An essential guide for all knitters and crocheters-the most extensive, varied, and authoritative collection of stitches ever brought together. Comprehensive and uniquely organized by stitch texture, this hands-on guide features detailed step-by-step instructions and vivid photographs of over 900 individual stitches.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
90 of 90 people found the following review helpful
By bookhound99
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is more on the style and format of the book for knitters who might be interested in this information:
While I love the Harmony Guides, it is currently out of my budget to get all 7 volumes. The 900 stitches in this Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook are indeed from the Harmony Guides to Knitting Stitches series. I notice from the copyright page that this material is published by an arrangement with Collins & Brown, the same publishers for the original Harmony Guides. Reader's Digest appears to publish by arrangement with British companies, many wonderful titles and presenting a twist of the english sensibility, i.e. Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook (by RD)
The Reader's Digest Sourcebook does not contain every single stitch from the Harmony volumes (numbering over 1000), but it is still a huge amount compiled into one manageable reference and at a much more affordable price. The color combinations look fine to me, the majority are traditional designs, nothing terribly dated except for one or two swatches in strange orange/gray combos. In order to fit 900+ stitches and photographs into the book, each page is divided into 3 columns, with one to two photographs per column followed by the stitch directions. Each photograph measures approximately 2" x 1.5" in detail. The type is either 9 or 10pt., which might be hard for some eyes. I use a craft light like the Ott-Lite to illuminate the page, and also use post-it notes to keep track.
What I like is how it is arranged by weight patterns, and the number of multiples to start with at the very top of the section, and what skill level it requires in bold type. Another wonderful thing are the headers on every page, so that you know what section you are on at all times, (i.e. knitting...heavyweight patterns...slipstich color patterns). There are also crochet letterforms in an art nouveau design for filet crochet.
The one thing lacking is a detailed section for aran stitches (only 3pp), if you are into that. However, many other cable and panel pattern pages are found in the book.
While I love the Harmony Guides, it is currently out of my budget to get all 7 volumes. The 900 stitches in this Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook are indeed from the Harmony Guides to Knitting Stitches series. I notice from the copyright page that this material is published by an arrangement with Collins & Brown, the same publishers for the original Harmony Guides. Reader's Digest appears to publish by arrangement with British companies, many wonderful titles and presenting a twist of the english sensibility, i.e. Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook (by RD)
The Reader's Digest Sourcebook does not contain every single stitch from the Harmony volumes (numbering over 1000), but it is still a huge amount compiled into one manageable reference and at a much more affordable price. The color combinations look fine to me, the majority are traditional designs, nothing terribly dated except for one or two swatches in strange orange/gray combos. In order to fit 900+ stitches and photographs into the book, each page is divided into 3 columns, with one to two photographs per column followed by the stitch directions. Each photograph measures approximately 2" x 1.5" in detail. The type is either 9 or 10pt., which might be hard for some eyes. I use a craft light like the Ott-Lite to illuminate the page, and also use post-it notes to keep track.
What I like is how it is arranged by weight patterns, and the number of multiples to start with at the very top of the section, and what skill level it requires in bold type. Another wonderful thing are the headers on every page, so that you know what section you are on at all times, (i.e. knitting...heavyweight patterns...slipstich color patterns). There are also crochet letterforms in an art nouveau design for filet crochet.
The one thing lacking is a detailed section for aran stitches (only 3pp), if you are into that. However, many other cable and panel pattern pages are found in the book.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I am a beginning knitter practicing on scarves to improve my stitches. This book gives an endless range of possibilities for me to try, and it will still be useful when I tackle a larger project.
Some of the photographs could be a little clearer, but most are excellent. I have been able to teach myself some new stitches from the printed instructions and diagrams.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What is important for the serious knitter is to know that this stitch book is a rehash of the older Harmony knit and crochet stitch books. One of my books had 440 stitch patterns alone. So with just 900 stitches about half of which are for knitting and the other for crochet, you are not getting the total of all the Harmony books together. However, each stitch has a helpful name to it and they are grouped into like categories. The color pictures are tiny and there are no charts but there are good top subtitles on each page and also at the sides. The index is also a useful feature and the book looks sturdy with good print and binding. The aran stitches and fair isle stitches are lacking from this edition. There was one Harmony book just on those stitches so worth hunting around for that one to supplement this.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well thought out and and easy to use
I borrowed this from the library and liked it so much I went ahead and ordered it. My focus has been on the knitting section, but the half of the book dealing with crochet seems... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Quint
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gift
This is a gift for my wife and she loves it. It has all the stitches she has been looking for.
Published 3 months ago by Carl Kern
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly ultimate sourcebook
Photographs of all patterns followed by clear instructions. This book contains many patterns not seen elsewhere. A treasure for all handiworkers.
Published 5 months ago by Bernadette Rambold
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love This Book!
I love picking up this book, just to look at all the stitches. This book is full of them, and each one has a description underneath, showing you how to do them. Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars
cables and lace
This is a very nice collection of stitches. I have only used the knitting stitches, but I want to begin to use the crochet stitches to add interest to my knitted pieces. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Karens
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a great book!
I LOVE this book. I think that it is a must for any skill level of crocheter/knitter. There are so many wonderful designs for both knit & crochet, as well as applique designs. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Clairene M. Guerra
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learning new things all the time....
This book is a great way to learn new stitches when crocheting. It is very detailed to help those of us that are a little "slow" on the pick up to understand and do the stitch... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Glamour-For-Less
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of ideas for knitting and crochetting
This guide is wonderful, the patterns are varied and very well explained, even for me, I'm Spanish (English teacher)but I've had no problems understunding the instructions. Read more
Published on February 17, 2011 by Antonia Serón
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crochet guide
As someone new to the crochet field, I've found this book to be an excellent source of new stitches, patterns and final touches. It's clear and easy to follow. Read more
Published on January 14, 2011 by OCRAY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Book for a Modern Woman
This is the perfect book for somebody who wants to knit who is in thier thirties and didn't grow up learning how. Many knitting books leave out a lot of crucial information. Read more
Published on January 4, 2011 by Prima Donna
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