Customer Reviews

450 Knitting Stitches: Volume 2 (The Harmony Guides)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a knitter advances past the "blind following" of patterns, a good stitch directory is an invaluable item for designing patterns -- even if it's just the pattern for a scarf. This is one of several stitch directories in my library. It isn't my favorite but I still use it regularly.

What I like about this book is the photography of the samples. Other books may (and often do) explain the actual working of the pattern better (Barbara Walker's Treasuries come to mind) but you have to be attracted to a pattern/stitch to even want to try it. This is a very good resource when looking for a stitch that strikes your fancy.

Of the various volume in this series, this is certainly the most useful for everyday knitting. The other books have some neat fancy stuff but when it comes to relatively basic stitches, this is a handy book to have on the shelf.

450 knitting stitches provides a very good resource of different knitting stitches. Color photos of samples of each pattern clearly show what the stitch should look like. The book is divided into sections: knit and purl patterns, ribbings, cables, all-over laces and lace panels. I have found it very useful for decorative stitches for hats, scarves and washcloths (I'm not yet up to designing my own sweater, but there are several stitches here that would look great in a sweater). The number of stitches in the pattern repeat is right at the top of each pattern, which makes looking for specific repeat number very easy. There are no charts, only written directions, but they are very clear.

As an "advanced beginner," I was having trouble finding a reference book that could make clear to me the how to's of different stitches. I love this book with its clear illustrations and huge variety of knit and purl patterns. I can't wait to get started on each of the 450!

`450 KNITTING STITCHES, Volume 2 of the Harmony knitting guides contains intermediate material about making knitting stitches you are probably are encountering in your pattern books (making ribs, lace patterns, etc.). The illustrations are beautiful, and the directions for making them take the knitter beyond the Dummies book with a slightly different look at various topics such as knitting, purling and casting off. Volume 2 deals more with design issues, than did Volume 1, but it complements the material in Volume 1 which dealt more with technical issues such as seaming. You might say Volume 1 deals with the behind the scenes angle, while Volume 2 and later volumes in this series deal more with the external look-although this is an oversimplification.

Vol. 2 includes much useful information about various knit and purl patterns, which assumes you can do those two things and keep track of what you are doing. I have found the Harmony Guides useful reference tools, and I use the patterns in this book to make test swatches that help me decide whether or not a particular yarn is suitable for the project at hand, as well as practice making the pattern.

Although some of this information is almost beyond me at this point, these books have illuminated steps shown me by my instructor in my knitting class. Although I am not using everything immediately, I am collecting the series.

This gathering of stich patterns is - above all - a good bargain. The patterns are diverse and clearly written. I probably have most of these patterns already in my full collection of knitting books - But it's great to have them in just one little book. Perfect for knitting on the go. The pictures are great. I especially like the fact that the patterns are grouped together... easy to find what you want. There were a couple of stich abbreviations that I am not familiar with, but the book explained them. I wish that someone would write a pattern book that shows both the from side and the back side of the swatch, since in some projects, both sides can be visible.

This book is fantastic. I'm a textile designer in knitwear and this book is great for different ideas and inspiration. Its fantastic for beginners and also for the experienced knitter. You can never know too much.

The stitches in this book are very interesting and many are quite unusual. My only gripe is that some of the colors are so dark that you can't see the stitch very well. I already have another stitch pattern book in which only a cream colored yarn was used. At first, I thought, "How boring!" But now I see what a big difference it makes when deciphering the patterns. However, many of the patterns in this book are for multiple colors, making the use of dark colors essential. I think the variety in this book and Volume 3 (I've never seen volume 1) is terrific and I recommend these books to anyone who loves experimenting with yarns and stitches in her original garment patterns.

I have all the Harmony Guides and I recommend buying all the guides especially if you ever plan on designing any knitting patterns. You will get the symbol chart plus the multiples requried for each pattern and if you have ever tried to design before you know how much that multiple count helps.

I purchased Vols. 2, 3, & 4 at the same time through Amazon, and had purchased Vol. 5 (Aran Stitches and Patterns) at my local yarn store. While these books are not meant to give you complete patterns, like for an entire sweater, they provide seemingly endless ideas for patterned stitches, including cables, knit/purl combos, slip stitch mosaics, texture & color stitch techniques, and even lace patterns. I'm so thrilled with these books that I hardly know where to start with the experimentation, but I would definitely recommend the entire collection to anyone serious about knitting or designing their own knitted items.

I ordered this book, and while it's an OK reference, I'm not sure I'll be buying other books in the series. The patterns are grouped clearly and logically, and the pictures are nice and clear, but, to me, the patterns seem very boring. Out of the over 400 stitches, only a few caught my eye. I was looking for a lace pattern for a scarf, and really didn't see anything I liked.

I've not tried knitting any of the patterns yet, so I can't vouch for the clarity of the instructions.

In a word, I'd recommend the Barbara Walker Treasuries over these stitch guides.