The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting Illustrated, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author), Gail Diven (Author) "Knitting? Crocheting? Didn't these skills die out some time ago along with butter churning?..." (more)
Key Phrases: active stitches, double point needles, insert your hook, Needle Talk, The Least You Need, Repeat Row (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A best-selling guide that gets readers hooked!

Now with gorgeous color photos!

Updated and completely revised, this guide has been a bestseller ever since its first publication. Plus, it’s the only book to include knitting and crocheting, with both comprehensive instructions and exciting patterns. Readers will get:

• A 32-page, full-color section featuring finished projects
• Goof-proof instructions to get them knitting and crocheting in no time
• Expert advice on how to correct common knitting gaffes
• Terrific tips that will help them decipher knitting and crocheting patterns
• Easy ways to check their gauge—and what to do when it doesn’t match the pattern

About the Author

Barbara Breiter is the knitting guide at about.com and the owner of Knit A Bit, the first and only Internet site where you can purchase and then download patterns immediately. Barbara is a self-taught knitter for 20 years who also crochets and does needlepoint. She began designing soon after she learned to knit and has designed nearly 200 sweaters, Afghans, and other projects.

Gail Diven is a freelance needle arts designer specializing in knitting, crochet, and fabric designs. Previously, she served as knitting editor for Vogue Butterick Company.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 3 edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592574912
• ISBN-13: 978-1592574919
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #237,056 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

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

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting (Paperback)

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.

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

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting Illustrated, 2nd Edition (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Paperback)

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.

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

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting (Paperback)

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.