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Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes [Paperback]

Elizabeth Zimmermann
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (161 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 1, 1973
Do you love to knit -- and hate to purl? Have you ever started a sweater without enough yarn from the same dye lot to finish it? When you cast on, do you end up with a tail of yarn that's maddeningly too long or too short? Elizabeth Zimmermann comes to the rescue with clever solutions to frustrating problems and step-by-step instructions for brilliant, timeless designs.

In Knitting Without Tears, you'll find elegant designs for:

  • Color-pattern Norwegian ski sweaters
  • Seamless patterned-yoke sweaters
  • Hooded garter-stitch jackets for babies
  • Watch caps, socks, slippers, mittens, and more!

This classic and influential book is poised to inspire a whole new generation of knitters who have yet to discover the joys and comforts of knitting. As the lady herself once put it, "properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either."


Frequently Bought Together

Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes + Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop + Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace)
Price for all three: $36.78

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

Vogue Knitting Elizabeth taught us to trust our instincts, revel in our creativity and above all, find joy in the simple act of knitting.

The New York Times [Elizabeth Zimmermann] brought a penetrating intellect and a sculptor's sensitivity to revolutionizing the ancient art of knitting.

About the Author

Elizabeth Zimmermann (1910-1999) was born near London, England, and attended art school in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Munich, Germany, before immigrating to the U.S. in 1937. Frustrated by magazine editors who translated her conversational knitting instructions into abbreviated code, she started her own knitting newsletter and launched Schoolhouse Press, a mail-order business that still sells knitting supplies, books, and videos under her daughter Meg Swansen's guiding hand. In the mid-1960s she hosted The Busy Knitter, a nationally syndicated public television show, and by the early 1970s had become an icon of the knitting world. This and her three lively instructional books -- Knitting Around, Knitter's Almanac, and Knitting Workshop -- are treasured by knitters around the world.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Fireside Books (July 1, 1973)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684135051
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684135052
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (161 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Authors

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Customer Reviews

I highly recommend this book for knitters of all levels. Kathy Price-Robinson—Co-author of "Designer Knitting With Kitty Bartholomew"  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
179 of 179 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This knitting book is ground-breaking. Instead of following a pattern line by line (nothing wrong with that, I like to do that) you learn how to create sweaters to fit any body, with any yarn. Why would anyone want to do that? Well, you might have bought 15 balls of yarn on sale and don't know what to make of it. Instead of waiting for a pattern to turn up for that amount of yarn, that weight, etc, you can create your own sweater in various styles to fit anyone, you, a family member or friend.

The Percentage System used in this book is easy to follow: knit a sample of your yarn, carefully measure how many stitches per inch or centimeter, then multiply that gauge times your chest circumference MINUS 10 percent for the ribbing. Increase up to 100 percent and off you go. Soon you will have a yoke style sweater, Norwegian drop shoulder or saddle shoulder, or even raglan style. Such freedom. You can go to yarn sales and as long as you have enough yarn, you can make anything from it.

Right now I am knitting a cotton summer top using this method with some bargain yarn. While this book doesn't have gorgeous color photographs of stylish knits, it does teach you to create your own. After I bought this book, my knitting really took off. Yours might, too.

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577 of 593 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly a beginner book July 9, 2000
Format:Paperback
I'm a beginning knitter. I bought this book because I am terrible at following directions and everything I'd read about it indicated that EZ would help you learn to modify patterns so they worked the way you wanted. They were right.

This isn't really a learn how to knit book tho. It's more an introduction to sweater design book. You are walked through several basic styles of seamless sweaters, given a good stern lecture on why gauge is important, and shown pictures and charts you can use as a jumping off point. I would expect a learn how to knit book to cover several styles of knitting, multiple castons and castoffs, and lots of techniques, all with extensive illustrations for those of us who aren't very good with written instructions. This book does not fit the bill. It is one I will consult frequently as I begin to knit my first sweaters.

It works very well in conjunction with Vogue Knitting or one of the other basic learn how to knit books. Don't buy it as the only knitting reference you'll ever need.

edit: 8 years later, I'm still knitting. I still use this book, and have knit several sweaters based on the ideas in it. They're the ones that get *worn*. It is still an entertaining read, despite rereading large chunks 4-5 times a year over the last 8 years.
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236 of 241 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable fun for the serious knitter May 5, 2000
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'd repeatedly read and heard about Elizabeth Zimmerman (or "EZ" as she was/is fondly known) but never read any of her books. I was, however, skeptical that her books could be as wonderful as they were reputed to be. The photograph on the cover of "Knitting without Tears" did little to entice me; the sweaters looked, well, a bit dowdy and boxy for my taste. Eventually I gave in and bought this book. Now I am a believer. EZ won me over with her very first sentence: "Most people have an obsession; mine is knitting." Somehow she managed to take knitting very seriously without ever taking herself very seriously. The book is full of practical tips and tricks for improving your knitting, conceptual ways to create your own patterns, and EZ's very decided opinions about the craft (worth considering whether or not you agree with them all). Best of all, anecdotes and humorous, often ironic commentary abound. Even if you never knit a seamless sweater, you'll be glad you bought this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars blah blah blah. dont look for the hat on the cover, it's not there.
I bought this book because i wanted to make the hat on the cover. Not in there. This book should be called The Zen of knitting for this one yackety woman. Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Thorne
5.0 out of 5 stars I love Elizabeth Zimmerman's writing
Not only does EZ provide solid advice for every knitter, including the beginner, she also is very entertaining to read. I find myself chuckling out loud to some of her witticisms. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Margaret McLoughlin
5.0 out of 5 stars love it
Love her books. She has a direct and supportive approach to
teaching knitting. Her patterns are generic and included to
teach the concepts as well as the pattern... Read more
Published 1 month ago by tanya marquette
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great EZ Book!
Great book. I have not come across one of her books that I do not like. Would recommend to others.
Published 1 month ago by Teriza349
4.0 out of 5 stars Knitting Without Tears
I'm not sure I cared for the format. After a few times reading it, I got the hang of it.
Published 2 months ago by Darklady
4.0 out of 5 stars Knitting with Humor
I literally opened this book right as I pulled it out of the mailbox, and have had a difficult time putting it down since. I love her humor! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jacque
5.0 out of 5 stars Really without tears
EZ's approach is simple direct and very non-threatening. She presents good information in a way that is very approachable. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mary Porter Vaughan
5.0 out of 5 stars Knitting
As always, Mrs. Zimmerman's books are enlightening, I enjoy her inclusion of history mingled with the patterns. It is like having a friend in the room knitting with you.
Published 2 months ago by Judith Smart
5.0 out of 5 stars This book hits the nail on the head
Since I'm a fairly new knitter, I appreciate the down to earth directions and the accompanying photographs. East to follow.
Published 2 months ago by D. Carlson
5.0 out of 5 stars Big Help with knitting problems
Big Help with knitting problems. My knitting projects always turned out way to big. This book has showed my the problem.
Published 3 months ago by plp
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Forums

Topic From this Discussion
best instruction book to learn Continental Knitting
Hi Jane - Don't be discouraged about your knitting. Just take things one step at a time, and you'll get it.
I recommend you look at instrucitonal videos on www.UTube.com. If you type in "knitting" or "continental knitting" into the search box, you will be shown a selection of... Read more
Apr 28, 2008 by C. Antonak |  See all 3 posts
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