Knitting & Crocheting

I'm copying my review for the previous edition of this book over to this version -- I've checked them out and compared the two; this one is every bit as good as the last one. If you're not fortunate enough to have a grandmother or auntie who can sit down and teach you how to knit, this book is the next best thing. I've looked through a hundred knitting books and almost all of them have a lame little introductory chapter on how-to. Not this book -- this has explicit photographs that show you very clearly what each and every step is. It has a cool graphic on some of the photographs kind of like an improved version of the glowing red light on the hockey puck -- it helps you know where you should be focused. The projects in the book are so-so -- not bad, but definitely not as hip as those in Stitch n Bitch or Knit Wit, two of my other favorites. Again, if you're trying to teach yourself how to knit, this is THE BEST book out there. Get yourself some other books for project ideas, but get this one for the basics.

Though this book has information on both knitting and crocheting, I would like to emphasize that the knitting section is much more in-depth and provides many more projects than the crocheting section. (I think the crocheting section only has two projects while the knitting section has sixteen.) So if you're searching for a great knitting how-to book, this is it. The book is styled very much like a text book, which may turn some people off, but was perfect for me. There were many photographs along with captions and directions. I've found that the litmus test of knitting books is the cast on. Without being able to properly convey the cast on, readers gets frustrated because they can't even begin! And many times, because the cast on seems so complicated, they think that all of knitting must be mind boggling. I would say that this book *does* effectively describe the various methods to cast on. It also does a superb job on increases, decreases and others. As to the crochet section, it does go over the basics and you can probably learn how to crochet with what is there, but nonetheless, I think that having more projects would have benefited this already wonderful book. To be precise, I think I would give this book a 4.6 out of 5. To be fair, I must mention that I did recieve a free copy of this book from one of the authors and thus my opinion may be slightly biased. I tried to be objective in my review, however, one never completely knows.

With plenty of large, good photos and drawings, Maran's Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting is a great choice for the beginner. Chapters include: 1. Getting started 2. Basics (casting on, stitches and some simple projects like a scarf, a bathmat and a dishcloth 3. Increasing and decreasing (shaping) and projects for a hat, tank top, a baby outfit. Short rows (a way to make a bulge) is included. 4. Decorative touches like fringe, beads, bobbles and tassles. 5. Mistakes! Fixing dropped stitches and how to rip out. 6. Knitting in the round (make a tube with no seams) pattern for a sock 7. Color Knitting, projects include child's sweater and a blanket 8. Finishing (so important!) buttonholes, seams, grafting. Project: a pullover and a purse. 9. Crochet basics, how to read a crochet pattern 10. Stitches, pattern for two scarves 11. Glossary and abbreviations. As you can see, there is not much of crochet here--more for a knitter who might want to incorporate it than for a dedicated I-wanna-be-a-crocheter. Still, a lot for the money here, well-illustrated and affordably priced, too. A sure-fire gift for the wanna-be beginner. A good reference for the starting knitter who missed the details of knitting mentioned above.

About 8 months ago everywhere I went I saw people knitting. In the school where I worked there was a newly formed knitting club. And an art teacher even went so far as to include this craft as part of her curriculum with even the boys using their hands not for throwing a ball but taking up knitting needles. Then I would also see people knitting at the park while I walked or on the train to Manhattan and even at Starbucks when I ran in for a latte. And as always this reminded me of my mother who knit and crocheted beautifully and taught me how to knit when I was younger. Or at least I thought she taught me how to knit. I first learned to "knit" at around 10 when my Mom taught me the knit stitch. But as I got older it became apparent to me that all my Mom taught me was the eon very basic stitch. When I would ask her how to put the stitches on or off the needles, she seemed to ignore me or perhaps ran out of patience to teach me. And then I lost interest until a few months ago when I decided to try this again. At first I decided to try this and enrolled in a knitting and crocheting class at the local evening high school classes. But for some reason I became more confused than anything else. With over 20 other students and only one teacher it was almost impossible to really get help and while we tried to help one another and rely on those who seemed to catch on faster, I knew I needed to do something more. I then began asking the teacher in school and even students and friends to help me out but that wore thin and since I really wanted to learn I did what I often do and visited the local book store. An avid reader and book store browser I turned to the local bookstore where I found a large assortment of knitting books. But which books do I begin looking through and which books do I consider focusing on and most of all which books would I consider buying left me wondering if using books was the way to go. Still I continued looking and over a period of a few weeks, I found myself returning time and again to the Maran Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting book and I knew this book would become my knitting Bible and I just had to own it. The Maran Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting published by Maran Graphics is that rare "how to do it" book which really teaches you "how to do it." By that I mean you as the reader and the doer don't just sit there and scratch your head wondering how to decipher all of these confusing directions but are able to pick up your knitting needles and begin knitting almost at once. Using this book I was able to make sense of the directions and unlike other knitting books the Maran book not only explained in words but showed you using explicit and wonderful colorful illustrations how to cast on stitches, knit and purl and bind off. And it also shows you how to make different patterns of stitches and do knit cables, something which although I've been shown how to do this was never able to do it before using this

WOW. This book is fabulous! I am a very visual person and have been searching for a good knitting instruction book for beginners. I plan on teaching myself how to knot strictly though books. (One day I'd love to take a class!). It's very clear, concise and well laid out. I purchased "Knitting in Plain English" by Maggie Righetti - because it got such good reviews - hoping it was going to be the book that would teach me how to knit. Righetti is obviously a very experienced and knowledgeable knitter - but I am up to about page 45 and am realizing the book is not for me. Its very wordy and doesn't have many illustrations (at least not at this point anyway.) I guess I dont have th epatience for Righetti's book. And I am wondering why she calls one of her knitting projects "dumb" (its a baby item). Is this some sort of knitting slang I don't know about? Well - back to the book above. So I went off to search for another book that is more my style. I came across this book while on a quick jaunt to a local bookstore. I only had a few mintues and was quickly paging through the book. I was immediately impressed by the many many color visuals in the book - so I bought it. And man, am I impressed! This book gets right to the point discussing yarn types and weights - what they are and what they are used for. Very important info for someone who knows nothing about yarn and knitting yet! Its got detailed info on needles, stitches, etc. - All the basics - It goes on to list everything a beginner needs to know to get started. And the best thing - in my opinion is that all the info and tips and short and sweet. Paragraphs are displayed in little boxes coupled with an image. There aren't pages and pages of lengthy paragraphs discussing knitting. Don't get me wrong - I love to read lengthy books - but usually in the fiction or hitsory genre. Certain types of books should not be wordy. I am so eager to learn how to knit and want to get started - This book has enabled me to do that. I don't have to read the whole book AND THEN START. I can read a little - then knit, knit as I read, learn more - then keep knitting. And the instuctions and illustrations at the end of the book (much much shorter section than the knitting section) about crocheting are just as helpful. Thats a bonus - with this book I know I'll be able to pick up crocheting too after I tackle a few knitting projects. The step by step photographs (I like that they are not drawings)of hands knitting each stitch with the yarn highlighted for each step has helped me so much. I also like that the projects listed are very clearly labled as being for beginners or intermediate knitters. I know what I should try first and which projects may be too much for me at the moment. This is the book I have been looking for. It has gotten me excited about knitting (instead of intimidated or bored like some of the other books I have tried) because it gets right to the point - all facts and image