The Ultimate Knitter's Guide

This is how I learned to knit, and now I can knit just about anything. The bottom of the book is devoted to a how to section. I use it anytime I am stumped. My 1st knitting project was to do the little girl's sweater, like the one on the front cover --it wasn't very hard at all.

I have been knitting for over 10 years and yet the hints and format of this book is probably the best I have ever laid my hands on. The split page format was strange to me at first but once I was actually working the patterns I realised how useful it was to actually be able to flip to the technique section while still seeing the pattern. Also, everytime the patterns asks for a change in technique it has a small side note telling you which page detailed instructions can be found. So, while the pages might be compromised over the years,(I'm not big on spiral bound books) the patterns and usefullness of the book are worth it. I know I am buying my own copy asap!

I am just learning how to knit and borrowed a number of books from the library. This was the one I went back to again and again to look up a stitch or technique, so this is the one I bought.I didn't find the patterns very enticing (for that, I'd recommend The Knitter's Stash), but it's a great book to keep handy when a pattern calls for something I haven't done in a while.My main gripe is the gimmicky split-page design. This would be very handy if I was working the patterns in the book, but the bottom pages tend to pull down from the spiral binding and stick out of the cover. On the other hand, the one-technique-per-page format and color-coded sections make it very easy to thumb to the specific technique I want.

The sweater designs are exclusively Rowan, from back issues that you may have missed. There are a few for children and several pullovers/cardigans for women, most in classic, wearable styles. The book is an unusual design. The cover is normal, but inside are two sections, split horizontally, that are independently spiral ring bound. The intent is for you to page in the upper section to the sweater you want to knit. Just underneath, you page in the bottom section to the techniques you need to know to knit the sweater, like casting on or making a buttonhole. Then the sweater pattern and the technique are both shown at the same time, making it easier than paging through several books to find what you need. The technique instructions are very good, with lots of photos to guide you along, but they mainly cover fundamentals, making this a nice book for a beginning knitter. Only Rowan patterns aren't written for beginners, so there might be some frustration unless you are at the intermediate level or just plain daring in learning to knit. The book is high quality, with very good photography and printing. I found it clumsy, though, since the two spiral bound sections tended to sag and it was hard to turn the pages without tearing them. Still, the major benefit is that these are Rowan patterns, long out of print. They are not repeats from the recent Best of Rowan book and they are practical styles that are wearable everyday, making it well-worth adding to your library if you like Rowan.