Getting Started Knitting (Getting Started series) [Hardcover]

Jennifer Worick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006 | Series: Getting Started series

Like a fun, gossipy friend who knows how to knit, this guide gently initiates novice knitters by getting them comfortable with the rhythm of casting on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, and binding off—before graduating to simple projects that introduce rib, seed, stockinette, and garter stitches on straight, circular, and double-pointed needles. Advancing from the ribbed scarf and roll-brim hat to "Ballet School Dropout Leg Warmers" and "Belle of the Ball Cardigan," lessons also cover shopping, chart-reading, weaving in ends, starting a new ball of yarn, blocking, and adding zippers and buttons. The appendices offer further enlightenment—with a glossary of knitting lingo, a plan for "The Knitter's Pantry," and a guide to undoing mistakes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The new Getting Started series...promise(s) not to leave the 'newbie' wondering what to do next." —Craftrends

"It is a great book for new knitters. [An] excellent book for beginning knitters."  —Knitting News 

 

"This handy beginner's guide is like having the patient assistance of a great aunt at your elbow."  —Monsters and Critics.com 

"This book would make an excellent Christmas present."  —The Compulsive Reader

"The author will act as knitting tutor, close friend, and personal shopper all rolled into one. It's a good offer and one that Worick—whose best sellers approach a variety of topics with humor and verve—has the skill and credentials to make."  —Knit 'N Style

"With its clear layout and contemporary projects, Getting Started Knitting would be the perfect present for a new knitter."  —Simply Knitting (UK)

"A great resource for the beginning knitter . . . with some great looking and fun patterns."  —Rhonda Bell, host, KnittingNewsCast.com/podcast

"Simple yet practical projects complete with good illustrations that your youngster can follow."  —Anchorage Daily News

About the Author

Jennifer Worick is a former publishing executive and the author of The Action Heroine's Handbook, Girls' Night In, and The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931499942
• ISBN-13: 978-1931499941
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #976,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Worick is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating & Sex and The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College. In addition, she has co-authored or written more than 20 hilarious and helpful books, including Simple Gifts, Beyond the Family Tree, The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life, Backcountry Betty, The Action Heroine's Handbook, and Nancy Drew's Guide to Life. In addition, she writes a humor blog (thingsiwanttopunchintheface.blogspot.com), assists companies and individuals with social media strategy, and is an all-around crafty gal.

An accomplished public speaker, Jennifer delivers Worst-Case Scenario: Dating, S@# & College lectures/slide shows to college students nationwide and teaches publishing workshops with fellow author Kerry Colburn. Find out more about these workshops at The Business of Books (bizofbooks.wordpress.com).

Jennifer has appeared on such television shows as The Today Show, Montel, and ABC's World News Now, and regularly is interviewed on NPR. She lives in Seattle.

www.jenniferworick.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than some knittnig instruction books, but still...not the way to learn, March 13, 2007

By 

Suzanne Amara (MA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Getting Started Knitting (Getting Started series) (Hardcover)

I read this book as part of my ongoing quest to learn to knit a bit better. Luckily, I knew the basics before reading it, as I think it's just about impossible to teach the very early stages of knitting through a book. When I read and looked at the instructions for the first knit stitch, I felt confused and overwhelmed even though I already know how---I think it's something you just have to see in person---any diagram makes it look much harder than it is. Other knitting skills were mixed in how effectively taught they were. I really understood I-cords for the first time after reading about them here, and the descriptions of yarn types and materials was very clear and well done. However, the projects jump to hard way too fast! I wish there was a beginning knitting book that just stuck to total basics for a while---very simple hats, scarves, etc., and also didn't use knitting notation---there is time to learn that, but it really intimidates beginners. Some parts of the book were too cutesy for me, like the silly little quizzes that began most chapters. But overall, one of the better knitting instruction books I've read, with clear photos and a reassuring tone.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the incredibly basic, March 6, 2007

By 

J. P. Barnett (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Started Knitting (Getting Started series) (Hardcover)

I searched and SEARCHED for the 'best' beginner's knitting book. I wanted something with clear instructions that was also fairly comprehensive. This book does not meet that criteria. The instructions on 'how-to' are the best I've seen, very clearly written and drawn. Easily understandable. However, the book does not provide detail as to WHY a person would do such-and-such or the availability and relative virtues of other ways to accomplish the task (like for instance binding off, etc.). It only tells you how to do the uber-basics and then some showy things like pom-poms and whipstitch. There are more patterns than instruction in this book. Perhaps a good choice for someone interested in knitting by rote, but not a good choice for someone who wants to learn to knit actively. As for me, I'm ordering Knitting in Plain English and we'll see if that suits me any better.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knitting for the Absolute Beginner, May 16, 2007

By 

S. Kennedy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Started Knitting (Getting Started series) (Hardcover)

For those of us who do not have a mum or mum-in-law to show us how to knit this book is godsend for the absolute beginner. It assumes not prior knowledge and starts at the absolute basics about different types of yarn, needles etc and takes you through a series of knitting projects from the humble scarf to more challenging projects. It even has a handy section on rectifying mistakes. An excellent beginners introduction.