Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits


Michele Rose Orne - 2008
    Stunning patterns are arranged by season, reflecting the colors and beauty of nature that inspire feminine designs. From an amber-beaded cardigan that captures the feeling of hay fields drying in the sun to a long, belted coat with a spray of coral roses inspired by flowers in local markets to an intarsia jacket that evokes memories of a fall hike in a forest, each pattern is rich with color, detailing, and romantic knitting style. The design workshops throughout this guidebook challenge knitters to find inspiration in their surroundings, build color palettes, swatch creatively through knitting and sketching, and finesse their style and fit.

Folk Bags


Vicki Square - 2003
    From the fish-shaped Japanese felted bag to the Persian carpet–inspired handbag, each bag is a product of its cultural history. Each pattern begins with a brief history describing the source behind these contemporary interpretations of folk designs. Folk stories also accompany many projects. Included are designs for bags for work or play, and bags of all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Using this collection, knitters can create bags for children, for market, for everyday, or for a special evening event.

Knitting Ganseys


Beth Brown-Reinsel - 1993
    Characterized by their dense, dark yarns, rich pattern combinations, and dropped shoulders, these simple square garments provide the modern knitter with a template for a wide variety of classic designs. Detailed, step-by-step line drawings and photographs, sidebars, and formulas help the reader build a foundation of skills. Pattern graphs and instructions for six of the author's own designs are included.

Fishermen's Sweaters: Twenty Exclusive Knitwear Designs for All Generations


Alice Starmore - 1985
    The elegant styling and exquisite detail of traditional fisherman's knits are brought to life in Alice Starmore's 20 original sweater designs for men, women, and children.

Knitting on the Road


Nancy Bush - 2001
    Perfect for beginners, it features helpful tips for each pattern and covers each step of knitting these stylish socks with charts and illustrations. Packaged in a covered-spiral binding that is easy to use and carry, these patterns are perfect to toss in the knitting bag on the way out the door.

Knits Men Want


Bruce Weinstein - 2010
    Men aren’t being intentionally cruel; they’re just not comfortable in knitwear made with bright colors, itchy yarn, or flashy designs. So what’s a knitter to do? Understand the male psyche, says knitting instructor Bruce Weinstein. In Knits Men Wan he presents ten hilarious essays, each based on a rule that helps women knit for men successfully. “Men Are Babies” explains why guys need to wear soft fabrics. “Men Hate Fittings” describes how to create a sweater based on one that’s in his wardrobe. Following each essay is a timeless master pattern, from socks, hats, and scarves to an array of sweaters, all in a range of sizes and most written for multiple gauges. With this book in hand, women finally have the secret to knitting garments that men will appreciate and actually wear.

60 Quick Knits: 20 Hats*20 Scarves*20 Mittens in Cascade 220™


Sixth & Spring Books - 2010
    In this stunning volume of all-new projects, many of today’s top knitwear designers come together to create an irresistible collection of hats, scarves, and mittens—all in Cascade 220. There’s something for everyone, from an adorable monkey-face hat and a dazzling mosaic pattern scarf to a classic muffler and Fair Isle flower mittens. Knitters will find plenty of inspiration and beauty here!

French Girl Knits


Kristeen Griffin-Grimes - 2008
    Each section features dramatically different types of yarns, colors, and stitch patterns combined with timeless, figure flattering silhouettes that are suitable for knitters of all skill levels. Using innovative seamless construction methods, the need for sewing seams has been nearly eliminated by fashioning patterns in one piece from start to finish, easily allowing for adjustments for a custom fit. A handy design workshop features in-depth tutorials that teach seamless construction methods and provide valuable technical information for both beginning and seasoned knitters. Perfect for all body types, the designs are figure flattering with curve friendly waist shaping, empire waist detailing, and stitch details such as lacing, openwork, lace edgings, and bell sleeves that highlight the silhouette.

Meg Swansen's Knitting


Meg Swansen - 1999
    The introduction gives the reader a candid look into the knitting world of the daughter of America’s first famous knitter and author, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Full of original designs, this book includes instructions and charts for 22 sweaters, three vests, four fitted-arch socks, and three convertible-top mittens, each rendered in four-color fashion photography taken on-site at Meg’s home. A section on techniques includes a glossary of relevant knitting terms, the famous EZ Percentage System, and various ways to cast on, bind off, increase, and decrease.

Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting


Melissa Leapman - 2006
    They are classic, stylish wardrobe staples. For many of us, cables are the main reason we were compelled to learn to knit in the first place. But it’s necessary to be an ultra-advanced knitter to even think about knitting cables, right?Not really. In Cables Untangled, widely published author, knitwear designer, and teacher Melissa Leapman demystifies this perennially popular technique, guiding the reader through the process step by step. Even if you’ve mastered just a few basic knitting techniques, you can turn out beautiful cables too! A comprehensive resource book for knitters of all levels, Cables Untangled features over twenty cabled projects, from simple household items to clothing, fashion accessories, and gifts for virtually everyone on your list. Every project is beautifully photographed and includes useful detail shots of every piece of cabled fabric.In addition to the projects, Cables Untangled includes an invaluable Cable Stitch Dictionary, giving you the tools to be a skilled and creative cable-knitter. Extra resources include:• A guide to using knitting charts and understanding their symbols• A comprehensive stitch library of both traditional and unusual rib, panel, and allover cable stitches, all clearly photographed and accompanied by easy-to-use charts• Tips for designing your own projects Throughout the book, Leapman relies on the techniques she has developed teaching her popular workshops—making the process easy and fun for anyone. Here’s the book that will bring your knitting to a whole new level, help you impress family and friends with your beautiful creations, and open up a new world of creative opportunities. Without a doubt, Cables Untangled is an indispensable resource in helping you conquer—and enjoy!—cables. It’s the ultimate guide for beginners and seasoned knitters alike.

