Just saw this new book
http://www.knitpicks.com/Lobby.ASP?WCI=Item_Display&itemid=30589&prodType=Book
So what do we think of her? Love her? Hate her? Who is she and why do we care? discuss.
I’ve heard of, but I don’t actually know anything about her. 
I love this woman’s attitude!! I have only read, so far, her Knitter’s Almanac, but plan to read the rest of her collection. Anyone read the part about the salt and pepper shakers? I loved reading that part.
Coincidence? Karma? Went to my LYS today re: problem I have posted in this forum already. They loaned me a copy of Zimmerman’s Knitting Workshop. This book is very clear in its directions, she gives a lot of basic info which she then tranlates into some really nifty stuff. I think I may have come across Knitting Without Tears early in my knitting attempt and thought she was rather curmudgeonly and her book not illustrated enough for a newbie, but now that I understand how everything is supposed to work, I am going to give her another chance. There are three PBS series listed in the book, I’ll see if there are any videos available. With instructions like work in “rib until you’re sick and tired of it,” yeah she has major attitude, but it’s a refreshing change. She really pushes you to innovate. She’s worth a look.
My very first sweater was from Knitting w/o Tears. I knitted my brains out, got to the underarm area & actually did the Kirtchner Stitch w/o a hitch. I finished the sweater, tried giving it to my daughter, then my son (it was made of peruvian wool) ((very pretty yarn)); the sweater was just plain UGLY.
I have frogged the entire top & arms, I have about 15" left (on stitch holders). I am wondering if I can somehow re-do the yoke & arms using flat needles??
Any Idea’s ??
Thanks so much!
Carol:pray:
If you can assimilate Zimmerman’s “Percentage System” AKA “EPS” it can be very freeing. If you are the kind of person who gets an idea of her own and can’t be easily put off it, and you knit, you owe it to yourself to learn her method. But if you go into a yarn store with something in mind and the clerk puts you onto a pattern and it’s always okay with you, I would say you don’t need it. But the EPS can liberate you from needing a pattern for everything.
She is an opinionated woman, as she admits by calling herself, “The Opinionated Knitter”. To get a flavor for her personality, read “Knitting in the Round” or watch the DVD “Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Glossary”, in which her daughter interviews her. Her daughter is Meg Swansen, an awesome knitter in her own right. EZ established Schoolhouse Press and M. Swansen runs it now.
I love reading EZ just for the stories.:shrug:
Your link doesn’t work and I don’t see any new books. What is the name of it.
I’ve read Knitting Around and I really enjoyed it. The first time I tried I too though “too much text and what in the heck is she talking about!?”, but after trying again I loved it. Her patterns are a bit hard to follow, but there is always help elsewhere.
I LOVE EZ!!! She "inspires me!!! I cannot always follow her patterns but just reading her books gets me excited about knitting. I have learned many things about knitting just from reading.
I love her too. I have the Knitting Workshop and Knitting Without Tears, and have learned a lot from each of them. Her patterns are not up-to-date fshion, but more classical.
Saw this post and just had to reply after lurking here a few days! EZ, to me, is the queen of knitting! She was the most knowledgeable {SP??} person in regards to knitting I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Went to one of her knitting camps in Wisconsin in the 80’s and had a blast. At that time I had been knitting a few years and thought I couldn’t learn anything new…gosh was I wrong!! That experience opened up my eyes and left my mouth hanging open, lol! Her books and patterns are the bomb. I just can’t say enough good things about her and her daughter Meg Swansen! Unfortunately EZ passed away…I think it was 1994?? I am in the process of collecting everything she has published.
Oh, and hi! This being my first post just wanted to say what a great forum this is! Have recently gotten back in to knitting and crocheting after a number of years…gosh there’s some great new yarns out there! I’ve already gotten several projects going. It’s not easy having to re-learn what I’ve forgotten, but every day is getting better. Thanks for letting me be part of this forum! 
Personally, I’m not crazy about EZ’s style of writing patterns… but that’s just because I’m a little, um, compulsive and I like things clearly written out.
I do love her ideas for understanding your knitting, reading the stitches and knowing why they look the way they do, and I like the stories on their own, but not for actually knitting.
I know, blasphemy, right?
(sigh)
LOVE HER! I’ve read all of her books at least twice.
I’m a real EZ fan! I have Almanac and Knitting Without Tears and even if you never knit a thing from them, her writing is fabulously friendly and it’s like sitting with her having a cuppa and talking about knitting. I’ve learned things I’ve not seen elsewhere, from reading her books. EZ had an interesting approach to her knitting. The Baby Surprise Jacket is wonderful, a real different approach to construction. The child’s Tomten sweater is timeless. The people I hang out with in Babysweaters at yahoo like both patterns a lot. I’ve been collecting her patterns and books. I just bought a best of Vogue book yesterday and there are some EZ patterns and some from her daughter Meg Swanson. Count me as an EZ lover! 
samm
Jan, it appears to be her Knitter’s Almanac. Knitpicks has it tagged as new, so I’m guessing it’s new to them. Putting it on my to-buy list. 
You MET her? :notworthy: You attended her workshop? 
Welcome to KH! I’ve been mostly away from knitting for several years, too. Now I want to knit everything today. 
A friend gave me an older version of her “Knitting Without Tears” book and I recently ordered her “Knitter’s Almanac”. I’ve heavily skimmed thru the first book and still not sure I “love” her books but I will see how I feel about the second one.:shrug:
EZ rocks! As many of you, i’ve never actually knitted anything from her, but i love reading her stories. I have three of her books, and they all have that unformal wit about them.
She’s gonna be a tough one to match!
I have her Knitting glossary dvd and Knitting workshop dvd. I watch it often. Love it:heart:
I loved her books as well, and you are so right, her patterns are very out of date. That is why I frogged the one I made, SHE was right on w/her percentages, I was just “young & dumb” & really didn’t grasp what the sweater would really look like!