Get Knitting! by Gina Macris

Published 2008

Newcomers to knitting finally have the book they require: an honest-to-goodness beginner’s guide that provides basic visual instruction geared to a real novice’s needs. Get Knitting! was written with the beginner in mind, and it addresses anyone who has never picked up a needle or held a skein of yarn. The introduction presents the basic tools, techniques, and materials. Lessons in the fundamentals include how to hold the needle and wool, cast the first row of stitches, and knit and purl. Through beautifully photographed projects of increasing complexity, more sophisticated techniques—including advanced stitches, reading patterns, and taking accurate measurements—gradually unfold. Soon anyone will have the skills to create a simple scarf, baby blanket, pillow cover, cardigans, and a handsome pullover complete with vee, crew, and turtleneck variations.

Felted Wool Fashions : Making New Styles from Old Knits by Vivian Peritts

Published 2008

This fabulous guide is brimming with ideas for recycling and restyling your aging wool knitwear—simply by felting, cutting, and combining them in innovative ways. Find out everything you need to get started, from choosing the right old sweaters to the simplest, most reliable method of felting. Photographs display piecing and cutting techniques for felted sweaters, machine and hand embroidery for added interest, and sewing techniques to finish off each project. Imaginative embellishments are also here, including fabulous felted flowers and three kinds of buttonholes. With more than 30 projects for capes, vests, shawls, slippers, scarves, hats, tote bags, purses, jewelry, jackets, and even a cute dog sweater. Crafters will soon be felting away!

Knitwear by Sasha Kagan

Published 2008

Popular knitwear designer Sasha Kagan (Crochet Inspiration) presents a collection of 22 classic designs for the discerning woman of fashion. A wardrobe of magnificent cardigans, jackets, coats, tops, sweaters, wraps, and scarves showcases Sasha’s signature use of pattern, color, and texture. The result: a very wearable group of timeless pieces for the style-savvy knitter (who has intermediate to advanced skills) to enjoy making and wearing. For a cool day on the beach or water, choose a pullover sweater with bright boats sailing across a sea-blue background. Or show off a sleeveless pink crop top, sprinkled with pretty flowers, small ruffles, and an under the bust tie. And the pompom-edged scarf is simply irresistible. Every item is a showstopper!

Fashionable Projects for the New Knitter by Alison Barlow

Published 2008

Who says a knitting project has to be complicated to look fashionable? Simple can be stylish, too—and anyone who can do a basic “knit and purl” can make these chic items with no trouble at all. The trick: using quality yarns in beautiful colors and textures. The results will look marvelous…and no one need know that your designer scarf used an easy loose stitch and took just a few hours to create! And there’s lots to choose from: [34] projects that include hats, bags, blankets, shawls, sweaters, and accessories. The attractive photos show each one in different yarns and colors, and excellent, easy-to-follow instructions teach how to knit on circular needles, make great felted items, and change colors as you work.

The Knitted Rug: 21 Fantastic Designs by Donna Druchunas

Published 2005

Here's a fresh take on the crafts of rugmaking and knitting-the very first book of its kind. These stylish rug projects are so eye-catching that it's hard to believe that even novices can create them. But they can, thanks to a sumptuously illustrated and thorough section on knitting basics; advice on embellishments, including embroidery; and instruction on finishing touches, from weaving ends to lining. Put this knowledge to work on a multicolored Big Needle Garter Stitch Rug, Knit and Purl Oval Rug, Thunderbird Wall Tapestry, and others. Every rug is photographed in a home setting, and includes patterns and ideas for modifying the design."Offers more than an attractive collection of patterns. [It] includes a history of knitted floor coverings...a tutorial, and a manual on a variety of knitting techniques."--Interweave"...an excellent introduction ....Even some of the more spectacular rugs...are suitable for beginning knitters. Warmly recommended..."--Library Journal

Knit Aid: A Learn It, Fix It, Finish It Guide for Knitters on the Go by Vickie Howell

Published 2008

Vickie Howell, the DIY channel’s popular queen of knitting, knows that all knitters—even the most experienced—sometimes need help. What kind of yarn is best for a specific project? How do you pick up dropped stitches without ripping a project apart? How do you knit and purl Continental-style? With her unmistakable charm, Vickie delivers practical answers to every knitter’s questions, offering tips on choosing a project, selecting needles and yarn, finding the speediest knitting method, and even handy new ways of carrying your knitting and the best times to work on it. With its convenient size, lie-flat spiral binding and easy-to-follow diagrams and illustrations, this is an item that should be in every knitting bag.

Great Garter Stitch by Jean Leinhauser, Rita Weiss

Published 2008

The very first stitch a new knitter learns is the garter stitch; it’s the foundation for every later skill. Usually, budding stitchers then go on to purl and more advanced techniques and forget the garter’s vast potential. But this entire beautiful collection is dedicated to that first stitch, and knitters will be amazed to find out just how much you can create using it. Acclaimed needlework authors Rita Weiss and Jean Leinhauser exhibit a gorgeous array of afghans, sweaters, hats, and more—50 different elegant and stylish projects in all. Beginners will love this book because they’ll easily be able to knit every item, while even more experienced knitters will want to make these garments because they’re so stunning.

Doggie Knits : Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend by Corinne Niessner

Published 2008

What dog lover wouldn’t be delighted with a magnificent hand-knitted sweater for Fido—and what knitter wouldn’t be proud to create it? Dog sweaters can be made with leftovers from larger projects, and completed in the same time it takes to knit a hat, scarf, or mittens. There are eight basic patterns with variations, plus instructions for sizing up or down, three patterns for hard-to-fit breeds (Pugs, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds), four accessories (a snood, a hat, a kerchief, and a collar), and three home projects (a bed, a blanket, and a toy). Photos of pooches wearing the finished sweaters, plus start-to-finish instructions (including how to measure the dog) ensure a stylish look and a perfect fit.

Knitting Sweaters from the Top Down: Fabulous Seamless Patterns to Suit Your Style by Cathy Carron

Published 2007

Sweaters are the ultimate showcase for knitters—but most patterns require complicated piecing that can be a little tricky. These don’t…and they look fantastic, too! The seamless, top-down knitting method eliminates challenging construction, allowing knitters to focus instead on the individual details that make each sweater special. Not only does this guide thoroughly explain how the technique works—with information on reading patterns and understanding sizing—but it also teaches beginners how to design their own generic patterns for pullovers and cardigans in different yarn gauges. All the sweaters are organized by yarn weight, and the projects include an elegant rolled-collar pullover, dramatic capelet, and Asian-inspired top.