I need advice from knitters who own books:
What are good knitting books to have?
I am considering purchasing Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac on Amazon for $8 (I have a $25 gift card too), but some say that it's hard to follow without learning her abbreviations and lingo in Knitting Without Tears. I searched the entire Cumberland County Library System, and the only Elizabeth Zimmermann book they have is Knitting Without Tears, so I put it on hold. I figure I could get the Almanac, and photocopy the parts I need from KWT. Mainly I want the baby surprise jacket, but lot of Ravelry people and knitters in general always call Almanac the best knitting book for $8 you will ever buy, and I'm curious. Does anyone have a copy I could borrow and skim?
Do you have other knitting books that you think are vital to your knitting library? I have now read Stitch 'n Bitch, the entire learning part before the patterns, and I am about 20% through my first sweater from Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which I think was a good choice for my first sweater book.
Katy! Nic! Anyone else who knits! I need thoughts.
Hmmm... I've never loved EZ's patterns other than the February baby jacket. I know she's knitting genius, I've just never felt compelled to buy her book.
ReplyDeleteI tend not to buy books for patterns because it just seems unreasonable to me. As far as techniques go, I've used Vogue Knitting and the Vogue Stitchionary is a favorite of mine. If I were to buy a book I'd probably go for a Cat Bordhi book because she is an amazing and inventive sock knitter. No Sheep For You is amazingly informative if you like to knit with non-wool yarns, though I did not love the patterns. So, I guess the question is, are you looking for a reference or for patterns?
to be honest i don't really knit from books too much. i get most of my patterns from knitty.com or from stitch n bitch (i have both of those plus happy hooker, the crochet book). as you know, i'm working through my first sweater and it's from a pattern i got in maine. not too pleased with the pattern and pretty much covet your knitting book. my friend laura has a good sweater book. i'll find out the title and let you know.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...this proves that people actually read your blog, Mer!
ReplyDeleteI was actually looking more for technique with some basic demonstrative patterns. But I think Nic talked me out of EZ, hopefully I can find it in the library and just read the good parts...
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