Hi There!
I was just pondering buying the Stitch and B!tch book off Amazon and thought I would see if any of you have any knitting book favorites. 
[Editorās note: I have tried to link the books in this thread to Amazon using this siteās special links, but they donāt seem to be working properly. To support this site, use the links on the Free Patterns page. Thanks! --Amy]
I have been knitting for a long time now and am quite addicted to knitting books. I always ask for one when asked what Iād like for a gift.
For me they fall into several categories:
technique, template, stitch library, design, designer, inspiration, knitlit
I have favourites in each.
Technique: Vogue Knitting and the Big Book Of Knitting, Sally Melvilleā Knitting Experience series (Book 1, Book 2)
Template: Ann Buddās Handy Book of patterns, ABās Handy Book of Sweater Patterns and A Knitterās Template
Stitch Library: Barbara Walkerā Treasuries (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4)
Design: Deborah Newtonās Designing Knitwear and Maggie Righettiās Sweater Design in Plain English
Designer: Meg Swanson, Sally Melville, Kaffe Fassett, anything Rowan puts out
Inspiration: Kaffe Fassett books, art books
Knitlit: The Knitting Sutra, Knitlit
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the books available so I am sure youāll get as many different recommendations as there are posters to this board.
I would recommend borrowing as many as you can from the library or friends or browsing in Barnes and Noble to see which ones suit your current needs and fancies.
i love stitch n bitch. the little tips she throws in here and there from accomplished knitters are really good. iāve become a much better knitter by picking up some of those ideas.
i, coincidentally, just bought s nā b nation today, her next book. i havenāt read any of it yet, but the patterns are very cute.
Yes, Vogue Knitting, Stitch 'N Bitch, Handy Book of patterns are among my favās! I havenāt checked out Stich 'N Bitch Nation yet, Iāll have to check it out!
Amy
Does the Stitch N Bitch book reference Continental style knitting? It sounds like a great book!
Holly
I realize this is an āolderā thread but it was exactly what I was looking for!
Holly, yes, Stichān Bitch does cover the basics of Continental.
I have both of Sally Melvilleās experience books and love them. I also have Stitchān Bitch. For sweaters, my dearest friend gave me Knitting Simple Sweaters with Luxurious Yarns by Marilyn Cohen. While Iāve yet to get up my courage to knit a sweater, the patterns in this book look to be quite straightforward and, well, simple, and yes, beautiful! Beverly Galeskaās Felted knits is quite good too.
Iāve been going through the knitting books at Barnes and Nobleās site and couldnāt help but wonder what books everyone thinks are āmust havesā in their knitting library. So what say you, what are your āgo toā books?
My first 3 books were Stitch N Bitch, Sally Melvilleās Knitting Experience: Knit Stitch, and her Knitting Experience: Purl Stitch. From these and a few websites I taught myself how to knit last June. I wish I had been able to look at the videos here. Not that these books arenāt great - I refer to Sallyās all the time and Iām waiting for the next one.
For Christmas, I got a Stitch Library book, which I think will be a lot of fun when I branch out more and tweak patterns, and a Stitch-a-day perpetual calendar, which is great too. I also got Knit Wit, which is not an instruction book, but has some interesting patterns. Iāve already made 6 fuzzy feet!
For my birthday Iām getting Stitch N Bitch Nation - I already plan on making the wrist warmers.
Remember to check the Stitch and Bitch website for pattern corrections!!!
Thanks! I printed them out and stuck them in the book!
oh wow ā i didnāt even know there were corrections on the stitch and bitch website. thanks for that! also, if you are making something from either s&b book, you can go to craftser.org and there is an entire forum dedicated to discussing the making of those patterns. the tips and experiences from others who have made stuff from them are great. debbie stoller posts there a bunch too, in that forum, as do some of the pattern designers.
other books i enjoy are the "yarn girls guides toā¦ kid knits/simple knits"
they are good for simple, adaptable patterns that knit up quickly. if you need to make a kid or a friend, or yourself, a sweater fast, check out this series of books.
Well I only have two books to my name! Knitting books that is.
I have Montse Stanleys āHandknitters Handbookā and Debbie Stollerās 'Stitch ān Bitchā.
Most of the stuff in Stitch 'n Bitch I knew already but its still a fun read! I love Montseās book as well for all the Cast On, Cast Off techniques. Still havenāt got some of them down yet!
Anyway, there is a book on Aran knitting that Iām going to get eventually. But books/resources in Dublin are in short supply so I may have to go e-shopping!
This is a really wierd addition to this thread, b/c I bought my book at a thrift store and it is a 1979 edition. Anyway here goes:
Readerās Digest Complete Guide to Needlework; the Readerās Digest Assoc. Inc., Pleasantville, NY/Montreal, Library of Congress Code 78-71704, ISBN 0-89577-059-8. (Thatās the only way I know to tell you how to trace the book).
It has crochet, quilting, and other needlework too, but Iām not so interested in those.
Why I like it: it is packed with info and pictures on how to do everything you every wondered about. It starts with a complete explanation of every type of yarn and knitting accessory, then about 7 different ways to cast on. It has complete instructions of basic stitches, but also gauge, binding off, inc, dec., etc. Then it has pictures and patterns of a zillion different kinds of stitches. It tells you how to make a pattern for your own sweater, including how to do different types of sleeves, borders, buttonholes, and necklines. Itās really awesome.
On another note, everyone on craftster.org seemed to be raving about āKnitting without Tears.ā I bought it b/c the owner of my LYS said it would help me make my own patterns. It doesnāt have a lot of pictures ( :oops: ) but it does have a lot of sage wisdom about how to correct things and start off on the right foot.
HTH
Carie
Not weird at all! I donāt have this particular RD book, but I have a book by them on herbs, and itās one of the best resources I own. I see amazon has the one you own for $20. Iāll have to put it on my wish list. I could use it for quilting help too.
Iāve been wanting Knitting Without Tears - itās on my short list for my birthday. I hope I get it.
Can anyone tell me what knit lit is?
Has anyone tried to buy Stitch and B---- lately? Iāve been to that big book store we all know and love (hate) 4 times and everytime itās gone again. They keep asking me if I want them to order it, and I keep telling them if I wanted to order it Iād get it from Amazon! hehe.
Denise
I donāt know if anyone is still reading this thread, butā¦ I have some favorite books for absolute beginners. I donāt know if anyone here has tried this one, but I found the directions very easy and helpful in Knitting for Dummies, by Pam Allen. My first successful projects were from there, a scarf and a couple of hats. I also LOVE Baby Knits for Beginners, by Debbie Bliss. Again, the directions are easy to follow. Iāve made a few really cute, rolled brim baby hats.
Anyway, just my .02 as a newbie. These helped me a lot. I work in a library, so I see all the gorgeous new knitting books come in. Some of them look so intimidating, though. I know the āfor Dummiesā books sound cheesy, but they are very good.
Happy Monday,
Deb