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Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns
 
 
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Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns [Hardcover]

Andrea Berman Price (Author), Patti Pierce Stone (Illustrator)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 2007
Like a 24-hour help hotline, Knitspeak demystifies pattern language for knitters and gives them confidence to take on new projects
The only book of its kind
Designed for quick reference and sized to fit in every knitting bag

Knitting can be a challenging craft, but even more challenging than knitting itself is the cryptic language—a mix of abbreviations, numbers, jargon, punctuation marks, and other symbols—in which patterns are usually written. It’s no wonder so many beginners (and even some whose skills are quite advanced) are intimidated by the bewildering code—or that so many yarn-shop owners grow frustrated by the amount of time they must spend deciphering patterns for the uninitiated.

Enter Knitspeak, a knitter’s dictionary that disentangles the mysteries of pattern language and translates it into plain English, helping knitters to easily transition from confused to confident. Andrea Berman Price’s essential guide—written in a friendly, reassuring tone and formatted for quick reference—begins with an overview of how knitting patterns are organized. It then offers a comprehensive alphabetical listing of all the abbreviations, words, phrases, and symbols typically encountered in patterns.

Knitspeak’s many easy-to-understand drawings clarify basic and not-so-basic needle techniques, and a series of sidebars deals with issues ranging from keeping track of simultaneous shaping to substituting yarns and reading a yarn label. The book’s appendix is filled with valuable tips, charts, and worksheets.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ANDREA BERMAN PRICE is a Washington, D.C.–based project manager employed by government agencies and nonprofit organizations to organize complex programs. A lifelong knitter, she also teaches knitting workshops in the D.C. area. She holds a BA in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts and an EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

PATTI PIERCE STONE is a longtime knitter with more than 15 years of experience in graphic design and illustration.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (September 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1584796324
  • ISBN-13: 978-1584796329
  • Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Beginner's help to know all about knitting, October 29, 2007
By 
This review is from: Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns (Hardcover)
Knitspeak definition: "A combination of words, abbreviations, numbers, and punctuation that is unintelligible to the average human and - unfortunately - to the new knitter." - from Knitspeak

Like any group, culture or trade, knitting possesses its own languagee, one which can be is incomprehensible to the uninitiated. New knitters are often prohibited from stretching their knitting muscles by a pattern which makes as much sense as ancient Greek.

Andrea Berman Price rides to the rescue with her book Knitspeak: an A to Z guide to the language of knitting patterns, a handy volume which translates the symbols, abbreviations, and terms while explaining the logic and structure in which knitting patterns are written.

The first section of Knitspeak provides an overview "of how knitting patterns are organized and how to read them effectively." The second section is organized alphabetically beginning first with symbols. This section, which comprises most of the volume, is much more than just a dictionary. Scattered throughout are detailed illustrations, helpful tips such as choosing the correct decrease method, and longer entries on topics like measuring gauge or choosing a needle size.

The appendix is chock full of helpful information: fixing mistakes, estimating yardage requirements and an "abbreviations at a glance" table. Rounding out this handy volume are three worksheets which Price suggests photocopying and using to track knitting projects; for times so that when you put your knitting down, you have a record. A sound idea - especially for knitters like myself who have double digit UFOs (unfinished objects) that may, or may not, be stored with the required instructions.

Knitspeak's compact size means it easily fits into your knitting bag. The next time your pattern calls for LLI, grab knitspeak for a translation (LLI = left-lifted increase). As Price suggests: "Never stop knitting again because you don't understand your instructions!"

Armchair Interview says: Wonderful book for a beginner knitter.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great on-the-go guide, September 29, 2008
By 
Totoro (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns (Hardcover)
I had a terrible time trying to decide between this and the Knitter's Companion (KC). I needed a handy little reference guide that would fit into my purse whenever I took my knitting somewhere. I'm not very familiar with reading patterns, but I'm also not new to knitting so all I really needed was a quick reference to remind me what "ssk" or "yo" means, or which cast on to use, etc., and keep me moving. My only other reference was Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Handbook, and that wasn't going to fit in my purse. I ended up buying both copies to bring home and compare carefully. Both the KC and Knitspeak were designed to be a pocket reference and both covered similar topics. The KC had the added advantate of spiral binding, but the paper did not slide easily along the rings and I could see the pages quickly becoming weak and bent, and eventually falling off. They also squeaked unpleasantly. In the end, I returned the KC and kept Knitspeak because I found the illustrations clearer and preferred the organization, but it was a close call. Both are great products.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Knitting translations, September 27, 2007
By 
Fr Mae "portable soaps" (Mount Vernon, New York , USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns (Hardcover)
Great for when you are in the middle of a pattern and suddenly don't know what an abbreviation means.
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