The Knitter's Bible [Paperback]

Claire Crompton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2004

The essential handbook for knitters of all skill levels. Getting Started goes back to basics, with an overview of the yarns and equipment available today. It then takes you, step-by-step, through the basics of knitting, with knit and purl, casting on and binding (casting) off, and reading patterns. Creative Options expands upon the basics with further techniques, while Exploring Choices will provide even the experienced knitter with new ideas for interesting projects. The Stitch Library will become an indispensable reference to be constantly referred to. Finally, a wide selection of Patterns and Projects, linked back to the techniques throughout the book, provide plenty opportunites to explore your developing skills and experiment with a variety of motifs to liven up any knitting.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Claire Crompton has worked in the knitting industry for over 15 years. After her Knitwear Design degree she became a pattern designer for major yarn manufacturers and is the author of The Knitter's Bible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (October 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715317997
• ISBN-13: 978-0715317990
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fairly comprehensive overview of techniques, January 7, 2005

By 

knitting librarian (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Knitter's Bible (Paperback)

I was looking for the Holy Grail - a knitting book that covers *all* knitting techniques, preferably in detail. Montse Stanley's _Knitter's_Handbook_ comes close, but in my opionion, her tone is overbearing and it is unreadable.

This book by Claire Crompton is *not* the Holy Grail, nevertheless, it is a fairly comprehensive overview of major categories of techniques. The methods are not explored in detail (e.g. there is no pattern included to practise entrelac, for most of the techniques there is only one way shown to hold the yarn), but it does cover the big categories like colour knitting (fair isle, intarsia, mosaic), textured knitting (ribbing, twisted stitches/fake lace, lace, cables, embossed knitting like bobbles), felting, modular knitting (entrelac, mitred squares), etc. In short, this book is ideal for dabbling in a technique, then if you really like it, pursuing it in a more specialized book.

I would've given this book 3 solid stars, but the cute, quick patterns threw it over the top for 4 stars. Notable patterns that would make quick-to-knit wonderful gifts are: a cute stuffed sheep in the section on loop knitting, easy lace sachet bags, and little gift bags with simple intarsia or textured patterns.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference and learning book, May 19, 2005

By 

S. Russell (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Knitter's Bible (Paperback)

Once I had learned the basics of knitting from one of those "Leisure Arts" pamphlets, I went to the book store and gathered up all the knitting books they had and looked through them. This is the one I chose to bring home and I've been very happy with it. Don't get this book for a fun read or attitude, get it to help your knitting skills. The instructional pictures are the best I've seen in any knitting book. The photographs in the stitch library are also good quality and inspiring. The back flap has a list of all the abbreviations in the book (the same ones you will see in patterns) and is one of the most useful parts of the book to me. When following a pattern I will look in the index for the part of the book that has illustrated instructions and refer to these to begin with. Then I only need the back flap instructions and then finally I can just remember what the abbreviation means. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because I didn't personally care for most of the projects. I did make the lace bags to practice lace knitting, but for the most part I wouldn't mind if the project section were left out all together. I don't see this as a big flaw, since tastes vary widely and it would be impossible for any designer to please everyone. Overall, if a beginning-intermediate level knitter was only going to have one instructional/reference book, this would be a great one to have.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really informative book!, November 20, 2005

By 

katie "mom, book lover, traveller" (california) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Knitter's Bible (Paperback)

I have Vogue Knitting and it is indispensable. However, Crompton's 'Bible' is another handy book to have in your library. I personally found the projects, quick, cute and doable. I think the photos and illustrations are enormously helpful and detailed. I agree with another reviewer who disagrees that it is, in fact, a "Bible," but it has proven very practical to have on hand. It's a good second book of techniques to have in your knitting library.