The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques

If you desire to improve upon your knitting skills be it beginner or advanced, THIS is the book. Techniques is plain English and easily understood enable improvement as you master the process called knitting. A keeper if you have a knitting library. Am very happy with it and it's in my knitting bag when working different projects from simple to complex.

I agree with all of the reviews in that the basics are largely covered and the photographs are excellent. The only thing that I wish to point out is that if you have a basic knitting reference on your shelf, you will find that this book does not cover anything new. What it provides is a quick reference to the basics that knitters use frequently in a package that you might be willing to lug around in your knitting bag. It isn't small by any means but it is a heck of a lot smaller and lighter than Vogue. If you have been knitting for a while and don't need a reference for basic techniques, I'd pass on this book. Be sure to take advantage of the "Search Inside" feature to look at the Table of Contents. That should be enough to tell you if you'll find this book a useful addition to your library.

I have been knitting for 43 years and was surprised by how much I still had to learn when I read Wiseman's book. This book is a must have book for every knitter's library. Well written, every technique explained in the book is easy to execute. In many cases several different methods for doing a particular technique are given with recommendations for when each one should be used. With this book in your knitting basket you will never be afraid to try a new and challenging pattern again.

I use this book every time I knit. Well, maybe not every time I pick up my knitting, but I refer to it at least once, and usually multiple times, for every piece I make. I think I use it more than any other book I have. Some books are too big or have too much information. Others are too brief or only show one approach. This book is just right.In addition to showing you how to cast on, weave a seam, increase, or whatever, the author tells you the advantages and disadvantages of each available method. Need to sew a seam? There are 13 different styles, from basic stockinette to sleeves to patch pockets. Her directions for the tubular cast-on, increases, buttonholes, short rows, kitchener stitch bind-off, and so forth, are clear, concise and usually all on one page with a color picture.The one drawback: No index! But usually you can find what you want using the table of contents. From start to finish, this book will make your life easier with each thing you knit!

First, my copy doesn't look anything like the photo here. It has a wonderful covered spiral that is very appropriate for use while you're actually knitting. I've been carying this one around with me ever since I got it. Since I've forgotten what my GM and Aunties tried to teach me when I was little, and I just recently picked up this obsession again, I consider myself to be self-taught, or book-taught. I just never learned advanced techniques, and I really need the pictures to show me what to do. There are no classes available in my little out of the way town. The lovely little church-lady expert that helps me out, well, I just don't want to bug her at 1 AM! In no time, I was doing more professional looking garments, and making items that my family will actually wear in public. They're "custom made and designed" now, not just home-made.The book includes Cast-ons and Bind offs as well as all kinds of increases, decreases, seams, picking up stitches, borders and bands. It even has about 8 different kinds of buttonholes. Then there's the techniques that I had never heard of before: I-cord, and knitted shoulder pads, and a very unbiased discussion on the different uses of flat knitting versus circular knitting. And finally, the worksheets help get you on the right path to keeping track of what you plan on doing. An index is the only thing missing from this book.