A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns

This book arrived smelling of mold and mildew. I will have to have tge book dried out and I hope that gets rid of the smell. I doubt that I will purchase another book from here again.

I've heard great things about the BW Treasuries, and when I saw this second volume on sale, I snatched it. I am so glad I did! There are about 700 stitches in this volume, including: cable stitches; lace stitches; mosaic color stitches; color stitches in a couple of different techniques; dropped stitch designs; knit-and-purl designs. There are all-over lace and cable stitches as well as panels of cables or lace. There are several edging stitches, as well. The lace and yarn-over stitches seem to predominate, so this book is a lace knitter's dream! While the pictures are in black and white, they are so crisp that it's very easy to see what the pattern should look like. The instructions are very easy to follow. I've tried several stitches from the book without a snag. My favorite part about this book, though, is that the patterns are very unique. I've never even heard of some of these stitches, and the different techniques used are amazing. It really opens up your creativity! For example, I used to think that Fair Isle and intarsia were the only color techniques out there. The various dropped stitch and knotting techniques are very creative and unusual, as well. Compares to some of the other stitch guides I've seen, these patterns are really one-of-a-kind, and I can see myself wanting to make nearly all of them. You really can find stitches for nearly anything you'd ever want to make! BW also includes neat little introductions to each section of stitches, as well as a blurb on each stitch itself, including recommendations for what types of finished products these stitches would work best in.

This book is more than just a collection of knitting stitch patterns. The Introduction is an essential read as it contains many helpful hints and tips, and the introductions to each section and accompanying text describing each of the patterns also contain a lot of valuable information. I do have concerns about the two Dura Europos patterns - these are probably not originally knitted but made using a technique known as sprang. However it's an interesting interpretation and Ms Walker's knitting pattern versions are worth attempting as the end result is attractive and coherent. Unfortunately some of the colour photographs are not very pleasing to look at but they were taken in the 1970s so the colour combinations and yarns chosen reflect that. However the black and white photographs of the stitches are extremely clear and provide good detail, showing every stitch of the patterns. I regard this wonderful collection of patterns as an essential, whether it's for designing and making your own garments or as a reference tool in deciphering a mistake or a printed pattern which is not clear. Browsing through it to look at the different stitches and choose different ways of working some of them is as interesting as actually knitting the designs.

Barbara Walker outdid her own classic reference book in the "Second Treasury". It's cram-jammed, chock-a-block with patterns that make your fingers itch to get hold of some yarn and let your creativity run wild. Unlike the reader in Arlington, WA, I would never categorize this book as a "professional reference"; it's a must for anyone who likes to knit, from novice to expert. The genius of Barbara Walker's knitting books is her crystal-clear instructions and explanations; she makes it easy for anyone to follow. Many of the designs in the "Second Treasury" are quite simple and any beginner could do them with no trouble; once you develop more skill and experience, you can move on to some of the harder patterns. There are enough designs in this book to satisfy the rankest novice or the most experienced pro. I also found the black/white photographs very helpful in showing the design details much more clearly than color photos would. (In fact, some knitters make the mistake of combining too many pattern stitches with too many colors in one garment, and ruining the effect.) Like the first "Treasury", the "Second Treasury" is very well organized into different pattern groups, and includes some new groups such as mosaic patterns, which are really quite simple but the color effect is stunning. Both "Treasury" books are invaluable references that will provide enough inspiration for a lifetime of enjoying this craft.

I am only a novice knitter, but Walker's book is so clear and friendly that it has improved my work noticeably.Stitch patterns are arranged and described well, and it is easy to use the book to find patterns to use in a project. Walker gives interesting information and suggestions for use for many of the stitches, and notes many that are especially easy, difficult, or pretty. Walker has a glossary of common knitting terms with instructions that are clear and useful, explaining both how to do a technique and why it would be used, so that the knitter can make changes to printed patterns intelligently. Even without charts, this book is a treasure and well worth the cost.

The Second Treasury is, if anything, even better than the First. Barbara Walker's directions are clear, she gives many helpful hints, and there are photographs of each knitted swatch. The stitch patterns range from simple (but lovely) knit and purl variations to designs that will challenge the most expert.If you have gone beyond following the directions in knitting magazines, and would like to start designing your own sweaters, this is a book you should definitely own.The section on cables is particularly stunning--if you are looking for ideas for Arans, this is a worthwhile investment.