Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer) [Paperback]

Sharon Turner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2010 | Series: Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer (Book 21)

A new edition of one of the top knitting primers on the market

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting has been one of the top knitting primers on the market since its publication five years ago. Now, updated with brand-new patterns, even more helpful photos, and expanded coverage of knitting techniques, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting, 2nd Edition, is the go-to knitting book for crafters who learn faster by seeing and doing than by wading through tedious instruction books.

You'll get visual guidance on the basic knit and purl stitches and advance to bobbles, cables, lace, and fancy color work. Photo by photo and stitch by stitch, you'll learn how to knit socks, hats, mittens, sweaters, and more.

• Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review
• Detailed color photos demonstrate each step, and helpful tips provide additional guidance
• Other titles by Turner: Knitting VISUAL Quick Tips and Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting Design

Packed with step-by-step instructions and fun, innovative patterns, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting, 2nd Edition, will have you creating masterpieces in no time!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's the next best thing to a knitting class."  (Crafts ‘N Things, July 2006) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Teach Yourself Visually Knitting is the go-to knitting book for crafters who learn faster by seeing and doing than by wading through tedious instruction books. You'll get visual guidance on the basic knit and purl stitches and then advance to bobbles, cables, lace, and fancy color work. Photo by photo and stitch by stitch, you'll learn how to knit socks, hats, mittens, sweaters, and more. With brand-new patterns, even more helpful photos, and expanded coverage of knitting techniques, this Second Edition will have you knitting up a storm in no time.

• Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review
• Each skill or technique is defined and described
• Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo
• Detailed color photos demonstrate each step
• Helpful tips provide additional guidance

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Visual; 2 edition (February 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047052832X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470528327
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Knitting

More About the Author

Sharon Turner designs knitwear, and when her daughters were babies, published Monkeysuits, a line of knitting patterns for babies and children. She is the author of Teach Yourself Visually Knitting, Monkeysuits: Sweaters and More to Knit for Kids, Teach Yourself Visually Knitting Design, Knitting Visual Quick Tips, Find Your Style and Knit It Too, Teach Yourself Visually Knitting 2nd Edition, and Knitting Stitches VISUAL Encyclopedia. In between books, Sharon also had the good fortune to work as technical editor on a few fun books written by aspiring/inspiring designers. While working on her last two books, Sharon went to nursing school and in 2011, became a registered nurse. She recently added CHPN [Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse] to her title, and works nights in a small inpatient hospice unit in a large New York City hospital. She is learning a lot from her supportive and talented colleagues, as well as from her patients and their families. Sharon lives in Brooklyn, New York, and sometimes in Hague, New York with her wonderful husband and three rapidly growing daughters [two of whom are taller than she and are therefore no longer monkeys].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

188 of 191 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearest Knitting Book Ever! January 23, 2006

By Joan M. Parlin

Format:Paperback

I have literally used this book every day since I bought it. What especially appeals to me are the photographs. Having up-close picures of actual knitters' hands make the direction more clear than in any book I have ever used before. Anybody could really follow the simple directions. Even though I call myself an intermediate knitter, I have discovered some very basic things I was doing wrong, and using the clear text and photos, I have corrected myself. I sincerely recommend this book over all others I have ever used.

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful for this hopeless knitter February 1, 2006

By Shoupster

Format:Paperback

I have tried several times to get the hang of knitting, but for some reason have never been able to put it all together. This book was instrumental to my finally figuring things out. Plus, unlike so many other knitting books out there, it actually had patterns a person might actually be interesting in wearing. The book isn't just for beginners like moi, however. A close friend of mine, who is a very experienced knitter, has also enjoyed using this book.

136 of 143 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great for new and experienced knitters alike February 1, 2006

By knitter

Format:Paperback

Chock-full of great, detailed photos, this book shows everything you need to know to learn to knit in the first place or to brush up on particular skills. Even with nearly 20 years of knitting under my belt, I still learned some great tricks from this book. (Ever had trouble with stair-stepping when knitting a striped hat in the round? This book shows how to fix that problem.)

The projects are beautiful, and none of them are terribly difficult. I've already made the Tweedy Pointed Hat and the Cozy Mittens. I've also used some of the finishing techniques shown, such as how to make a twisted cord and how to crochet an edging.

