Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets: Clever Solutions for Better Hand Knitting, Machine Knitting, and Crocheting (Threads On) [Paperback]

Taunton Press (Author), Threads Magazine (Author), Threads (Author), Mary Galpin Barnes (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Threads On | Publication Date: August 19, 1996

Offers trade tips to ambitious home knitters striving for a more professional fit to their own garments. Based on advice given in "Threads" magazine.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"Waste not, want not" appears to be the motto at Taunton Press as it continues to spin off material first published in Threads magazine. This is a compendium of techniques from readers that first appeared in Threads' "Tips" column. That said, the really meaty content, now indexed and gathered together in one well-illustrated volume, makes this a good choice for any knitting collection.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Here is a compendium of clever and creative techniques for solving common hand knitting, machine knitting and crocheting problems. This handy reference has everything from choosing yarn to blocking and assembling a garment, including how to cast on perfectly, machine knit a tuck, make an easy bobble, manage yarn in multicolored knitting, correct an uneven crochet edge, follow an intricate pattern, soften an itchy sweater, reinforce a shoulder seem, and knit a perfect buttonhole. Knitters and crocheters of all skill levels will find more than one solution to every problem. These tips represent the best from Threads' popular Tips column, and they are clearly explained and illustrated to make all your knitting easier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (August 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561581569
• ISBN-13: 978-1561581566
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #810,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of useful tricks, and a bootie pattern you will love, February 15, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets: Clever Solutions for Better Hand Knitting, Machine Knitting, and Crocheting (Threads On) (Paperback)

I find that I refer to this book rather often. It's hard to classify the tips and secrets in here; this is mainly a compilation of good knitting information that just doesn't fit into a single subject. For example, there is a pattern for a baby bootie that doesn't slip. I must have made dozens of these and every time the grateful parent comes back and says "Wow! Those were the only baby socks that didn't fly off Junior's feet when he kicked."

There's plenty of information on finishing, always a sore subject. These tips were gathered by Taunton Press, the publishers of Threads Magazine. Threads used to print articles about knitting, but in the mid-90's they switched the magazine to a (very excellent) all-sewing format. They preserved their knitting articles and these tips in a series of books on knitting, which was a great idea. These knitting articles were each unique and very useful.

I have several of the Taunton books, but by far this is the one I use the most. This is a very handy reference for "stuff" you'd like to know about knitting. And I would give it 5 stars just for the bootie pattern alone!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wealth of Knitting Tidbits!, June 19, 2001

By 

A. Lupia "amlbee" (Branford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets: Clever Solutions for Better Hand Knitting, Machine Knitting, and Crocheting (Threads On) (Paperback)

I really like this little gem. I first sat down and read it straight through and have found myself referring to it often. Lots of tried and true hints and little shortcuts for all levels of knitters.

I don't belong to a knitting circle, but I would assume having this little book loaded with "secrets" is a bit like being in one; hearing all sorts of bits and pieces of what works!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful tool for knitters., January 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Knitting Tips & Trade Secrets: Clever Solutions for Better Hand Knitting, Machine Knitting, and Crocheting (Threads On) (Paperback)

This book provides useful hints for knitters. It is far more than just a collection of ways to cast on and cast off but includes many submissions worked out by knitters themselves. Some of my favorites were a quick bootie pattern, hints for finishing garments, and suggestions on how to properly wind yarn into balls. ( I never knew I shouldn't wind too tight that I could inadvertently stretch the yarn). Its a book to pick up as a text to solve specific problems and also the kind of book that ends up next to the knitting chair or in the bathroom for reading snippets on knitting