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The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn
 
 
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The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn (Hardcover)

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4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)

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Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber by Clara Parkes

The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn + The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Un. Real. There is no other way to describe...well, that’s a lie because I'll come up with more. But my first impression of The Knitter's Book of Yarn? Un. Real. I open the hardcover to reveal a fiber family tree. Smitten. Smitten on the spot. This book is, without a doubt, everything you ever wanted to know not just about fiber but were afraid to ask….This is absolutely a MUST HAVE book, and I don't say that often.”
—MelissaKnits, blog


Product Description

Not all yarns are alike. Some make our hearts and hands sing, some get the job done without much fanfare, and some cause nothing but frustration and disappointment. The gorgeous pair of socks that emerged from their first bath twice as long as when they went in. The delicate baby sweater that started pilling before it even came off the needles. The stunning colorwork scarf that you can’t wear because the yarn feels like sandpaper against your neck. If only there were a way to read a skein and know how it would behave and what it wanted to become before you invested your time, energy, and money in it. Now there is! With The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, you’ll learn how to unleash your inner yarn whisperer.

In these pages, Clara Parkes provides in-depth insight into a vast selection of yarns, giving you the inside stories behind the most common fiber types, preparations, spins, and ply combinations used by large-scale manufacturers and importers, medium-sized companies, boutique dye shops, community spinneries, and old-fashioned sheep farms. And, because we learn best by doing, Parkes went to some of the most creative and inquisitive design minds of the knitting world to provide a wide assortment of patterns created to highlight the qualities (and minimize the drawbacks) of specific types of yarns.

The Knitter’s Book of Yarn will teach you everything you need to know about yarn: How it’s made, who makes it, how it gets to you, and what it longs to become. The next time you pick up a skein, you won’t have to wonder what to do with it. You’ll just know–the way any yarn whisperer would.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Potter Craft (October 16, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307352161
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307352163
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 1.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,407 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #11 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Textile Arts
    #37 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Knitting
    #75 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts

More About the Author

Clara Parkes
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Customer Reviews

58 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (58 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about yarn, by the most wonderful Queen Bee, October 22, 2007
By R. MISKIN (Kennedale, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
If you are familiar with the Knittersreview.com, then you know how great Ms. Clara is (and the depth of her knowledge of yarns) , and have probably preordered your copy already. If you haven't visited KR yet, this is a great introduction to yarn design, and a wonderful reference work, as well as a great set of easy and fun projects. Ms. Parkes just makes it easy to understand the "how and why" of which yarn to use for what.

I was lucky enough to score a copy of "The Knitters Book of Yarn" at the NY Sheep and Wool festival this weekend, and managed to make it cover to cover in about 10 hours. Ms. Parkes is one of this countries top experts on all types of knitting yarns, and this is a wealth of yarn construction knowledge with some really useful tips and tricks about selecting the correct yarn for your project. The projects included are also range from the beginners washcloth to some great vests and the "Maine Morning Mitts" are truly excellent. I can't say enough about how well it is written, and how facinating Ms. Clara makes all the details of twist, balance, and fiber selection.

If you are a knitter, know a knitter, or want to be a knitter, you can't go wrong here. Fun to read, clearly organized, and quite comprehensive, I know I will be using this as a reference tome for years to come, as well as making a couple of sets of Mitts for Christmas gifts!
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48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is YARN 101, October 29, 2007
Ever wondered why your experience of knitting is sometimes one of ambivalence? Clara Parkes suggests that it may be the materials you are using. Curious to understand why yarn had such an impact on her knitting, she quite her high-tech job and applied her experience to providing knitters honest and in-depth reviews of yarn. Her search to understand if there was such a thing as "good" and "bad" yarn led to the birth of KnittersReview.com in September 2000.

The Knitter's Book of Yarn: the ultimate guide to choosing, using, and enjoying yarn collects seven years of knowledge that has led Parkes to be considered by some a "yarn whisperer." Her goal is to help knitters avoid "yarn-related errors" and match the right yarn to the right project, "to hold a skein in our hands, look at it, touch it, listen to it, even smell it, and instinctively know what the yarn wants to become."

