Book Review
I really like The Knitting Directory because it has something for
beginners, intermediate and advanced knitters. You can learn the
basics and advance your knowledge of knitting to more stitches,
larger and more complicated projects and even making your own designs.
I am a very hands on learner but I feel confident that with all
the information being delivered in this book I could advance my
skills and complete more difficult projects. The photos of examples
of stitches or swatches is also very beneficial for those people
that are very visual because they would know what the finished product
is supposed to look like and will help them be success with whatever
stitch or technique they are doing. You will learn everything from
picking your yarn before beginning a project and casting on the
right number of stitches to finishing up the project by binding
off, sewing in the ends of the yarn and caring for the final product.
This book is divided into chapters and sections called, Equipment
and Basic Techniques, Simple Stitch Library, Advanced Work, Creating
Your Own Designs and Adding Decorative Details and Finishing followed
by Caring for knits, Abbreviations, Glossary, and Further reading.
There are small introductions in front of each chapter with advice
about the content of the following section. The first chapter, Equipment
and Basic Techniques contains photos of the equipment, needles and
photo examples of different yarn weights. There are also handy circular
and regular knitting needle size charts. In the Types of yarn section
there is information on fibers and yarn weight and a knit gauge
range. Basic techniques also includes sections called Working from
a pattern, Pattern instructions, Knitting a gauge or tension sample
(or swatch) including correcting your gauge, Holding yarn and needles,
The slip knot, Casting on methods, Stitch basics (knit, purl), Simple
increasing and decreasing, Shaping, Knitting in the round (using
four needles and circular needles), Binding off (knitwise and purlwise).
In the Simple Stitch Library you will learn about simple patterns
and color work including knit and purl combinations (with photos
of completed sections of single and double rib), color photos of
stitch samples, skill rating and pattern for stitches (garter, stockinette,
moss, double moss, single rib, double rib, welted rib, fisherman’s
rib, seed or dot stitch, seed or broken rib, moss stitch panels,
little ladders, caterpillar stitch, basket weave, moss stitch diamond
panels, lattice stitch or King Charles brocade, moss stitch triangles,
single chevron stitch, moss stitch zigzag, diagonal garter stitch),
Basic cables, Cable and bobble combinations, Traveling cable or
twist stitches, Fair Isle and color work, Working from a color chart,
Intarsia method (knitting blocks of color using different balls
of yarn) and Lace and eyelet patterns.
The Advanced Work chapter contains photos and diagrams of Methods
combinations, Twisted stitches, Yarn over and Knitting two stitches
together. The advanced techniques continue in the chapter called
Creating Your Own Designs. The techniques include designing a sweater:
basic steps (how to use Color motifs and charts), Using beads and
sequins, Embroidery, Edging and making Fringes and pom poms. The
final chapter is called Finishing and without this information you
wouldn’t really be able to use any of the projects you want
to make. Following the introduction you learn about Fixing mistakes-dropped
stitches, Finishing ends and sewing in tails, Blocking and pressing
knitted pieces, Making up (your work): option 1, Making up: option
2, Picking up stitches: option 1, picking up stitches: option 2
and Buttonholes and button bands. It is also essential to read the
Caring for knits section so your hard work will last for you to
enjoy. The Abbreviations and Glossary sections are also very important
because it contains the meanings for the abbreviations and terms
used throughout the book and knowing exactly what you are doing
will prevent you from making unnecessary mistakes. |
