Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I taught myself to knit entirely from books and this is one book that I used to get started. The sections are yarn selection, guage and the history of knitting are rather good and definately inspired me.

The projects are about the best I have ever seen in a beginners book. There are only three but they are enough to teach basic knit/purl patterns, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round and stripes. Rather than the usual garter stitch scarf (rather boring) we are taught a checkerboard pattern that is simple but looks challenging. This was my first ever project (I knit it on two skeins of Lopi) and no one could believe I was brand new!

As to the technique debates, I HIGHLY reccomend that anyone endeavoring to learn from a book should buy TWO or more books on the subject. These need not be expensive, just get a second opinion. The reason is simple: everyone is wired differently and a diagram that may make perfect sense to everyone else may confuse some. Getting another book with different pictures is the best way to prevent this. For example, I could not get the long-tailed cast on. I tried several books and finally, a book on hats had the perfect instructions for me.

I have not tried much crochet, only enough to complete my knitting project when needed, but I am sure that it is just as good.

I have been crocheting for approximately 30 years. There were several stitches that I never learned and no one could "tell" me how to do. I have tried to learn the stitch by reading various books and trying to follow their examples. This book is the first book I have been able to actually follow the entire explanation of a stitch and complete it. I can now do a half-double crochet stitch! I first learned about this book through the public library. I now plan to buy it for my own reference purposes. A great book to add to your library.

I originally bought this book in the hopes of learning to crochet. I figured I would never be able to learn how to knit. It always seemed so complicated. Well, I stand corrected. I just finished the section on knitting and low and behold I looked down and THERE REALLY WAS A PATTERN FORMING ON MY NEEDLE. I have learned how to knit! So for all of those of you out there who have went to stores and bought these "be knitting by nightfall" books before and have not been able to unravel the art of knitting....this book is for you. The authors not only give you detailed instructions and pictures, but they also provide tips for enjoying knitting, improving your kitting posture and possible pitfalls you will encounter. I also found the little stories that were included a refreshing break from the instuctions. I haven't actually started the section on crochet yet, but I am confident with the help of this book I will do fine.

I bought this book along with Knitting for Dummies, and they both have the same problems: NO PICTURES on how to actually knit. OK, there are four pictures. Not much better than none, if you ask me.

If you have never seen anyone knit, how do you know what it looks like? The illustrations skip steps, they are small and they are dark. You can barely tell which needle is on top, much less what the yarn is doing.

This might not have been the death knell for this book if the written instructions had been clearer -- by they weren't. I *read for a living past the college level*, and I couldn't follow the instructions as given without the visual cues.

I have a good college education and I am an experienced crafter. I still find it hard to believe, but I cannot learn this craft with this book OR Knitting for Dummies. (It has basically the same flaws, only some are worse.)

If you need visual aids to learn a new craft, DO NOT buy this book! Buy a video, talk to a knitter, call your local craft store to see if there are classes or knitting groups that can help you.

I just can't believe that the author so completely failed to convey the single most important aspect of this craft in a visual sense. Truly unbelievable.

I read this book and in a week I had already picked out an afghan and started it, within a month I am now half done with the afghan and it looks good! I haven't started knitting yet but I am eager to start with this book by my side.

I bought this book about two months ago because I wanted to learn how to knit and crochet. But, I haven't found this book to be the all in one resource that I had hoped. The pictures are too small to really help me understand what is going on, the descriptions are sometimes to vague. For example, after you complete a row in knitting you are supposed to turn your work. The book tells me to turn my work but never tells me what turning means. I had to get another book to help me out. I still can't do a purl stitch correctly despite several hours of practice.

I think the section on crochet is a little better but I still had several issues. The drawings were too small and the directions didn't go into enough detail. I've spent the past two evenings trying to follow the granny square example that is in the book. All I've managed to do is make an ugly round knot. For instructions that have almost 20 items, there are only three pictures which just show completed sections but don't actually show what the square should look like while in progress. Also, the section about working around the post just has a small desciption with no pictures to explain to me what the heck I'm supposed to do!

There are two projects in the crochet section. The first is an afghan blanket. But, this project requires you to use two skills (weaving in ends and changing yarn) that aren't explained until later in the book. The other project is a placemat which I have no interest in making. I bought a crochet manual from Michaels for six bucks that answered a lot of the questions this book gave me and went into a lot more detail.

This is an OK resource but I'd say get at least one or two others as well.

I tried to teach myself to knit using only this book- don't try it, it doesn't work. I ended up buying some cheap, simple books with big pictures to show me how to follow the instructions in the "Complete" guide. The previous reviewer who said that the authors sometimes omit crucial information is absolutely right-simply telling you to "turn your work" doesn't make much sense if you're a brand new knitter and you can barely cast on. This doesn't mean that this is a bad book by any means, but it definately does NOT live up to the purpose of Complete Idiots Guide series- you must have some previous experience or outside help to learn to knit.

There are no photographs of the projects in this book! It would be much easier, especially for beginners, to know what the hat they're knitting should look like when it's finished. There is a photograph of beautiful knitted mittens on the book cover, but the book doesn't contain any mitten patterns. Go figure. I wouldn't recommend this book.

I learned to knit and crochet a little bit when I was a kid but I could never muster more than a single chain. I decided to get this book a few months ago and see what I could learn from it with my tiny bit of background supporting me. It worked! I have gotten through all of the knitting chapters and I have knitted four scarves. This is beyond my expectations, believe me. When the weather turns colder again, I will attempt something more challenging; mittens, perhaps, or a hat.

I'm not sure how well this book would serve someone who had never knitted ot crocheted before at all. Remembering how the needles felt in my hand as a kid was probably a big help.

I like the way the book is organized. I found it easy to follow and the writing is friendly. The drawings are helpful. I'm looking forward to getting through the crocheting chapters!

I've seen an advance of this book and am impressed with how easy it is to follow, and how entertaining it is. The authors are experienced knitters who seem to anticipate the very elements which inspire terror in the novice knitter's mind. It's also filled with hints and ideas that immediately "put you in the know". It'll make you proud to be a knitter and proud to own a Complete Idiots Guide.