Customer Reviews

Knitter's Handbook

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I decided that I need some knitting reference books I hit the bookstore, not knowing exactly what I would find but expecting to find a good general reference with clear instructions. That turned out to be more difficult than I thought. I bought--and returned--several that had nice patterns and lovely photographs but which either were too simple, didn't really have clear instructions, or assumed too much knowledge on the part of the reader. I got this book on another knitter's recommendation and it is the book I now turn to most often. The chapter on casting on and binding off are worth the price of the book. She covers an unbelievable number of variations on how to do almost anything in knitting, and she discusses the pro's and con's of using different techniques. The diagrams are good, and are better than pictures would be in most cases. I think the index is fine. My only complaint is that the chapter on selvedges is more than half-way through the book, and as she says, one should choose the selvedge style before starting the project! However, I tend to use this book like an encyclopedic reference--which it truly is--rather than as a book to read straight through. I have read some of it straight through, though, because it is so interesting. I have to admit that her writing style is kind of dry, but that is far outweighed by all of the strengths of the book. Unless you are a complete beginner, in which case I would recommend the Leisure Arts "Learn to Knit" booklet, I think this is THE reference book to have, especially for the price. Once you have passed the Leisure Arts booklet level, Montse Stanley's book has an incredible wealth of information that isn't too difficult to understand and which will improve anyone's knitting.

There are very, very few knitting books that I acutally buy, as I am a person that knits without patterns, and usually make my own designs. Hence, there are very few knitting books that I can honestly recommend and actually own myself.

So I'll cut to the chase and put it this way: if the house was on fire and I was told I could grab one knitting book, it'd be my Montose Stanley. That's a very strong recommendation that I'd like to back up.

There isn't one single question that you have about knitting that would not be covered in this book. It is unparalled for its historical coverage of knitting through the centuries and fascinating bits about knitting in different cultures, it's easy to follow diagrams, and it's seemingly endless bits of useful information.

With all knitting books, I suggest you take it home from your library first. But if you are past beginner and feel that you need to build a knitting library, this book is the one for you. Unfortunately, it is not as well known as some of the other books that are carried in book clubs, such as the almost useless Big Book of Knitting, which has techniques but then no diagrams or instructions, or the Ultimate Guide To Knitting which is a very lovely book to look at, but doesn't deserve the title "Ultimate" by any silly-putty stretch of the imagination because it includes very few techniques, tricks, or tips. This modestly wonderful book has languished unknown because so many people would see the much more flashier, newer books and grab them instead. This was written long before our current knitting revival, but still remains the most comprehensive book on the market. I thank the good Lord above the Memphis library was across from the knitting shop, or I'd never have seen it. I promptly went out and bought it. I use it more than any other book I own, aside from the Knitter's Handy Guide.

The best way to describe its format is that it is written very close to a textbook--it includes the diagram immediately after the descriptive text. If I ever took a full-fledged course on knitting, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the one book everyone would be required to buy, hands down.

If you are a newbie, then I suggest you pass on this for the time being and buy the Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Chrochet, another must have, esp for the beginner, and for the person the beginner will someday teach in the future. But put it on your wish list, and when you start wondering how to make a cheveron go to the left or the right, or why men in the Andes knit more than the women, or another perhaps easier way to make a loop while knitting, then this is the book for you.

I am an experienced knitter. I own many knitting how to books. I have made knitted things I actually wear and enjoy.

This book is comprehensive alright, but I think it would absolutely snow under most beginners.

It is reminiscent of Military Specification Manual writing style with a chapter numbering system that sends you to figures 1.29, 2.301. And it shares a lot with old computer manuals in how generous it is in telling you all the things you can do in general definitions and not telling you how you do them in steps.

If you already know how to do something, this is great.

I wanted to design a chevron stitch sweater. So I went to this book for various chevrons. The index gives you dozens of reference pages for chevron stitch, and page 124 is in boldface to indicate this is the main reference. This is what I read on page 124 in disbelief:

Quote:

Two diagonal fabrics side by side moving in opposite directions. Figures 2.172 and 2.173 show row directions and shaping on a square. Work progress is at right angles to row direction--horizontal stripes emphasize the effect, while vertical lines will appear perpendicular to the rows. Experiment freely with overall shape, away from squares and rectangles. (pp 100,251)

End Quote

Page 100 has a photo of a project where it is hard to tell what is a chevron stitch even if you know what it looks like. Page 251 is another photo of a knit top by the author illustrating a drop stitch boat neck top. I did not see any chevrons on that page, there is an inset of the model's huge wire wrap earring!

If you read the quote above, you might think you are reading a comprehensive English dictionary rather than a knitting how-to book. A definition of the chevron stitch and its parameters, and the direction of color changes in this stitch in a few words is very erudite. And LESS THAN USELESS to a knitter.

The approach to most decorative or different stitches is pretty similar to the chevron treatment. I know this is not a stitch dictionary, but its level of obtuseness to common stitches (like a chevron!) is amazing.

It is good for the many descriptions of casting on, holding needles, (shows even the Peruvian/Greek/Macedonian hold) working short rows, yarn overs, grafting and joins.

If you are an experienced knitter, you can learn some things from this book.

If you are a rank beginner, this is definitely not the book for you.

Total beginners should check out "I Can't Belive I'm Knitting" from Leisure Arts. That has just enough detail and nice drawings to get you started making a few things without scaring you.

