Book Recommendation

#1

I have been knitting for many years, and have now discovered (because of this website) that there is many things I do not know. I need a book or two that give the most information about stitches, increases, decreases, cast ons and cast offs. Patterns are nice, but not really necessary for this book. So, give me your best, and if I can find it on sale, all the better.

#2

Between these 2 books, I can usually solve whatever is bothering me at the moment:

  • The Knitting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You’ll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You’ll Ever Ask by Margaret Radcliffe

  • Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters by Lisa Kartus

And the videos on this site are great, too!

#3

It doesn’t give a ton of info, but this usually works for me:

Knitting for Dummies. :slight_smile:

#4

Well, you’ve learned the Secret of Knitting: there’s always more you can learn about it. A couple of good reference books can help.

In the “tons of information” category:

  1. Vogue Knitting
  2. Knitter’s Handbook by Montse Stanley (30 ways to cast on!)

These two are the gold standard for all-around knitting information. IMHO, indispensible.

Also very useful:
The Big Book of Knitting by Katharina Buss
The Knitting Experience by Sally Melville (3 softcover books)
Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti

Specifically for finishing: The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques, by Nancie Wiseman

For beginning to design your own –
Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd
Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, by Ann Budd
These give you basic techniques for everything from hats to cardigans, and do the math for you so you can use any yarn you like, and knit at your own gauge.

#5

I totally agree with Knitasha, I learned most of what I know about knitting so far from Vogue Knitting and Montse Stanley along with the videos and forum here. Both books are frequently flying off my shelf and what one doesn’t explain to your satisfaction, the other does. Montse Stanley is just amazing in my estimation, and I find the photos of her creations inspirational. I sometimes find the Vogue book has gaps in it’s explanations, stopping short at the mechanics, whereas the Stanley book gives you the common sense of why you should do it “this way”. The only down side I see in her book is that if you don’t know what you’re looking for, in that you have a question but don’t know quite where to look for the answer, Stanley can have you leafing for a long time thru the index to find it (it’s one big index), but on the plus side, I’ve found out things I didn’t even know I was looking for when on the hunt for some other nugget.
I wouldn’t be where I am in my knitting without this website though. Whatever you need to know, some lovely helpful knitter is waiting in the wings with your answer!

#6

[B]Teach Yourself Visually: Knitting[/B] is a really good one. It has nice, large color pictures of the techniques too.

#7

It really depends on what you’re wanting. Do you want a book of quick fixes? Do you want a book of how-to design? How-to cast-on/-off 6483 ways? Fifteen types of Norwegian mittens? Or a compendium of all knitting knowledge ever?

Where are you headed with your knitting? Are you trying to become the best hat knitter ever to grace the planet? Are you more concerned with socks? Do you want to know EVERYTHING?

There are excellent books for all of those, but what’s best for you really depends on where you’re headed in your knitting journey.

#8

Thanks for all the recommendations. I just want to be the best knitter I can be. I want a book or two that tells me what way SSK or K2TOG will make the decrease slant and that type of information. The best increase or decrease for what I am making.

I am trying to teach myself who to knit sweaters and would love to know more cast ons and offs. I knit socks, but have not found a very stretchy cast off for toe up socks.

I would go to the library, but the local library does not have knitting books.

#9

In addition I thought I’d mention “the Knitter’s Companion” by Vivkie Square. It’s small and spiral bound, just the right size to take with you in your knitting tote. I find it really useful. I agree that the Vogue Knitting book is indespinsable as well.

Now I think I want to see that “Knitter’s Handbook” by Montse Stanley too!

Good luck!