Reader's Digest Knitter's Handbook

I’m a beginning knitter. This seems very resourceful and arrived in excellent condition!

I am an experienced knitter. I own many knitting how to books. I have made knitted things I actually wear and enjoy.This book is comprehensive alright, but I think it would absolutely snow under most beginners.It is reminiscent of Military Specification Manual writing style with a chapter numbering system that sends you to figures 1.29, 2.301. And it shares a lot with old computer manuals in how generous it is in telling you all the things you can do in general definitions and not telling you how you do them in steps.If you already know how to do something, this is great.I wanted to design a chevron stitch sweater. So I went to this book for various chevrons. The index gives you dozens of reference pages for chevron stitch, and page 124 is in boldface to indicate this is the main reference. This is what I read on page 124 in disbelief:Quote:Two diagonal fabrics side by side moving in opposite directions. Figures 2.172 and 2.173 show row directions and shaping on a square. Work progress is at right angles to row direction--horizontal stripes emphasize the effect, while vertical lines will appear perpendicular to the rows. Experiment freely with overall shape, away from squares and rectangles. (pp 100,251)End QuotePage 100 has a photo of a project where it is hard to tell what is a chevron stitch even if you know what it looks like. Page 251 is another photo of a knit top by the author illustrating a drop stitch boat neck top. I did not see any chevrons on that page, there is an inset of the model's huge wire wrap earring!If you read the quote above, you might think you are reading a comprehensive English dictionary rather than a knitting how-to book. A definition of the chevron stitch and its parameters, and the direction of color changes in this stitch in a few words is very erudite. And LESS THAN USELESS to a knitter.The approach to most decorative or different stitches is pretty similar to the chevron treatment. I know this is not a stitch dictionary, but its level of obtuseness to common stitches (like a chevron!) is amazing.It is good for the many descriptions of casting on, holding needles, (shows even the Peruvian/Greek/Macedonian hold) working short rows, yarn overs, grafting and joins.If you are an experienced knitter, you can learn some things from this book.If you are a rank beginner, this is definitely not the book for you.Total beginners should check out "I Can't Belive I'm Knitting" from Leisure Arts. That has just enough detail and nice drawings to get you started making a few things without scaring you.

Carefully and logically organized reference guide composed by a master knitter who can communicate well. This is an essential for enthusiastic Knitters. It offers techniques you won't find in most other books. It's a classic you might find for a buck at garage sales.I don't like the way that numbered, like something out of some 50s engineering text (figure 1.3.15?) It's a minor issue. Adapt.It's essential to have books which you can understand to backup your existing store of knowledge. It's great if you know Kitchener Stitch, but what if you forget a step? There are often more alternatives to a particular technique then whichever one your teacher prefers. We all need options, and I love being able to expand my skill-set when it is convenient for me, not for whatever mumbling Russian YouTube contributor decides to post a fuzzy, poorly lit tutorial. Like paying for things I can teach myself from a book. Granted, I'm an autodidact, so it's easier for me to self teach from a book. But, even if you learn best from instructors, backup on your shelf. If you come across a problem do you want to have to drop your project until you can consult your teacher?I recommend this book, Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons-Hiatt, plus Debbie Stoller's 2 brilliant texts, Stitch 'n Bitch: the Knitters handbook and Stitch 'n Bitch: Superstar Knitting.

Buy this book NOW---before you get hours into that complicated pattern in that beautiful coffee table book and realize the instructions that go with the beautiful picture are worthless and you've wasted an entire weekend.UPDATE - this was my first ever review on Amazon, and I can see now why it wasn't very helpful.As much as I love beautiful-Coffee-Table-Knitting Books, sometimes they lack any explanation for the cast-on methods, stitches, finishing techniques - or even abbreviations. When my friends were learning to knit - they would get very frustrated because they would purchase a fantastic book, the notions, the yarn - but then have no idea what the words in their beautiful, new book meant. I was lucky enough to receive this book as a gift when I first learned to knit, so being the good friend that I am, now give this book as gifts to my newbie knitty friends.I have found this book to be a complete resource. It contains descriptions & examples of just about anythink knitting related you can imagine. Just to name a few, cast-ons, bind-offs, increases, decreases, finishing techniques, even information on the history of knitting. I refer to this book & "DomiKNITrix" all the time for principles & techniques.I do find the writing to be a touch dry & some of the examples are very, VERY dated (IMO). If this bothers you - I highly recommend "DomiKNITrix" - it is surprisingly a great technique book & a lot of fun to read. That aside, the "guts" of "Knitter's Handbook" are valid, & thorough. Overall I highly recommend this book as an addition to any knitter's library.

It took time to get delivered after my tracking number got mixed up. It arrived on the last day of the range provided by the seller in an email. The seller has been very responsive to my concerns. The book itself is in A1 condition far better than I thought it would be. Thank you so much bookercafe!!

The Knitter's Handbook is a comprehensive reference tool for basic and advanced knitting techniques. There are hundreds of these reference books out there, but this one is a gem among gems. I never knew there were so many ways to increase and decrease! Instructions are clear and easy to follow. Best of all, in addition to telling the reader *how* to do something, Stanley describes *why* we may want to do it - what the effect of such and such a stitch will be on the overall pattern, and the point of doing particular things.If nothing else, the price is worth it just for the hilarious photo of the knit skirt with pompoms along the hem.

Best handbook for knitters yet, thrilled with this super reference of clear illustrated instructions.BTW I have been knitting freestyle for 50 years !

This is a compendium of many knitting techniques - a great reference book for serious knitters.

I purchased this book because I have two grandaughter who want me to teach them to knit and I don't live close to them. I an impressed with it.