Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook [Paperback]

Debbie Stoller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2004

Knitting is hot, with 4 million newcomers in the last few years joining a core group of 38,000,000 knitters nationwide. And these are primarily young, creative, connected chicks with sticks who are coming together in living rooms, knitting cafes, and chic yarn stores, and making everything from funky hats to bikinis.

In Stitch 'n Bitch, Debbie Stoller-founder of the first Stitch 'n Bitch knitting group in New York City-covers every aspect of knitting and the knitting-together lifestyle: the how-to, the when-to, the what-to, the why-to. Writing with wit and attitude (The Knitty-Gritty, Blocking for Blockheads), she explains the different types of needles and yarns (and sheep, too) and all the techniques from basic to fancy, knit to purl to cast-off. She also shares her special brand of corrective surgery for when things go wrong, and offers fun and informative sidebars on such topics as how to find the best yarn for less, how to make a buttonhole, knitting etiquette, and what tools to keep in your knitting bag. At the heart of the book are forty stylish patterns: Alien Scarf, Big Bad Baby Blanky, Mohair Hoodie, Kitty and Devil Hat, Cell Phone Cozy, and Wonder Woman Bikini. And for anyone interested: how to start a Stitch 'n Bitch group.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The percentage of women under forty-five who knit or crochet has doubled since 1996," says Stoller (The BUST Guide to the New Girl Order), co-founder of the Stitch 'n Bitch circle in New York, and this slightly offensive, sassy guide-which could easily have been subtitled 'The Bad Girls' Guide to Knitting'-will undoubtedly appeal to this new generation of knitters. Starting with the basics, Stoller explains how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off, all the steps needed to make a simple Ribbed-for-Her-Pleasure Scarf or a pair of Pippi Kneestockings. Easy-to-decipher diagrams and droll section headings ("Knit Happens," "Oops, I Knit It Again") ease readers through these first steps and will give most the confidence to tackle larger projects-like Cricket's Technicolor Cozy or Meema's Felted Marsupial Tote-designed by Stitch 'n Bitchers in Stoller's group and other knitters she admires. What makes this guide exceptional, however, is its chapter on the "Wonderful World of Knitters," which details how to start your own Stitch 'n Bitch circle and plug into the virtual knitting communities on the Web. Informative, colorful and full of attitude, this book is the perfect primer for 20- and 30-somethings looking to take on this hip "new" hobby.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This sassy-looking book offers a little bit of everything. Yes, practical matters are addressed, e.g., learning the stitches, "tools of the trade," and types of yarns, and, yes, there is information that's difficult to find in other places, such as advice about how to start your own knitting group or find free knitting programs online. But it is Stoller's commentary about knitting, its history, and why young women are knitting again that gets the book off to a rip-roaring start. Complementing the narrative sections are vintage pictures, family photos, and funky illustrations. The projects have a hip sensibility (bags, sweaters, a poncho), as do the chapter headings: "Oops, I Knit It Again" for the section on fixing knitting mistakes. A color inset shows the projects off; the illustrations with the instructions are black-and-white versions of the same photos. There's plenty here for beginners and skilled veterans alike. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; First Edition edition (September 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761128182
• ISBN-13: 978-0761128182
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (330 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies

More About the Author

Debbie Stoller is the bestselling author of the Stitch'n Bitch series of knitting books and calendars. She comes from a long line of Dutch knitters, has a Ph.D. from Yale in the psychology of women, and is the editor-in-chief of Bust magazine. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.