Guidelines for Knitting Books
Choosing Knitting Designer, Style, Pattern, Instruction and Level
© Amy Krug
Feb 17, 2007
What makes a good pattern book and what doesn’t? Here are a few guidelines when picking out a good knitting book for you:
<b>Know your Level of Experience</b>. If you just started knitting three months ago, don’t pick a pattern book with mostly advanced patterns. You’ll just get frustrated and the book will get shelved. In the same way, if you’ve been knitting for several years, don’t pick a book with all easy patterns – you’ll get bored, and the book will be useless, unless you donate it to a newbie knitter.
<b>Know What You Want</b>. If you know you need pattern or stitch abbreviation keys, make sure the pattern book has them. If you don’t, it’s wasted space in the book. If you are a visual learner, make sure the book has ample pictures and diagrams to help you see what you’re doing.
<b>Don’t Buy a Book for One Pattern</b>. If you want a book for only one pattern, see if you can get it at the library. If it’s just for one pattern, then you probably won’t use it again, and it will just gather dust on the shelf after you complete your project.
<b>Make sure the Patterns are your Style</b>. Most knitting books today have a specific style; there are more “traditional” patterns for traditional knitters, and there are hip, funky styles for the new-age knitter. Make sure the book you’re buying fits your style and the projects are items you’re interested in making.
Look for a page or two that shows all the projects in the book; a key listing all the special abbreviations used in the patterns; suggestions for variations on projects; suggestions for specific yarns to use; a gauge on the ease of the project (beginner to advanced); and the name of the designer, if it’s not the author.
If you follow a few simple guidelines, your pattern books will serve you well and be a source for great projects, rather than just take up space on your bookshelf.