This book covers everything, and I do mean everything, about knitting - from every kind of cast-on imaginable, to any finishing technique you might think of employing (and several you probably wouldn't). Most techniques are illustrated, and the illustrations are very clear and helpful. The notations regarding which situations are appropriate for which technique are particularly useful. For instance she shows several different cast-ons for one particular fabric, with discussion of why some are better or worse - for that particular pattern. It had never occured to me before then to learn several different cast-ons for different applications. The historical and specialty knitting techinique instructions are also fascinating, and not something I've seen elsewhere. A better index might help the book to be even more useful, but the set up and table of contents are logical enough that I've never actually had a problem finding what I'm looking for. It's right on my shelf next to Vogue Knitting, and frankly I tend to use this one more.

As other comments say, this book does sound like a strict teacher from school, however the authors true intention (only my interpretation) is to show you as many different ways as possible to achieve the best results for your project. And about her annotations, to me, it is not bad at all to listen to others' opinions, especially who has a lot more experience than I do. But, it does not necessary mean I have to do the same.

I have never seen most of these interesting methods shown in this book. For example, she showed so many different ways to cast on & bind off, including even "Picot point bind off" , or "Frilled bind off", which I found very pretty. Other areas such as cast on, edges and selvedges, seams and joins ..... also comes with variety, and she annotates which selvedge is a good match to which bind off, and etc. Simple summaries are also given to show which meets what purposes. ex; crochet joints for recycling- expected project. Overall, this book is more like a textbook from school. However, I like that style when I am seriously want to learn something.

I was looking for a clever way to bind off my sweater. I knit this with a super bulky fancy yarn which is so irregular in width. None of the binding method I knew did not look good, I was so disappointed. All the books I purchased all in my life (I start knitting since 9.)were very good, but usually show only a limited number of ways to do the things. But, in this book I found many ways that I would like to experiment with.

The other thing which is wonderful about this book is the price. To me, it gave me so much more than I paid. I think this is a very good book if you are, like me, trying to get out of the beginner level at a least amount of budget

Lastly, this may be not for beginners, so many methods shown will probably confuse her/him. I would buy a more basic books, and use this one for extra reference. And all the methods are not necessary explained in details. Intermediate to advanced knitting experience may be needed to understand the instructions.

Briefly, I am just learning to use this book. It sat on my shelf for quite a while, until I realized I couldn't find information I needed in Vogue Knitting, The Big Book of Knitting, or any of the other popular knitting books. After learning the basics, when you need more complex information on an unfamiliar or obscure technique, this book is more likely to have it than the newer, flashier, and more expensive books. The number of options she offers for any given technique is astounding, and once you get over the feeling of being overwhelmed with too much information, you begin to appreciate the differences and are able to make an informed choice. This is rapidly becoming my primary resource. I can get the basics out of Vogue, but for more advanced techniques, this is my first choice.

Serious (or beginning) knitters will find themselves turning to this reference again and again. It's clear illustrations are a strong point. I wish I had a chance to be in on editing the next edition of it. I would elaborate on the indexing--instead of "hats" followed by a bunch of page numbers that leave the reader to look up search the book for what they need to learn about hats, I'd add many subcategories--hats:shaping; blocking...etc. It's a REFERENCE afterall. I would also make the book a little more impersonal--more information, less Montse Stanley. Nothing personal against her, I just think she might write a book of her own techniques, projects, opinions apart from this reference, and then there'd be more room for a comprehensive index. Still, I chose this over other references for clear directions and technique illustrations.

Montsy Stanley's book is a knitting book for geeks - for people who WANT to know two dozen methods for casting on and off (and when best to use them - Stanley is good about saying WHEN to do what), three ways for avoiding holes when turning short rows, more than a dozen ways to increase, several different decreases and 14 ways to knit a selvedge.

The book contains every knitting technique Montsy Stanley knew in 1986 (she admits herself that she doesn't know everything - for example, there's nothing about magic loop or two circs) and in that respect offers the best 'information per dollar' value of all knitting books on the market today.

However, it is not a book for beginners! The instructions are not always very detailed, and not always very easy to understand (I've seen much better explanations of Kitchener Stitch!) The terminology differs sometimes a bit from what I'm used to: Stanley calls a "bridge" what I'd call a "steek", and there's a few others. Besides, the book lists the techniques in a general way (and gives general examples for using them) - there's no step-by-step instruction for projects. The book lists several different way of doing buttonholes and pockets, but it doesn't explain how to knit a whole sweater.

There's also no patent recipes - quite often Stanley says "do swatches to decide what you like best".

So, it won't be the only knitting book you'll ever need, but it's a great reference for experienced, thinking knitters!

I got this book because it seemed so comprehensive and since I'm just a beginning knitter I foolishly thought more would be better. While this book does have a lot of info it's still not basic and easy enough for me. I have a hard time understanding the directions and pictures. I think the index is terrible; I can never find what I'm looking for. For example, I was trying to figure out how to join the first round of knitting using double pointed needles. I could not find the exact steps anywhere. Maybe it's a really simple step but I was clueless. But I happened to look at another knitting book (alas, I don't remember which one) that was geared toward beginners and it explained exactly what to do in language I could understand. The author is definitely opinionated in how knitting should be done. For a beginner knitter I would recommend a book that is for beginners that includes easy projects. This is not that book. Perhaps one day this book will become a useful resource for me but right now it is just scary and unfriendly.

I have been knitting for over 35 years and believe that this is the best primer for knitters which I have read in the English language. The picture instructions are excellent. It is also an excellent reference for advanced knitters. The section on finishing has taught me many clean and professional techniques.