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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting
 
 
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting (Paperback)

by Gail; Kitchel, Cindy Diven (Author) "Knitting? Crocheting? Didn't those skills go out of vogue with candle-dipping, soap-making, and butter-churning?..." (more)
Key Phrases: piece puckers, stranded yarn, next double crochet, Needle Talk, The Least You Need, Fair Isle (more...)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Paperback: 1 pages
  • Publisher: Alpha Books; 1 edition (January 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0028621239
  • ISBN-13: 978-0028621234
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,299 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #13 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlepoint

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting
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Customer Reviews

53 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (11)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (53 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Will teach the basics but buy another book along with it, December 22, 2001
By Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Tehachapi, CA United States) - See all my reviews
I taught myself to knit entirely from books and this is one book that I used to get started. The sections are yarn selection, guage and the history of knitting are rather good and definately inspired me.

The projects are about the best I have ever seen in a beginners book. There are only three but they are enough to teach basic knit/purl patterns, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round and stripes. Rather than the usual garter stitch scarf (rather boring) we are taught a checkerboard pattern that is simple but looks challenging. This was my first ever project (I knit it on two skeins of Lopi) and no one could believe I was brand new!

As to the technique debates, I HIGHLY reccomend that anyone endeavoring to learn from a book should buy TWO or more books on the subject. These need not be expensive, just get a second opinion. The reason is simple: everyone is wired differently and a diagram that may make perfect sense to everyone else may confuse some. Getting another book with different pictures is the best way to prevent this. For example, I could not get the long-tailed cast on. I tried several books and finally, a book on hats had the perfect instructions for me.

I have not tried much crochet, only enough to complete my knitting project when needed, but I am sure that it is just as good.

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78 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth buying., January 24, 2004
By Mtnmindy (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
  
I purchased this book when I decided to learn how to knit. I already knew some basics in crochet so I thought it would be nice to have a reference for both.I was sadly mistaken and now regret spending money on this guide.

I suppose I should have known better. Crocheting and knitting are such multi-faceted and versatile crafts that there is no way one book under 300 pages can address BOTH adequately. I found the book frustrating because it would spend many pages talking about things that were quite easy. (like yarn and the different types.) But when it actually comes to the stitches, I thought it did a poor job. Especially explaining the Purl stitch. With the description and the illustration, it was hard to actually see what they are trying to do.

I breifly glanced at the crochet section but realized that even with my rather sparse knowledge of crochet, I knew almost everything that the book had to offer. (Which was not much.)

If you do want to geta good guide for knitting, I suggest the Dummies Guide to Knitting. If you want a good guide to crocheting, I suggest Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia for crochet. They cost more, but are well worth it. If you are still set on getting this guide, I suggest you get it from the library first or at least browse through the pages at your local book store before you take the plunge.

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41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me in stitches!, January 12, 2000
By A Customer
I have been crocheting for approximately 30 years. There were several stitches that I never learned and no one could "tell" me how to do. I have tried to learn the stitch by reading various books and trying to follow their examples. This book is the first book I have been able to actually follow the entire explanation of a stitch and complete it. I can now do a half-double crochet stitch! I first learned about this book through the public library. I now plan to buy it for my own reference purposes. A great book to add to your library.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent very handy book
I have been knitting and crotcheting for a lot of years now, I bought the book because I waan't working and I wanted to teach myself the correct way to do things. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Louise A. Fahnestock

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent knitting reference book, and very handy for knitting newbies.
This book would not be wasted on a knitting newbie. It has, for me, served as a very excellent reference when it comes to interpreting various pattern and technique instructions... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dahlia Martin

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent Product
I AM A FIRST TIME PURCHASER AT AMAZON, I BOUGHT THIS ITEM USED HOWEVER I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT AFTER MY ORDER ARRIVED I WAS AMAZED TO FIND IT WAS IN MINT CONDITION AND... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Wayde A. Storr

5.0 out of 5 stars Knitting book
Easy enough for beginners and also for experienced knitters. Would recommend it to anyone who's interested in knitting or crocheting.
Published 7 months ago by Virginia L. Malphrus

2.0 out of 5 stars A Start But Not Beginning
This book does attempt to provide detail information for beginners (I being one of them). It has great information on the basics such as types of yarns, gauges, understanding of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Joanna L. Monroe-Phillips

4.0 out of 5 stars Book for Knitters who Forgets
I learned how to knit when I was little. However, I have forgotten a lot of things since then. So I purchased this book to get some reviews. Read more
Published 18 months ago by C. Chan

5.0 out of 5 stars Godsend
This book is a god send. It's plain simple instructions even a duffer like me can follow.
Published 19 months ago by T. Benjamin

4.0 out of 5 stars Could have shown more stitches
I liked the book but I thought it was going to show me more stitches than it did. I bought it to teach me how to knit and I now know the basics but I don't have any other stitch... Read more
Published on May 31, 2007 by Rebecca Watts

5.0 out of 5 stars Crochet and knitters dream
An excellent overview of both knitting and crochet for all levels. I love the international comparisons for both stitches, methods and hooks/needles. A top class reference book.
Published on March 25, 2007 by Josephine Hogbin

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for beginners
I bought this book to teach myself how to knit... and I actually was able to figure it out this time! Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by twinklenuts

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