In The Knitter's Book of Yarn, Parkes explores common fiber types, methods of preparation, spins, and ply combinations. The yarns discussed are meant to serve as examples of type and lead to a better understanding of the yarns in your stash or those found at the local yarn shop. The main body of the volume is called "Ply Me a River," where Parkes explores the qualities of classic single ply, two-ply, three-ply and four-ply (and more) yarns. Within each section are patterns designed to showcase the best qualities of this type of yarn. Each pattern is by designers whom Parkes admires for "their instinctive love and understanding of yarn."

The end of this main body is used to explore "modern" yarns; cabled yarns and textured yarns. Parkes also includes information on the "care and feeding" of yarn; that is, how to wash and care for your garments once they are knit. Additional tips are provided on the special handling each fiber requires when it is wet and for removing odors (especially important if you are sensitive to the smell of wet silk).

Armchair Interviews says: Savvy knitter will reach for The Knitter's Book of Yarn before their next yarn purchase.
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars All You Ever Wanted to Know about Yarn...a more!, October 25, 2007
By Melissa Weaver Dunning "tradweaver" (Shenandoah Valley of Virginia) - See all my reviews
When I first saw that Clara Parkes was writing a book about knitting yarn, I didn't think that it would be a book I needed to own. But I was first in line to borrow it when our local library got a copy and I have to say that I was wrong. The Knitter's Book of Yarn is a beautiful book with some terrific patterns and it is the best resource book about yarn that there is.

The book is arranged in three main sections. First, she looks at all the different types of fiber in some depth, and you will find some products that you didn't think could be made into yarn, as well as answers to some burning fiber questions you may have had, like what the heck is rayon, anyway? In the second section, she considers the structure of yarn, how it is made and how that affects the use. Finally, Clara addresses the specific qualities of singles, 2, 3, 4 ply yarns, cabled, textured, boucle, brushed and chenille yarns, and includes several patterns for each type of yarn.

I'm quite impressed and will be pleased to add this book to my knitting library. I have already knitted 2 pair of Maine Morning Mitts. This book will appeal to knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers. Bravo, Clara! Well done!

Clara Parkes also publishes a weekly e-newsletter called Knitter's Review, which is very informative, well written and entertaining.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My Best Yarn Book
As an intermediate to new knitter this book helped me understand how to select yarn that will not stretch out of shape and gave me better ideas on how to substitute yarn in other... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Li

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Informative
I originally checked this book out from my public library, but soon realized I had to purchase it for myself. Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. Bliese

5.0 out of 5 stars If you knit or crochet you NEED this book
Ever wonder why an angora/qiviut blend is softer than pure qiviut? Because angora is actually the softest fiber. Softer than qiviut. Softer than cashmere. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ivy Reisner

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best resources I have in my library as a fiber artist and designer
I got this book as a Christmas present last year, and it immediately became my favorite knitting book. Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. Tohline

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Yarn resource
Being new to the world of yarn (knitting and crocheting). I was craving information on yarn, I wanted to know how to become a yarn whisperer, although I'm still no expert after... Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Backes

5.0 out of 5 stars Clara Parkes is an angel for knitters!
Clara Parkes is one of those people who inspire others. She puts out a weekly web magazine that reviews different yarns. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Bonnie Brody

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book
this can be a good reading because it contains so much information, for example, about animals and plants used for knitting yarn. Read more
Published 9 months ago by POm

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for natural, lacking for synthetic fibers
There is so much I like about this book, I will start with my only two criticisms. First, that she says very little about synthetic fibers (what can be done with the stash of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. Newell

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Knitters Book
I love this book. It has taught me about choosing my yarns for various projects. I have bought this book for all my knitter friends and daughter. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mary Fraser

5.0 out of 5 stars A big textbook of yarn!
This is a big ol' honkin' textbook all about yarn...and I love it. While I would recommend this more for hardcore knitters who want to expand their horizons and become "yarn... Read more
Published 10 months ago by K. Anderson

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