America Knits
by Melanie Falick
This is a nice enough book. I’m simply not inspired by the profiles of the people highlighted. Not that they don’t have interesting lifestyles. Not that I couldn’t be more interested. Maybe the writing itself is just not all that compelling. The patterns are not quite my cup of tea, save one. One special addition is a photo showing Pam Allen’s knitwear, modeled by her angelic daughter. The sweetness
of Caitlin Fitzgerald as a little girl is endearing.
At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
This is not just another popular book, the rage one season, forgotten the next. No. This book is sheer delight and truly merits any and all admiration. Don’t be dissuaded by the title; men, non-knitters, lots of people could appreciate this book’s humor. I even asked my father to read it. He did so and became acutely charmed by the author. We laughed together as we recalled some of our favorite passages.
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns
by Barbara G. Walker
This is an indispensable book that I cherish.
Caps & Hats Two: Vogue Knitting on the Go
by Trisha Malcolm
Denim People
by Kim Hargreaves
The patterns here are designed for one yarn, Rowan Denim, which is available in four colors, three of them the blue of jeans. The yarn will shrink upon first washing and the patterns allow for this. All of the pieces are modeled on young men and women, with a fair number of styles for men. I see none that is knit circularly. Some I’m not fond of, and those are trendy. There is a predominance of sweaters; some are very nice.
Fisherman’s Sweaters
by Alice Starmore
Fitted Knits: 25 Designs for the Fashionable Knitter
by Stefanie Japel
I like this book a lot! These are my kind of patterns, for the majority is knit circularly. While the designer has a distinctive style, it is one that doesn’t stray too far from comfortable conventions. I could see myself knitting and wearing a large number of these garments. Many of the yarns are from Cascade. I appreciate that because Cascade yarns are easy to find locally, are a good value, and come in so many colors. Ever since the book arrived, I’ve been looking forward to knitting
from it.
Hand-Knitting Techniques
by Threads Editors
There is a wealth of information in this excellent book, presented as a series of articles by well-known knitting experts.
Hats On! 
by Charlene Schurch
This is one of my favorite knitting books.
Knit Hats!: 15 Cool Patterns to Keep You Warm
by Gwen Steege
Knitter’s Stash: Favorite Patterns from America’s Yarn Shops
by Melanie Falick
Knitting for Dummies
by Pam Allen, Trisha Malcolm, Rich Tennant, and Cheryl Fall
This was the book I chose to start with, to learn how to knit. At the time, it seemed like the best, most comprehensive choice. I had some preconceived notion that ‘Dummies’ books were a good bet. I wanted to like the book. I don’t dislike it. I wanted to learn lots about knitting. I may have learned a little about knitting. There’s nothing wrong with this book. It’s just not the book for me. However accurate an explanation, I struggled with the wording or couldn’t relate to the writing style. And it was easy to feel lost in a sea of dull pages; neither the presentation nor format was crisp and appealing. It’s rare that I look in it for any type of reference.
Knitting from the Top
by Barbara G. Walker
Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters
by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts
Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Now this is one satisfying book. If I could have only one knitting book, it may well be this one. The wit and humor are highly entertaining whether read beginning to end, or randomly skipping amongst pages. The extreme funniness does not belie the underlying soundness of the knitting information.
If there is an opposite of knitterly isolation, this book manages to verify the concept.
I read it and know that my world of knitting, however solitary, is related and relevant to a broader world of knitting.
You can have a go at the patterns, or not. I followed one and it was what I’d been wishing for without even realizing it. Here was someone aware of what could go awry, thoughtfully walking me through the steps and nuances of the project.
My father does not knit. He thoroughly enjoyed this book. Now he is a huge fan of the author. It’s a fabulous book!
Lace Style: Traditional to Innovative, 21 Inspired Designs to Knit
by Pam Allen and Ann Budd
Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
by Joelle Hoverson
What does last-minute mean? In one day, you could spend two hours knitting. Or you could spend eighteen hours. Last-minute does not necessarily imply there is not a ton of stitches in store. In that sense, the title of this book could be misinterpreted. Although once you look inside and see the chapter headings, that is soon clarified. The chapters are divided according to the number of hours each project is thought to take, from less than two to more than eight.
This is a very nice book. The author’s heartfelt interest in knitting comes through. These patterns are meant as possible gifts. As such, is the cliché of something for everyone apropos? I think it would be challenging to select just what assortment to offer in a book like this. I think it’s an excellent balance and the would-be cliché fits.
For the most part, the projects strike me as timeless and general enough to have broad appeal or modify to specific tastes. Amongst my favorites are some precious stuffed animals like a rabbit and elephant, and the Hourglass sweater.
Loop-d-Loop: More than 40 Novel Designs for Knitters
by Teva Durham
Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: More than 40 Farm-Fresh Designs
by Margrit Lohrer
This is an endearing book centered around Morehouse Farm. I liked seeing the photos of the animals there, including the various dogs who are trained to work with the sheep. It is all too easy to be oblivious about a yarn’s origins. Here you see the care and labor involved, the actual animals, the actual people and the beautiful scenery. The patterns were designed by the very woman who, along with her husband, started the farm.
