Hand-Knitting Techniques

This jewel should be cast, page by page, in transparent laminate to preserve for lifetimes. I've had this book since it was published, having re-learned from other books how to purl and knit and sort of remembered from watching German mom how to hold needles in hands with some elegance. This book has taught me how to KNIT SOCKS (galore), how to make edges look finished instead of ragged, knitting with either beads or sequins, several varieties of button holes,full-figure sizing and knitting,and now,15 years later, how to make not only fingered gloves(!!) but even thumb-no-fingers hand warmers that are all the rage today (2006)! I was so disappointed when Threads magazine went to all-sewing instead of both arts; it had been the BEST magazine for non-kitschy knitters! The illustrations in this collection of articles from their 1980s issues are large, clear, and easily scanned into computer for emailing to friends to show them how to give you their leg and foot measurements for socks, for example. Nothing skimpy, here! My Tibetan Buddhist teacher would say this book "essentializes" knitting knowledge, which is another way of saying it's a "diamond path" to knitting; cuts through all the mysterious stuff and gets right to the nuts and bolts of the good stuff you can do that is grown-up and good-looking. There is no other book like this on the market that I've been able to find. Enjoy!

This book is the first in a series of reprints from Threads magazine of their knitting articles, and to my mind the best and most useful for one's knitting library. If you are beginning to explore the world of seamless sweaters, this is an especially good book, as they have articles on bottom up seamless (by Elizabeth Zimmerman, no less) and top down raglans, as well as an article on converting flat patterns to circular knitting. Even if one is not particularly interested in the subject of an article, I find that the excellent text, color photograhs and diagrams serve to draw me into it. For example an article on gloves by Deborah Newton is so attractively and accessibly done, that I'm tempted to try it someday! Also "The Oddball Sweater" a seamless sweater worked from the top down with yarn leftovers is another project I'd like to try. There are also articles on finishing, ribbing and fitting, of interest to all knitters, and a subject index to help one access all this useful information!

I've been knitting for more than thirty years, and I still found plenty new to learn from this book. Anyone who's knit for a while knows that you'll often find a cast-on technique you like or a trick for making buttonholes or a timesaving tip in a magazine or book. Unfortunately, when you want to use the trick, you have no idea where it was. FINALLY, all of those tips and tricks are in one place! You'll definitely want to keep this in the bag with your current knitting project.

I would recommend this book to anyone who knows how to knit. It includes techniques for every part part of handknitting, from cast ons to bind offs and everything in between, as well as tricks for a sweaters and mittens. Definite keeper, my copy is frayed and well loved.

I first checked this book out of the library. I was so interested in the variety of information that I decided to order it. Many knitting topics are covered, such as bead knitting, yarnover uses, large sizes, and knitting to fit. As a beggining knitter with few resources, I find this book to be invaluable. There are many photos and easy to read graphics showing how to do what is discussed. Projects are a bit outdated now, but the information is 5 star.