When you're done with this book, check out Monkeysuits, the author's book of beautiful knitting patterns for kids.

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really for a complete beginner December 28, 2008

By tachi1 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is excellent for someone who either already has limited experience knitting or who has a friend or teacher who can answer really basic (as in "stupid") questions. If you don't fit into either of these categories, there is no way you will "teach yourself visually knitting" just with this book.

There are too many gaps. For example, there is the assumption that you instinctively know which is the "right" side and which is the "wrong" side, among other basic bits of knowledge. This may or may not be important, but when the instructions say do this on the right side and that on the wrong side, you'd like to know before proceeding. Being told that the "wrong" side is the side you don't see when you're wearing it is not helpful because, right now, you're not wearing it. Being shown what the right side looks (or should look) like and what the wrong side looks like, would be. (When you are really beginning, the anatomy of a stitch is not exactly obvious. You're just following a sequence of instructions and not sure why or how it all fits in at the end).

I also didn't find the "mistakes" section as clear as I would have liked: what is a "dropped" stitch? How did it happen? What can I do to prevent it? At a critical point such as a mistake (where you're close to panicking that you've just blown the whole project!) a few more photographs in the sequence of steps would have made an already tense situation a little less tense....

Assuming that you are truly gifted and that you make it to the end of your project and now you now want to get the knitting off the needle and around your neck, you have to either make sense of the description (which is clear but intimidating) or get a magnifying glass to see exactly where the needles go in relation to the yarn in the small and distant illustration. (A macro lens for closeups would have been a nice touch throughout the book, but particularly here).

Having said this from a real beginners point of view, the book appears to be an excellent resource for somewhat more confident knitters or knitters who want to expand beyond the basics. It has a section that shows swatches created using many types of stitches that, I'm sure, will come in handy someday. There is a lot of good information that I couldn't find elsewhere (such as get ready to start a new ball of yarn when you're getting close to having 4 times the length of yarn as the width of your project.)

I gave it only 3 stars, not because it's a bad book--it's not--but because the content is not consistent with the implied level of the title and I find that misleading. This is not a book that gives you a great sense of security when you're starting out.

If you haven't ever picked up a knitting needle, I would suggest Nici McNally's DVD The Complete Beginner's Guide to Knitting (also available at Amazon). That one IS for complete beginners, you see what you have to do and what it should look like when you do it (close up and slowly), and it tells you what mistakes you're likely to make when you're starting and how to prevent or correct them. It doesn't cover too much ground but it does cover what you need to know NOW. Read more ›

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably Helpful!! January 28, 2006

By Anna

Format:Paperback

In the past few years, I have had neither the time nor the patience to seek out a knitting instructor, for what other college student in Texas wants to learn how to knit? But I wanted to learn the basic stitches just so I could knit myself a scarf for my trip home to New York. I bought this book on a whim, and have been delighted with my purchase!

The writing is straightforward and insightful - the author Sharon Turner is clearly incredibly intelligent. And the accompanying pictures make it the perfect book for any beginner. I have fallen in love with knitting, and also feel confident enough with my technical ability to take on more ambitious projects. I am so impressed that this book really did teach me how to knit - I was hoping just to learn some basic stitches so I could make a scarf, but now I feel comfortable experimenting with more interesting garments.

I have since purchased Sharon Turner's other book "Monkeysuits" and knit some more complicated patterns. I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be knitting up a storm, but this book has truly been amazing!

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars help for the almost hopeless April 25, 2007

By P. Collins

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had given up on ever learning to knit until I found this book. I had many hours of frustration and tears under my belt because I could never see clearly and for sufficient time to get the picture in my head of what to do next. This book has very clear color photos with sufficient explanation that even someone who is awkward using their fingers like me can finally learn to knit. I'm definitely a "visual" learner in all areas of my life. Finally a craft book for me!

My own personal opinion is that the continental style seems quicker once you learn it than the English style, so if you are just starting out go with continental. You will move your hands less to make stitches with the former method hence more stitches per minute. Just be aware that most knitters in the US seem to have learned the English method, so may have fewer people who can help you initially.