The patterns are in keeping with the rural landscape of the farm. They are not about being fancy, trendy or complex. They allow a knitter to get knitting. They are attractive in their simplicity. That said, I don’t know how many I would actually knit.
I suspect there is an art to presenting a pattern in its most approachable form. Thus, a more refined pattern may shield the knitter from the complexities of the piece’s construction. Careful considerations may be behind something appearing as basic.
The pattern Jeff’s Vest, once complete, is impressive. It is a good one for pulling the wool over someone’s eyes; it looks much more difficult to knit than it really is.
Mosaic Knitting
by Barbara G. Walker
One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet
by Leigh Radford
One skein of yarn can vary from well under 100 yards to well over 1000 yards. Some yarn is super bulky, some is gossamer thin. Quick may be a relative word here, although the majority of the projects probably wouldn’t take more than a few hours to complete.
I like this book fairly well. The knitted cupcakes are ever so cute, as are the felted bowls. Some of the patterns I like with a caveat. For instance, if I knit the Rowan Kidsilk wrist warmers again, I would have a go at knitting them circularly.
Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional
by Pam Allen
Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook
by Debbie Stoller
This may be a good book to get started learning how to knit. The young at heart may appreciate the levity of its modern, often sassy, manner more than someone who wants a traditional textbook approach. It may be geared toward a faster-paced generation, one perhaps with brevity of attention span. It is a fun and funny book, with fun and stylish patterns. I turn to this book for quick, handy references, like to remind me how to do Kitchener grafting.
Sweater Workshop
by Jacqueline Fee
Sweater Design in Plain English
by Maggie Righetti
Teddy Bears: Twenty-five Irresistible Designs for Knitted Bears 
by Debbie Bliss
If you are the Glumster of Grim, or a spiteful, vindictive, cruel person this book may not be for you. You’d have to be a real grump to not take some pleasure in seeing these adorable bears. I am not usually one for outfitted animals. Yet these little outfits don’t bother me. I sense that the bears like them too. I may not knit these winsome creatures or their clothing but I sure like seeing them. They are
cute in a classic way.
The Best of Lopi 
by Xrx Staff Inc
First off, I love to knit with Lopi, which is wool from Icelandic sheep. For me, this is a dream book. I like the patterns, I like the photos. Those knits designed for children are the sweetest.
I think these patterns are designed with ease-of-knitting in mind. They are much simpler to knit than their finished appearance might suggest. And Lopi is on your side. As if by magic, Lopi knits up beautifully such as no other yarn I’ve worked with. I will use this book again and again.
The Celtic Collection: Twenty-Five Knitwear Designs for Men and Women
by Alice Starmore
The Urban Knitter
by Lily M. Chin
This is an odd book. Was it planned to be the way it is? It comes off as disjointed, an awkward patching together of afterthoughts. Knitters are profiled, said to be responsible for contributing the pattern ideas, perfected by Lily Chin. What is the point of that? It comes off as an artificially assembled layer, superimposed after-the-fact. Is it trying to emulate the Stitch ‘N Bitch style? That was my take.
It is a shame there are not better photos. There are no models, human or mannequin. I knitted one of the bras. It has a sophisticated construction. The entire set of patterns may well be superbly designed. That is lost in the mayhem of a book that has many unrealized directions but no particular one.
Victorian Lace Today
by Jane Sowerby
This gorgeous book would be nice for display on a coffee table. It’s an amazing work, complete with fascinating historical information, beautiful photography, and lovely patterns.
Viking Patterns for Knitting: Inspiration and Projects for Today’s Knitter
by Elsebeth Lavold
Now this is one extraordinary book, encompassing such areas as archaeology, cultural history and design. It is fascinating what Elsebeth Lavold has presented here. She has translated the motifs from artifacts of the Viking Age into knitting. There are a great number of pattern charts, including the runic alphabet, along with photos and drawings of the original Viking age objects. I used one such pattern chart as a band for a hat. There are also many patterns of Lavold’s own design, garments like sweaters that are lovely.
Wendy Knits: My Never-Ending Adventures in Yarn
by Wendy D. Johnson
Anyone with Wendy’s devotion to kitties gets all possible praise from me.
I join the scores of people who ardently wish there were better photos. While I certainly do like the book and value its content, it does not have the same appeal for me as her outstanding blog which, perhaps, captures more of her style and personality. Lucy is not excluded and yet I miss her presence.
Wrap Style: Innovative to Traditional, 24 Inspirational Shawls, Ponchos, and Capelets to Knit and Crochet
by Pam Allen and Ann Budd
While I look at this book often enough, I remain at a loss for which pattern I’d like to try. My favorite is the one pictured on the cover, Nordic Lights.
