All About Knitting

ALL ABOUT KNITTING is a comprehensive guide to knitting which covers all the basics, from how to cast on to progressively difficult projects ranging from simple blankets to sweaters and hats. A 'stitch gallery' accompanies a book packed with full-page color photos of finished products and smaller drawings of methods, plus step-by-step written directions. A 'must' for any library catering to newcomers to knitting.

I learned to knit years ago but didn't keep up with it. I am now trying to learn it all over again. ALL ABOUT KNITTING is the guide that will get my skills back. It begins with a page of abbreviations. What better place to start because if you can't read and understand the pattern, you can't knit it! A dozen pages follow this list with such information as yarn types, equipment used and the basic knit and purl instructions. The next chapter on following a pattern talks about choosing a pattern , gauge correcting mistakes, the 3 types of selvages, increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches, button holes, blocking and pressing and seams! WOW a lot of great information. The special texture chapter tells about cabling bobbles and knots and wrapping techniques such as smocking. And we can't forget knitting in the round, making medallions, turning a heel, shaping a gusset and joining new yarn. (In this chapter, I learned a new way to join yarn that can be used in both knitting and crocheting. I can't wait to try it!). Color work chapter has such information as slipstitch color patterns, vertical color changes, following a pattern and stranding and weaving yarns. The chapters go on with embellishments, special techniques such as pockets, advanced casting on and binding off and preparing for a zipper closure. Whew! Now for the patterns; this book is just full of things to make from babies to Afghans to purses to sock and MORE. Each project gives a skill level, the techniques used and tools needed and a list of materials and alternative color suggestions. The gauge is given and any notes needed for that project. The instructions are clear and each piece of the project is labeled. The final chapter is the Stitch Gallery which shows a sample of the stitch and describes how to make that stitch of which there are 40. I only wish this book was wire bound to lay flat for easy reading and place keeping. Otherwise, you can't go wrong buying this book. It will provide all the techniques you need an many of the patterns you want to make knitting fun.