ann Budd.

When I started out teaching myself to knit, I picked up a copy of Knitting for Dummies at the local library and found it incredibly useful, it does such a great job of putting things into terms that work for me. Like many of you, I'm also very fond of my newest acquisition The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges.

I tried to teach myself to knit from Knitting for Dummies, and couldn't do it. (I don't visualize hand movements from drawings very well. I need to see it done.) So I found a teacher.

Susanna wrote: "I tried to teach myself to knit from Knitting for Dummies, and couldn't do it. (I don't visualize hand movements from drawings very well. I need to see it done.) So I found a teacher."

Oh, don't get me wrong... youtube was my primary teacher, but the for dummies book seemed to put things in terms I could understand better than other resources available to me at the time.

I like the Mason Dixon knitting books, Elizabeth Zimmerman (she is a goddess) and as for new knitting books I just got Knitting Green by Ann Budd and like it so far but have not tried any patterns yet...

Rani wrote: "I like the Mason Dixon knitting books, Elizabeth Zimmerman (she is a goddess) and as for new knitting books I just got Knitting Green by Ann Budd and like it so far but have not tried any patterns ..."

Just got a look at Knitting Green. It has some awesome patterns. But then it IS Ann Budd. Really would not expect any less.

My favorite book is generally the one I received most recently, but Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook was the book that helped me get through my knitters' block when all else had failed. Right now I'm in love with Think Outside the Sox: 50 Winning Patterns from the Knitter's Magazine Contest and Magnificent Mittens & Socks: The Beauty of Warm Hands and Feet for pure inspiration.

Anything written by the late great Elizabeth Zimmermann, esp. The Knitters Almanac.

My go-to book for tips, tricks, and help is The Knitting Answer Book. It is awesome, and has helped me tremendously with little questions about cast-ons, cast-offs, decreasing, etc. It is so helpful to use as a quick reference.

That's a very useful book, that one.

Yes, that's very handy, isn't it?

"Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook"- Debbie Stoller. Gets me pumped up during knitting season :). Also, "Friday Night Knitting Club"- Kate Jacobs. I know, it's not a pattern type book, but it reminds me of the friends I used to get together with to knit and chat it up with.

Cecily wrote: "My old standby is Complete Guide to Needlework from Reader's Digest Editors; I have an 8th edition copy from 1983 (hairstyles of models betray this ;-) ) which I *inher..."

I also have this book, my mom gave it too me when I moved to my own place. I love it, all the crafts in one book.

America Knits

I have so many favorites, but one that makes me swoon is Norsk Strikkedesign: A Collection from Norway's Foremost Knitting Designersby Margaretha Finseth. I also feel inspired by stitch dictionaries. I have spent hours browsing through all of the Treasuries by Barbara G. Walker, and I love The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Cables: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine.

-Robin

I just got Loop-d-Loop Lace: More Than 30 Novel Lace Designs for Knitters . I have all the loop d loop books, and I love this one like all the rest. I really think Teva is a genius She and Norah Gaughan really rock it.

Hey Phyllis, I am glad you posted Knitting Rules! I also like that one a lot.

I just stumbled upon Cables Untangled: an Exploration of Cable Knitting. Cables were the reason I went from crochet to knitting in the first place, and I found this an excellent resource for not only learning how to knit cables but read knitting charts as well. It also contains an extensive collection of cable patterns. It really inspires me.

Nicole wrote: "I just stumbled upon Cables Untangled: an Exploration of Cable Knitting. Cables were the reason I went from crochet to knitting in the first place, and I found this an excellent resource for not o..."

I *love* knitting cables and I like that book, too.

Dana * wrote: "I just got Loop-d-Loop Lace: More Than 30 Novel Lace Designs for Knitters. I have all the loop d lo..."

Yes, Teva is a genius. I have her knitting and crochet Loop-d-Loop books, but not the lace. It's on my list now.