Vogue Knitting

Handy book to have. Looks forward to being able to refer to it!

I decided to take up knitting, and wanted a good basic book that would answer my questions and get me started, and is this ever it! It builds upon itself, so I never felt overwhelmed by all the information it provides. It describes the supplies needed, the basic steps needed to get started, how to read the knitting instructions, how to correct errors like a dropped stitch, and goes on to describe more difficult techniques and how to design and finish your own projects. It has great photographs and drawings throughout that clearly illustrate the directions. I got some inexpensive yarn and sat down and worked my way through the instructions, and by the time I got through the chapter about fixing mistakes, I was ready to start buying easy knitting patterns. I am always referring back to my book now while I am knitting things. I thought this book was rather expensive at first, but now I realize it's priceless!

While this is the definitive reference book for everything about knitting, I think you could actually teach yourself from this book. The illustrations and diagrams are virtually self-explanatory. When I taught myself to knit, I used Debbie Bliss' "How to Knit," but also relied on this as a supplement. While Bliss' book is extremely helpful, I found Vogue's illustrations and descriptions to be a little more precise. For example, I had been confused about how to bind off, until I referred to this book. In that case, Vogue's diagram was more clear, and I proceeded with confidence.The layout of this book is amazing, as well. The Editors seem to instinctively place all the information you need at your fingertips. Cross references on each page and color-coding of each chapter help you flip instantly to what you need to know. This is not just another bland reference book. There is a lot of inspiration to be found here, in addition to unparalleled advice, and the last word on any technique you can imagine. One of the best features of this book is the design workshop at the back. Nowhere have I seen a simpler, more straightforward "how-to" for design. I never imagined designing until I saw their simple chart, diagrams, calculations, and advice on the subject. Debbie Bliss' "How to Knit" has a design workshop, but it is more of an introduction/afterthought and doesn't really get you there as Vogue does.

I love this book! I started knitting about a year ago, and essentially taught myself to knit using it. It is very comprehensive, from the most basic techniques to the most advanced. It has color photographs, excellent how-to diagrams, and a number of projects as well. It is a reference book that I know I will treasure for many years.It has a wealth of information, and I can't imagine myself outgrowing it. It is well worth the price.

After kissing several toads I finally found the prince! This book contains everything you need to know about knitting that even a beginner can understand and follow. The illustrations are wonderful and complement the instructions beautifully. The layout is very organized and follows a logical order in the knitting scheme of things. The most important thing is that it is not so longwinded that you get bored after the first ten pages! All subjects are covered in a straightforward and succinct manner. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to knit or who is thinking about getting started. My mother-in-law comes from Norway and has been knitting since she could hold the needles. I told her she needed a copy of this book!