First Knits: Projects for Beginning Knitters

This book is awesome! I purchased it and it has great projects and it gives you close up shoots so you can see what your needles are supposed to be doing at all times. I love all of the project ideas. I have several knitting books and if I have to pick only one to give to a beginner it will be this one!

I am fairly new to knitting and this book inspires me to expand my skills. It is generously illustrated and the projects are realistic for a beginner but still interesting for an intermediate level knitter. There is a good description (with illustrations) of basic terms such as yarnover (yo) and increase (inc) on the fold out front and back covers, for easy reference. There is a short section on correcting mistakes (also illustrated) such as dropped stitches. Very good value, and a book I will give as a gift to other new knitters.

THIS is the book I've been looking for!!! I know basic knit and purl, cast on and off, and one way to increase or decrease. But I've made very few things because I have no confidence to actually tackle a "real" pattern and pattern instructions, never mind pattern stitches that go beyond knit and purl. Even if I knew nothing at all, though, I'd be excited about this book. It doesn't OVERWHELM you with information, and the projects are TRULY beginner level without being completely useless at the same time. I'd have bought this book for many of the projects included, alone! Just enough to build my confidence with the tools and develop my technique! NO double points in the book, that I've seen, even though there are a couple of hat projects and a pair of socks! If I patiently work my way through each and every lesson included I am CERTAIN I will be ready to try some of the other patterns I've wanted to make. From here, I will work my way through "The Sweater Workshop" by Jacqueline Fee. I've had it for a couple of years now, but it's TOO much at once! She takes you through the steps slowly, but I needed a step IN BETWEEN that book and what I already know. I believe after working through First Knits, I'll be excited... rather than dreading... working my way through Sweater Workshop! I'll be ready for plackets and lacing and swiss darning, etc! Maybe even double points after that! "The Sweater Workshop" does NOT have the wonderful full color instruction photos in First Knits, but after working through First Knits, that won't be as big of an issue. After working through both books, I'll have the basic skills to make most projects that interest me. So, the two together are the best thing I've got with no one nearby to teach me! (Yes, I *could* probably go to a knitting shop for lessons, but I have health and caretaking issues that makes that a problem. Plus, I find it intimidating!) If this sounds familiar to you, I STRONGLY suggest you take a look at First Knits. Use the yarn types recommended, if not the same one, one similar in texture and weight, and the needles and supplies recommended for each project... and master each lesson and project. If nothing else, you'll have some nice gifts and build CONFIDENCE to go from here. GREAT pictures show you the way through each step and you get just enough, although sufficient, information to build your skills without so much detail you break out in a sweat before you even begin! A TRULY "First Knits" book! Thank you, Luise Roberts and Kate Haxell! Well done! I can't WAIT to get started! In fact, that's what I'm going to do right now! -- Note: I DID work my way through the book, every technique/stitch. After working through it, I realized the problem isn't that knitting is hard... it is that I simply lack confidence. After working through this primer on knitting, I feel a lot more confident. So much so, that I've actually begun to "knit on the fly," modifying patterns as I go because I understand better

The best thing about the book are the patterns as they are all knitted flat on two needles. A beginner will be able to knit bags, hats, mittens, sock, once you master the knit & purls & decreases. There are also color changing projects and instructions which can make pretty gifts for friends. The projects have step by step instructions with pictures on the knitted item in phases. The instructions on how to do the basics are ok but felt that they could have added more pictures in it.