Tuesday 24 May 2005

What's on your Wishlist?

Firstly, I feel better today, thank you. So no more whining. OK, now on to my post:

I regularly visit our local library with my daughters as they have great children’s facilities. The most loved ones are 2 touch-screen computers with educational games and painting software for under-5s, and 2 sets of wall-mounted headphones attached to auto-run CD players playing stories and songs above a mini sofa! These are fab; the CD player starts when you pick up the headphones - ah, the wonders of modern technology.. ;-)

Anyway on one particular visit whilst the children were engrossed, I decided to search for knitting and crochet books for myself. There is a craft section, but after searching and asking I found it contains just 4 books of interest to me:

    1) A Harmony crochet stitch pattern book (which I’ve borrowed 5 times so far!)
    2) A beginners guide to knitting (good book, but not what I was looking for)
    3) “Baby Knits for Beginners” by Debbie Bliss (good for baby patterns obviously!)
    4) “Junior Knits” by Debbie Bliss (nice patterns for 3-10 year olds)

OK, it’s a start but that’s all. One of the staff there also knits/crochets, and she said that I should take in a list of recommendations for knitting/crochet books and they’d try to get at least some of them! Wow, now there’s an offer not to be missed!

So here’s my list so far (in no particular order, and mainly based on a browse through Amazon):

    1) “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Handbook” by Debbie Stoller
    2) “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Nation” by Debbie Stoller
    3) “1000 Sweaters” by Jane Crowfoot
    4) “Loop-d-Loop: More than 40 Novel Knitting Projects” by Teva Durham
    5) “440 More Knitting Stitches” by Harmony Guide
    6) “At Knit’s End” by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
    7) “Simple Knits with a Twist” by Erika Knight
    8) “Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet” by Pam Allen
    9) “Domino Knitting” by Vivien Hoxbro
    10) “Knitted Embellishments” by Nicky Epstein
    11) “Hip to Crochet” by Judith Swartz
    12) “Simple Crochet” by Erika Knight
    13) “Freeform Knitting and Crochet” by Jenny Dowde
    14) “Hooked on Crochet” by Candi Jensen
    15) “Knit and Crochet with Beads” by Lily Chin
    16) “Kids Crochet: Projects for Kids of all Ages” by Kelli Ronci & Lena Corwin
    17) “Bead Crochet: A Beadwork How-To Book” by Bethany Barry
    18) “Crochet for Barbie Doll” by Nicky Epstein
    19) “200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix-and-Match” by Jan Eaton
    20) “Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes” by Elizabeth Zimmermann

I’m sure you all have your own favourites that you could add - suggestions please? Or have you tried out any of the above and been disappointed? Maybe we could build an all-time Top 20/30/40/etc of knitting and crochet books for all (or at least the majority of) ages, experience levels, and tastes!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think a basic book, like Vogue Knitting, or Buss' Big Book of Knitting, would be useful for the newbie who hasn't got others to learn from. Also, Nancie Wiseman's book of Finishing Techniques also has lots of "in process" technique suggestions/hints that will get the new and not-so-new knitter educated. Include only one crochet/bead book. I run the department library at work; the bean counters are ruthless.

Anonymous said...

I would second the Nancie Wiseman's book of Finishing Techniques and also add Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas.

Anonymous said...

I have at least a couple of dozen favourites which you haven't listed (different strokes and all that).
I second etherknitter's suggestion of a good how-to book, as prospective knitters need to be enticed into the circle.

Also, some good technique books
Maggie Righetti 'sweater design in plain english'
Pricilla g-r 'knitting in the old way'
barbara walker 'knitting from the top down'
any of the sally melville how-to books (two published so far)

Some lace books
Marianne kinzel's books
Myrna Stahmans's Shawls & scarves
Martha Waterman traditional lace shawls


Some vintage - any of Mary Thomas's knitting books

Some socks books
Folk socks
Simple socks


and more more more! I'm at work though and can't remember any books!

Dawn

noricum said...

Hip To Crochet really only has one pattern that interests me, and the rest are rather blah. Bron mentioned there were some mistakes in that pattern too. Just a FYI. (Of course, if there's only one pattern you like, it's much nicer to borrow from the library than buy your own copy, so maybe it'll get well used. ;) )

Anonymous said...

Hi Steph
What a great idea!
I've got the two "Stitch 'n' Bitch" books. The first was a real inspiration and got really hooked (excuse the pun) on knitting but the second (Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation) was a very disappointing fully of ridiculous novelty patterns, most of which I wouldn't want to knit. A also have "At Knit's End" which makes me laugh and feel that I'm not the only person obsessed with knitting. Another one I'd like to recommend which isn't on your list is "Finishing Techniques for Hand Knitters" by Jane Crowfoot which has clear and simple instructions for a begginner like myself who has progressed beyond the "basics" but doesn't have anyone on hand to explain things, and finally I also highly recommend "25 Bags to Knit" by Emma King which is just great!
Good luck with your list!!