Hello 
I really want to learn how to knit – but I’m a total beginner. Some books have been too hard for me. Any suggestions on what knitting books are best for beginners to the craft? Thank you for your answers!
I learned umpteen years ago from my Brownie Scout leader and then augmented the basics with a Learn How Book from Coats and Clark.
These days, you have a variety of ways to learn.
There are lessons: Most yarn shops provide series of lessons, as do stores that sell a variety of crafts supplies. Many community colleges offer knitting classes in their Life-Long Learning, Continuing Education, or Adult Education departments. Your city or county recreation department may offer lessons. My church has a knitters group and will provide lessons for novices.
There are books: The vintage Learn How Book is actually available via several sources. "I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting!" is available at Wal*Mart and at craft stores such as Michael’s and A. C. Moore. In fact, there are so many different "how to knit" books available in those stores, you could spend an afternoon and look at them all before making a selection. I hear that "Knitting for Dummies" is an excellent source both for the novice and for the experienced knitter. Or go to the public library and see what they have on their shelves that makes sense to you.
There are videos: On line, KnittingHelp.com is an excellent source of videos that demonstrate one technique at a time. In DVD format, the Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knitting has received excellent reviews and might be a good choice.
Once you are past the basics ("This pointed stick is a knitting needle and this string is called yarn"), a book series that may or may not interest you is Sally Melville’s "The Knitting Experience." The first book is "The Knit Stitch," and it’s the only stitch used for all the patterns. Then comes "The Purl Stitch" which introduces (ta-DA!) the purl stitch. Book 3 is "Color." And you cannot go wrong as a knitter by buying Elizabeth Zimmerman’s books or at least checking them out of the library, even though she gets into basic techniques in only one of them, "Knitting Without Tears."
4 responses so far ↓
1 thejanith // Mar 10, 2010 at 4:10 pm
The best book for you and the best book for me may well be two different books. The best book for you is one that teaches to your primary learning style. Most folks are either mainly auditory learners or visual learners. You should know by now how best you learn. Is it better for someone to show you how to do something, or to tell you?
Go to the public library and check out a few knitting books. Get at least one from the kids’ department. Honest! The pictures or instructions in those are really good.
If you are mainly an auditory learner, look for a book with really good descriptions and instructions. If you are mainly a visual learner, look for a book with good pictures and lots of them. If you don’t know which you are, get a couple of each kind.
Once you find a book you like, write down the author and title. That way, when you turn it back in, you can hit http://www.bookfinder4u.com and find a discount copy of your preferred book and buy one for yourself. (It’s a great site. They cover Amazon, Alibris, and a bunch of other online bookstores.)
References :
2 hairbender // Mar 10, 2010 at 4:36 pm
This is going to be a very difficult question to answer, since we all have our own favourite books. I have several that I really like for reference, and that I will go to when I need to do something new or different. But as a beginner book, I don’t think they would work well. You really need to know something about knitting to be able to understand them.
I was fortunate in that I had very good teachers that showed me what to do, watched me copy their movements, made corrections. I then did a LOT of knitting to perfect how I held the yarns and needles, my tension, and my speed. I then did a lot of knitting of different things, to try all the different stitches in practical use. Then I was able to venture out and do lace doilies, and rugs, and miniatures, and socks. It’s all fun!
My recommendation to you is that you find a beginner class in your neighbourhood. The local yarn store always has classes; try your community centre, or church group, or a guild; find an experienced knitter that is willing to help you get started. (remember that some teachers are a lot better than others)
For inspiration for knitters, anything by Elizabeth Zimmermann is good (her Knitter’s Almanac is excellent) but she tends to assume you know a few things already, so skips right over the basics! But a wonderful knitter, and really lets you think about it in a new light. There are many other great writers, and you can pick any one of them up, and learn something. If you have already tried some books, and they don’t seem to work for you, I really do think you need a live knitter beside you showing you and watching you work. You need a teacher.
References :
3 Miz T // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:24 pm
I learned umpteen years ago from my Brownie Scout leader and then augmented the basics with a Learn How Book from Coats and Clark.
These days, you have a variety of ways to learn.
There are lessons: Most yarn shops provide series of lessons, as do stores that sell a variety of crafts supplies. Many community colleges offer knitting classes in their Life-Long Learning, Continuing Education, or Adult Education departments. Your city or county recreation department may offer lessons. My church has a knitters group and will provide lessons for novices.
There are books: The vintage Learn How Book is actually available via several sources. "I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting!" is available at Wal*Mart and at craft stores such as Michael’s and A. C. Moore. In fact, there are so many different "how to knit" books available in those stores, you could spend an afternoon and look at them all before making a selection. I hear that "Knitting for Dummies" is an excellent source both for the novice and for the experienced knitter. Or go to the public library and see what they have on their shelves that makes sense to you.
There are videos: On line, KnittingHelp.com is an excellent source of videos that demonstrate one technique at a time. In DVD format, the Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knitting has received excellent reviews and might be a good choice.
Once you are past the basics ("This pointed stick is a knitting needle and this string is called yarn"), a book series that may or may not interest you is Sally Melville’s "The Knitting Experience." The first book is "The Knit Stitch," and it’s the only stitch used for all the patterns. Then comes "The Purl Stitch" which introduces (ta-DA!) the purl stitch. Book 3 is "Color." And you cannot go wrong as a knitter by buying Elizabeth Zimmerman’s books or at least checking them out of the library, even though she gets into basic techniques in only one of them, "Knitting Without Tears."
References :
http://www.knittinghelp.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Beginners-Guide-Knitting/dp/B000A0P6A4/ref=pd_sim_b_6
4 burnlapp // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Yes, we all have our own favorites, but for plain and simple instruction, you might try the "I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting" book by Leisure Arts. It’s available a most craft stores, including the craft section at Wal-Mart.
I’ve used their Crochet book and looked at their knitting version. They are simple to follow with good illustrations and a few simple patterns.
They even have video lessons and online lessons.
References :
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