Knitter's Handbook

This is a good book-- explaining different stitches and techniques. It is invaluable for both newbie Knitters and the more experienced. I have been knitting for a long time and I need refreshers occasionally on different stitches and this book has helped me with that.

If I could only keep 5 knitting books on my shelf, this would make the cut. Descriptions and illustrations are stellar. I can always find some new technique in this book. ONly drawback I could mention is that for the beginner, there is too much information. This book is a must -have for the serious knitter.

When I decided that I need some knitting reference books I hit the bookstore, not knowing exactly what I would find but expecting to find a good general reference with clear instructions. That turned out to be more difficult than I thought. I bought--and returned--several that had nice patterns and lovely photographs but which either were too simple, didn't really have clear instructions, or assumed too much knowledge on the part of the reader. I got this book on another knitter's recommendation and it is the book I now turn to most often. The chapter on casting on and binding off are worth the price of the book. She covers an unbelievable number of variations on how to do almost anything in knitting, and she discusses the pro's and con's of using different techniques. The diagrams are good, and are better than pictures would be in most cases. I think the index is fine. My only complaint is that the chapter on selvedges is more than half-way through the book, and as she says, one should choose the selvedge style before starting the project! However, I tend to use this book like an encyclopedic reference--which it truly is--rather than as a book to read straight through. I have read some of it straight through, though, because it is so interesting. I have to admit that her writing style is kind of dry, but that is far outweighed by all of the strengths of the book. Unless you are a complete beginner, in which case I would recommend the Leisure Arts "Learn to Knit" booklet, I think this is THE reference book to have, especially for the price. Once you have passed the Leisure Arts booklet level, Montse Stanley's book has an incredible wealth of information that isn't too difficult to understand and which will improve anyone's knitting.

This book covers everything, and I do mean everything, about knitting - from every kind of cast-on imaginable, to any finishing technique you might think of employing (and several you probably wouldn't). Most techniques are illustrated, and the illustrations are very clear and helpful. The notations regarding which situations are appropriate for which technique are particularly useful. For instance she shows several different cast-ons for one particular fabric, with discussion of why some are better or worse - for that particular pattern. It had never occured to me before then to learn several different cast-ons for different applications. The historical and specialty knitting techinique instructions are also fascinating, and not something I've seen elsewhere. A better index might help the book to be even more useful, but the set up and table of contents are logical enough that I've never actually had a problem finding what I'm looking for. It's right on my shelf next to Vogue Knitting, and frankly I tend to use this one more.