The Principles of Knitting: Methods and Techniques of Hand Knitting

This book is absolutely wonderful and very informative!!

I wrote Simon & Shuster,yes this is going to be reprinted. Here is what I received June 12, 2007 "Yes, there will be reprint coming out 10-1-09, ISBN# 1416535179 for $45.00 in hard cover.....Alishia Nix,Customer Service Simon & Schuster ,Domestic / Canada".........so save some money! It's well worth the $45, I wouldn't pay $200+ though....

How can a large, thick, heavy, unwieldy book, printed in only two colors (black and aqua) have captured the admiration and loyalty of almost every knitting instructor and needleworker who's seen it?This book explains, in excruciating detail, THIRTY-THREE ways to cast on, and when to use each method. Likewise for casting off, increases, decreases, seaming, picking up stitches, etc. -- practically any technique a knitter will ever encounter is illumined in the author's precise, clear, accessible English. The line drawings are flawless and crisp; the black-and-white photos are sharp and tonally balanced; the topics are organized in logical sections under highly legible headings; the subjects are indexed for instant reference. It's like having a knitting mentor by your side, who'll answer any knitting question you have in an honest, intelligent, informed manner.This book exhibits not only a thorough, thoughtful approach to the craft, but a passion for carrying on the art of knitting to future generations. Even novelty techniques (for ribbon, beads, sequins, felting) are discussed in depth.The only weakness I've noticed in this amazing book is that the author's "sweater-centric" viewpoint, which influences whether she'll recommend or disapprove of any given technique (especially her discussions on joining yarns, stitching seams, or choosing needles), could potentially confound afghan, scarf or "art" knitters who don't have outsides or insides to their projects. And despite a touch of traditional knitter's elitism (an unabashed bias toward knitting complex sweaters with fine gauge worsted yarns) this book provides any aspiring knitter with a solid foundation in technique and theory.The only way this book could be improved (if it were to be reprinted) is through the expansion of the chapter on handling different yarns to include the novelty yarns and gigantic gauges that have dominated the knitting landscape for the past fifteen years. Contrary to being a fad, this field of knitting is a recent and viable addition to the body of knowledge that Hiatt reveres and preserves in this essential (and tragically out-of-print) knitting reference.

As a mostly self-taught knitter, I bought this book when it first came out at the extravagent price of around forty dollars. I needed a basic, all-around reference. It was a little advanced for me then, but enthralling in its detail. What I like about Hiatt is that she doesn't just provide instruction, but also information--the pros and cons of various techniques, details about types of fibers and how each behaves, and lots and lots of details about all aspects of knitting. If all you want is simple instructions, there are lots of other books out there. But I have yet to see a work as comprehensive as Hiatt. I have lots of other knitting books--Vogue, Zimmerman, and Rigetti being among my favorites, but this is the one that I turn to most often for basic information.

I was so disappointed to find this book was out-of-print! Being a novice knitter, I'd been checking out my library's knitting books to find THE one to buy. This was it! I learned how to do the two-handed method of fair isle knitting from the wonderful drawings which are also accompanied by clear written instructions. Not only that, the author covers yarn types (magnified photos of fibers) and knitting needles in detail. I had to return this book to the library before exploring more but it seems that the breadth and depth of this book is unmatched. Simon and Schuster SHOULD definitely reprint this--a zShop seller offers this book for (...) as I write this!