Spin to Knit: The Knitter's Guide to Making Yarn


Shannon Okey - 2006
    A rundown on equipment introduces the drop spindle, supported spindle, niddy-noddy, McMorran balance, and yarn meter, while the following sections include choosing wool and other fibers, presenting knitting patterns suitable for handspun yarn, and in-depth profiles of real urban spinners. For crafters who want to experiment with spinning but don't want to sacrifice too much of their knitting time, there are lots of ideas for jazzing up a thrift-store cardigan with handspun trim or knitting a boatneck pullover in a combination of commercial and handspun yarns. Methods for incorporating beads and threads into yarn and a technique for dyeing yarn in the dishwasher are also featured.

A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting


Cat Bordhi - 2005
    Beginning with Cat's unique Moebius Cast-On, which is so easy that she usually demonstrates it in workshops behind her back while twirling slowly around on one foot, the reader first learns to knit a Moebius band, or scarf. This is the magic key that opens the way to all the other designs. The Second Treasury includes felted baskets (with no inside or outside!), felted fringed bowls, felted and unfelted sling bags, six different felted cat beds (one with paws and a tail!), and the trifold designs, including a knitter's bowl with pockets for tools and a place to keep working yarn away from playful felines. The Felted Needle Cozies, colorful, highly textured sheaths to hold straight needles, and the felted wallets are both excellent patterns for beginners and first-time felters. The book includes detailed information on felting, designing, and yarn substitutions.

Vogue® Knitting The Ultimate Sock Book: History*Technique*Design


Vogue Knitting - 2007
    It includes background on the social and historical development of sock knitting (complete with historical photos), techniques (top-down, bottom-up, many different heel and toe styles), stitch patterns, and socks from a wide variety of ethnic traditions. Since sock knitting requires only the most basic skills, like casting on, knitting in the round, decreasing, working short rows, picking up stitches, binding off and seamless joining, it’s a great place for beginners to start.

Lace Style


Pam Allen - 2007
    The gorgeous Lace Style eBook takes a fresh approach to a classic theme by combining solid techniques with 20+ contemporary, lace projects.Following the success of Scarf Style and Wrap Style—with more than 100,000 copies sold - we've selected a stunning collection of quick knits that take a modern twist on a traditional pattern. Accomplished designers including Veronik Avery, Norah Gaughan, Annie Modesitt, Shirley Paden and Michele Rose Orne will inspire with patterns ranging from scarves, shawls, hats, sweaters, dresses, and more.Revel in ways to use lace as all-over patterns, trims and edgings, and inserts. Innovative designs include a lace pattern typically used for baby wear boldly translated into a striking woman's scalloped jacket, a delicate lace edging used to accent a featherlight lingerie dress, a chic skirt made lacy with intentionally dropped stitches, a wide-brim garden hat with a decidedly vintage feel, a sophisticated bracelet knitted from fine silver wire, and much more.Each pattern has detailed step-by-step instructions and lavish lifestyle photographs with plenty of detail shots to keep readers inspired. A special design chapter demystifies the elements of knitted lace, and details several ways to achieve lacy effects. It also provides key pointers on how to incorporate lace motifs into other patterns and tips to ensure success.Whether you're an experienced knitter looking for inspiration or a beginner trying lace knitting for the first time, the Lace Style eBook has everything you need to knit lace with confidence and convenience.TABLE OF CONTENTS:The Projects Just Right Wrap- Mari Lynn Patrick The Point About Cuffs- Vicki Square Lily of the Valley Shawl- Nancy Bush Floral Lace Anklets- Evelyn A. Clark Lace-Edged Corset- Michele Rose Orne Featherlight Lingerie Dress- Mari Lynn Patrick Little Silk Shrug- Pam Allen The Essential Tank Top- Laura Zukaite Tailored Scallops- Pam Allen Ooh La Lace Dress and Stole- Shirley Paden Retro Redux Shrug- Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark Katherine Hepburn Cardigan- Kathy Zimmerman Long Long Lacy Gloves- Lois S. Young Peek-a-Book Cloche- Mona Schmidt Show-Off Ruffle Skirt- Kat Coyle Leg Cozies- Lisa Daehlin Lacy Waves Top- Norah Gaughan Greta Garbo Garden Hat- Annie Modesitt Never Wimpy Wimple- Priscilla Gibson-Roberts Sterling and Crystal Cuff- Annie Modesitt Shetland Shawl Turned Vest- Veronik Avery

Folk Mittens


Marcia Lewandowski - 1997
    Among topics covered are gauge, wool selection (including techniques for washing and felting wool), casting on, plait edging, ribbed and unribbed cuffs, and a long section on the ever-elusive thumb. Also detailed are techniques for hand-knit mitten cords, finishing, and sizing.