my knitting library

Knitting for Dummies
Pam Allen
ISBN 076455395X

Before I was using the internet for knitting info, and before the advent of Stitch N Bitch, this was the first knitting book I purchased. The description and illustrations of the standard cast on method were especially helpful!


Complete Idiot's Guide to Knit and Crochet
Barbara Breiter, Gail Diven
ISBN 1592570895

What I do with these all purpose books is this: whenever there's a technique in a pattern I haven't used yet, I get out all my how-to books and compare the instructions. One book's pictures might help me figure out another book's illustrations or vice versa. I figure if I have nine books open to the page on picking up stitches, odds are I'm going to understand one of 'em!


Stitch 'n Bitch
Debbie Stoller
ISBN 0761128182

Now almost a cliche among younger knitters, Stoller's book was the one that exposed me to the new wave of knitters, a large group of women (and men!) my own age looking for non-grandmotherly patterns. It also introduced me to the community of knitting in the form of the Stitch N Bitch groups - though I still have yet to attend one of those! Tons of internet links got me started on shopping for yarn online and browsing other people's blogs.


Pipsqueaks
Kim Hargreaves
ISBN 0952537575

This is the first book I bought for a particular pattern. I had been looking for a simple baby blanket pattern and found pictures of a finished "Peaches" blanky from this book in someone's blog. This was my intro to Rowan yarns and designers, and it was a great experience. The Peaches blanky has become my signature baby gift, I've done six of them now and I have fun swapping colors and substituting yarn for each one. I haven't tried the other patterns yet as they were a bit over my head, but I think I'm ready to make some of the adorable baby sweaters now.


Tadpoles and Tiddlers
Kim Hargreaves
ISBN 0952537508

This book came with Pipsqueaks in a package deal from Amazon. I love the patterns and photography, it's only a matter of time before I tackle a few of these myself.


Knitter's Handbook
Montse Stanley
ISBN 0895774674

I'm pretty sure this was recommended in Stitch N Bitch as an invaluable resource for the beginner onward. I bought my copy used on Half.com and use it often when I need pictures of techniques or definitions of something new I've come across.


Simple Knits for Cherished Babies
Erika Knight
ISBN 1855859262

I love this book. The patterns are gorgeous and the writing is superb. The only drawback is that they all call for very expensive yarns, sometimes impractically so. Cashmere baby sweaters and teddy bears look and feel great, but they're still going to get spit up on. As I get more familiar and confident with yarn substituting, this book becomes more and more useful to me. My favorite pattern is the simple baby's beanie hat knit in Rowan all seasons cotton. I made one to go with every blanky I gave out!


Baby Knits for Beginners
Debbie Bliss
ISBN 1570762481

A lot of my friends are having babies these days. A LOT. That's why when I branched out from the How To collections, I stuck to baby books. This is a great one because of the ease of the patterns and the wonderful beginner tutorials on basic techniques. The only pattern I wouldn't make is the garter stitch scarf for infants (it's modeled on a kid under 1 year of age), because I'm just not seeing the moms I know wrapping anything around their baby's neck. I love the blanket made of garter stitch squares joined together, which I want to try as practice for seaming. This book also introduced me to Debbie Bliss yarns and designs for the first time.


Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Joelle Hoverson, Anna Williams
ISBN 1584793678

Gorgeous patterns organized by the length of time it takes to make them. I recently read a thread on the forums at crafster.org full of finished works from this book and they were awesome. I can't wait to get into this one a bit more.


Knit Wit
Amy R. Singer
ISBN 0060740701

This book was a slight disappointment. The stand-up format is awkward and annoying, and the patterns are pretty hit and miss. It suffers from the usual "hip" knitting book flaw of trying too hard for "unique" patterns. I don't want to knit a yoga mat bag or an ice cream pint cozy. The writing is good, however, and there are a few patterns that I can tell will make the purchase worth it for me.


Stitch N Bitch Nation
Debbie Stoller
ISBN 0761135901

Of course like any good Next Gen knitter, I bought the Stitch N Bitch sequel. I think there's a few more dumb patterns than in the first one. Seriously? Another yoga mat bag? But there's enough really cool ones to keep me hooked on the Stoller series. I love the Fairly Easy Fair Isle sweater, hopefully I will be ready for that once I get Tempting and a few baby sweaters under my belt.


Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles
Cat Bordi
ISBN 0970886950



World of Knitted Toys
Kath Dalmeny, Carolyn Clewer
ISBN 0715312243



Knitting Without Tears
Elizabeth Zimmerman
ISBN 0684135051

These last three I can't review yet, as they're currently on their way to me from the warehouses of BN.com. They came highly recommended by fellow bloggers and posters on the @forumz Knit and Bitch board, and I'm really looking forward to them. I'll post an update once I've gotten a chance to read and knit from each one!

And that's my knitting library thus far. Any hobby that involves books is going to be a winner for me. I'll take any excuse I can get to buy more books!