Customer Reviews

Fearless Knitting Workbook

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is exactly what I was looking for, as a beginning knitter intimidated by making the leap from basic projects to those involving increases/decreases, cables, circular needles, etc. My local yarn shop seems to offer classes either for absolute beginners or for experts, but nothing in between. It seems you're supposed to "absorb" knowledge by muddling through projects and asking experts for help. For someone who likes a more systematic approach, this book is the missing link!

There's an introductory section describing things like how to test your gauge and a bit of the logic of how different stitches relate to each other. I've never seen this material (what the author calls "stitch mount") laid out anywhere before, and it's a fascinating, although very dense, read. The rest of the book consists of a series of tutorials, each of which is built around creating a small sample swatch. You can do things with the swatches like make pillow covers or continue the pattern to make scarves. The tutorials are divided into sections: knit and purl (really more about reading written patterns and charts and using stitch markers, since the book assumes you already know how to knit and purl, as well as cast on and bind off), basic shaping techniques, cables and crossed stitches, lace and openwork, and knitting in rounds. The book is designed to be worked through in order, but I imagine if you already know some of this material you can just skim those sections without doing the knitting itself.

The layout of the book is fantastic, with big photos, visually appealing text, and a nice lay-flat spiral binding. If you're a design-oriented person, I think you'll appreciate it. It feels very modern without being one of those kitschy, "knit a beer can holder with a skull and crossbones" kind of books.

I also bought "The Knitter's Handbook" by Eleanor Van Zandt. That book contains a lot of short patterns for different textures and cables. It makes a nice complement to this book, giving you additional things to practice on, as well as covering color, which this book doesn't. I find "The Knitter's Handbook" on its own a little daunting; "Fearless Knitting Workbook" is definitely more pedagogically oriented and more visually appealing.

Brilliant book. Very informative and great pictures. A must for any knitter whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced. I have been knitting for over 20 years and am still enjoying working my way through this book.

I am blogging my way through this book, for more information and to see pics you can check out my blog at [...].

This is in my top 3 favorite knitting books ever purchased! It really does do what it says in such a quick, simple way. The pictures are so beautiful and the instructions are so easy to follow. Every new or sort-of new knitter should get this. It takes you step by step from garter stitch and ribbing to cables and a leaf-shaped potholder with increases and decreases galore. It has simplified all that hard scary-looking stuff into the simplicity it really is.

This would have been a wonderful book to use when I first started knitting as it explains many concepts thoughtfully and clearly. Guage, pattern reading, tension, cables, and lace. In addition it is well organized and the projects increase in complexity in a logical manner from one to the next. However, I have been knitting for five years and have mostly taught myself new skills from watching you tube videos and reading books. As a result, this book is too simple for me or others who have more advanced skills. In short, I wish I had found it when I first started knitting. I do not find it helpful now as I have acquired the skills the book teaches. Though it would have been far more convenient to use this book then learn the skills in the slow willy-nilly fashion most of us do through trial and error.

The author has the reader complete a series of swatches to learn and practice the skills. With the careful choice of yarn, the reader will have enough interesting swatches to combine into a larger finished project such as a scarf, coverlet, or pillow covers. This would make working through the book both educational and satisfying to learn new skills and have a sampler of the result.

The spiral binding makes the book easy to read and work with, as well. The pictures are bright and clear. Overall a beautifully put together book for beginners. Overall 4 stars as it is marketed to all levels of knitters but would be not particularly interesting for those whose skills are intermediate or advanced.

I was so excited to get this book. The other reviews led me to believe it was just what I, a fairly new and not very adventurous knitter, needed. For what it is worth, I have already successfully knitted numerous washcloths of varying patterns and using multiple colors, scarves of different types, and a very pretty afghan. I do have some facility with the basics of knitting. So far, I have tried two of the book's squares. I frogged the first, but finally managed to get it right (it was the checkerboard). I have just now frogged a second square, the bordered diagonal garter square, but will not be attempting it again for sometime.

The problem with this book is two-fold: First, the author gives so many directions in between the various rows that you lose sight of where you are (yes, I mark rows on a piece of paper). I know she is trying to be helpful with all the explanations, but it is such overkill than you can't find the pattern. Simply trying to follow along becomes an exercise in perseverance. It would have been clearer to have a summary of the whole pattern at the end of the project or in an index. I actually typed out the row-by-row directions for the checkerboard, condensing the excess verbiage that obscured the pattern fundamentals. Secondly, the illustrations that accompany specific techniques - such as an ssk - are not very clear. Photos would have been better. I found myself going online for more explicit illustrations or a video.

The goals of this book are admirable and I truly wanted it to help me progress to more complicated projects. I'm glad it has helped others. For now, it will go on one of my bookshelves alongside other nearly useless instruction manuals.

Having knitted for over 30 years, I am very selective regarding additions to my knitting reference library. I came across this lovely book while searching Amazon.com for a visual aide for a new student. Being a visual learner myself, I was immediately drawn to the step-by-step pictorals and the wisdom shared in the author's simple, concise, and no-nonsense style. The reader is assumed to know the basic knit and purl stitch, but Ms. Seiffert gives such lovely practice blocks from basic to advanced patterns. Her wit, sense of humor and honesty put me at ease at once. This is not filled with patterns for handbags, sweaters, etc., but of blocks ending in small projects to improve knitting skills. Best of all, the workbook is spiral bound! I have read and re-read this small gem and have decided to make many of the blocks myself, combining them for either scarves, shawls or afghans. This is a refreshing compilation of "need-to-know" steps as one progresses in the joys of knitting. Whether a knitting veteran or wanting to advance beyond knit and purl, this will be your "go-to" book. This is one publication worth your money. It is a "must buy" and a pleasure from cover to cover. Finally, this is the book to consider giving, along with a pair of needles, and a skein of yarn, to that special someone with whom you want to share the love of our craft.

Wow, wow, wow! I've read a lot of books of this type over the years, but this is really the best ever. Not only is the information in this book spectacular, but the projects it recommends will serve to enhance and expand any knitter's skillset. I teach knitting and crochet - including a "fix your knitting" class and this book is now THE book that I recommend to my students. This is now my #1 go-to reference book for any knitting problem and I plan to work every project in the book myself.... fabulous, fabulous book!

This is a great book for a knitter who has just had their first lessons on knit & purl stitches. The author carefully walks a knitter through different yarns, needles, and the ever necessary how & why getting gauge is so important. The book walks the reader through exercises that teach different stitches so the knitter can see how each stitch affects the final product. Highly recommend this book. The only reason I give it a four star instead of a five star is that this book is not really meant for the intermediate to advanced knitter.

This book is a good way to learn different stitch patterns while making squares that can be turned into either a scarf or blanket. The instructions are good and the photos are very clear.

I am an intermediate knitter and I want to try more complex patterns. I knew quite a bit of this info but this book helps bring it all together as an excellent review. It also describes techniques, etc. in ways that make them easy to understand. I highly recommend the book.