Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Another Question for Pals

So what is your absolute, most- favorite knitting book? And which, if any, would you like to own someday?

8 comments:

Gina said...

I will answer my own question!

I totally love the original Stitch N' Bitch book. Not so much for the patterns (some are cool), but for the other information in there. Nearly every question I've ever had about yarn, stitches, problem-solving, etc. I've found in that book and presented in a clear, Gina-level-of-understanding way. It's my "go-to" book.

That said, I'd love to own Stitch N' Bitch Nation at some point. It's one of those books that I always mean to buy and then forget and get something else!

Elizabeth D said...

Please, oh please, do not give me a book! I have seventy-eleven knitting books already. Favorite? Hmmm. . .I love Selbuvstotter (and I know I spelled that wrong), on Norwegian mittens and gloves. I own the complete works of Nancy Bush. My favorite stitch guide is Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Best beginner book (I give it to grownups too) is Kids Knitting, by Melanie Falick. Homespun Handknit has the perfect mohair tam pattern. Yikes! I can't answer this question. I can do it by categories (as you see), but there is no Holy Grail of knitting books in my world.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, this is a tough question. I don't own a lot of knitting books, and I really like all the ones I do have (I look at them in the bookstore or library before adding any to my collection).

I think my favorite is Sally Melville's Knit Stitch, which is one of the first knitting books I bought. I love the color photographs of techniques (close-up photos of hands wielding yarn) as well as patterns. There are very detailed explanations (with photos) of tons of techniques. I also love her writing style, with her "take your time and experience what you're doing" meditative approach to knitting.

Whenever I'm asked to recommend a book to new knitters, I always choose this one.

Pat said...

Wow, Gina you ask the hard questions. My all-time, absolutely favorite knitting book has to be Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman. The author was a crotchety old woman with an opinion about all things knitting. She tells all sorts of stories about her life and family as she knits along writing the book. It’s a great book. I learned to knit without looking after reading that book in 1975 and I’ve knit most of the patterns that are included.

My favorite book to give as a gift to new knitters is The Knitters Companion; it has all sorts of wonderful, basic knitting information in it. The book is spiral bound and small enough to fit into anyone’s knitting bag. It has a needle sizer and a ruler inside the back cover and is really useful.

I too, love the Sally Melville series and I’d like to own her next one, if she ever writes it! Beyond that our county library is great about getting books in and I just don’t need to own another knitting book.

Anonymous said...

Just like yarn, I don't have a favorite. It really depends on my need at the time.

Though I haven't used it much, "Hand-Knitting Techniques from Threads" is a very nice book. And, I particularly like Cheryl Oberle's "Folk Shawls," though I've only made one thing from it. "Knitter's Stash" is a nice book to browse through.

Beth said...

Right now my favorite knitting book is Vogue Knitting. My SP from Estonia gave it to me - everytime I've needed an answer, it has been there.(knitting answers that is!)

Katie J said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katie J said...

I have so many knitting books, but I absolutely love Interweave's "The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges". I know I can buy a few skeins of any yarn (with the exception of really bulky) and find a pattern in there for someone from a baby to a decent sized adult. I always seem to be jonesin' for another knitting book, but I have to resist that urge for a while.