Best Knitting Pattern Book For Beginners Reviews 2020

Erika Knight is an author, designer and a celebrated brand. In her days as a student of fine arts, when she was still a youngling, having no passion for all things yarn and textile, she co-launched Molto, and it went on to become an eminent hand-knit brand. She has done fashion forecasting and design for quite a number of popular brands, such as Marks & Spencer, H&M, Nicole Farhi, Rowan Yarns, Whistles and Coats PLC – big names, huh? In addition to all these, she has her eponymous yarn label and over 20 published books that aim to make both crocheting and knitting a rewarding occupation for everyone.

Erika Knight’s Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand, how-to guide for anyone who’s interested in learning the fine art of knitting. With 750 knitting stitches explained in detail with a simplicity that carries the reader along, you will learn how to create knit and purl patterns, rib and edging patterns, Fair Isles and intarsia designs and basic and complex cables; what’s more, it teaches you how to move from the basic, simple patterns to those ornate, intricate ones, so that you’ll be knitting like a pro in no time.

Each page contains clear pictures that clarify charts and patterns. The full-color pictures show samples of knitted swatches that complement the detailed explanations for each pattern; plus, the pictured swatches were done with updated yarns, so that you’re equipped with the current trends. Talking about current, this book features some new, innovative stitches as well.

The Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible was inspired by the popular Harmony Guides, and maintains the standards that have made them the much-loved reference material they are. With this book, you’ll also get information that’ll help you choose needles and yarns, read patterns, check gauge, decrease and increase, join different pieces, complete projects and take care of your knitted stuff.

Elizabeth Zimmermann, or EZ as she was fondly known, was a famously infamous knitter whose pithy opinions and commentaries on knitting have influenced, aye even molded, a great number of knitters. She was quite vocal about the need for knitting to be as simple, flexible and enjoyable as possible, and she was all about people experimenting and creating their own unique patterns. An innovative spirit, she introduced the EPS, Elizabeth’s Percentage System, a mathematical formula that helps the knitter determine the number of stitches to cast on for a sweater, still used to this day. She also introduced the “Pi-shawl” based on her “i-cord,” or “idiot cord,” technique and the BSJ, Baby Surprise Jacket; these are only a few of her achievements. She founded the Schoolhouse Press and, after her passing, her daughter, Meg Swansen, has run the place until now.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop provides practical knowledge in the humorous manner that’s Elizabeth’s alone. In this book, you’ll find great advice on how to create patterns, sprinkled with clever anecdotes here and there. The book is based on a television series that aired on PBS, and has been an international bestseller since its release. The manner in which it’s written engages the reader on a personal level, so that you get the feeling the author is sitting in front of you, transferring her knowledge with words that easily guide you through the processes of casting-on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing and casting-off.

You’ll also find lessons that will teach you how to knit and how to do so with two colors. You’ll also learn how to use the EPS (Elizabeth’s Percentage System) from the master herself, so you can make different sweater patterns, such as yoke-style, drop-shoulder, garter stitch, fair isles, guernsey, arans and lace. There are also tips to guide you through the nitty-gritty of circular knitting and pattern making; you’ll find detailed, row-by-row directions for her famous Baby Garter-Stitch Surprise Jacket, Heart Hats, Epaulet sweaters and a lot more.

There are also editorial notes, information on sizing, photos and pictures explaining each technique. This book approaches knitting as a science, explaining the origins of patterns, the essentials and fundamentals of knitting. You’ll also find the central message of innovation and creativity as the author encourages you to ignore the limitations of ‘standardized’ patterns.

Lesley Stanfield can be described as an ambassador for knitting. She is the author of many bestsellers on knitting and crocheting; some of her books include 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet, 150 Knitted Trims and 75 Birds, and Butterflies & Little Beasts to Knit & Crochet. When it comes to hand-knitting and designing, she can be considered a veteran; she has served as a contributing editor for a good number of women’s magazines, such as Woman and Family Circle, dispensing her wisdom to her avid followers. She co-authored this book with Melody Griffiths, a knitting and crocheting authority with a lot of feathers in her cap.

Lesley Stanfield’s Encyclopedia of Knitting Techniques proves to be a great resource for beginners seeking to make the shift to master knitters. With its roughly 200 stitches, charts, photos, examples and tips, you get the guidance required to get you through the beginning stages of knitting and on to perfecting your hand at the craft.

Its glamorous gallery features a collection of excellent-quality pictures that display stitches, patterns and charts, with tips and instructions for everything from a basic stockinet to moss stiches, simple knit and purl patterns to the more complex lace knitting, entrelac, intarsia, Fair Isle and more; each is named and shows you how to achieve the same results. There’s also a section of the book dedicated to furnishing you with information on the basics of designing.

The instructions are simply written, so you’ll have no problem following them and reproducing the patterns, and the visual guide the photos provide are also easy to follow when you’re trying your hand at the stitches. The photos of finished projects are beautiful, making you want to grab your pins and yarn to get started on reproducing them.

Other books by Lesley Stanfield include:

• The New Knitting Stitch Library, with over 300 traditional and contemporary color-illustrated and easy-to-understand patterns
• 75 Floral Blocks to Knit, a book with written instructions and symbols that indicate the direction, color charts and skill levels
• Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers, with 25 projects and designs for clothes, toys, and blankets for children under two years

Ann Budd learned how to knit at the age of 11, when her dad took the family along with him on a sabbatical trip to Switzerland. Upon joining an elementary school there, she realized she couldn’t fully interact with the class due to the language barrier, but she tried. Twice every week, she and the other girls in the class were taught how to knit and, although she was way behind the other girls in her class, who had mastered the craft in third grade, she was eager and enthusiastic about it. She knitted herself a sweater some months later. She continued knitting even after she returned to the US; her friends didn’t show any interest in the art but she kept at it. In 1989, she took a job at Interweave Press as a member of the editorial team for Handwoven Magazine and, later on, as an editor of Interweave Knits. The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, published in 2002, was her first work; she has many others in her portfolio.

Ann Budd’s The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns contains detailed guidelines that’ll teach you how to create much of the popular knitwear available today, such as socks, gloves, mittens, tams, hats, scarves, vests and sweaters. With over 350 pictures explaining the ideas, patterns and stitches contained in this book, you get not only pointers, but also a range of projects that have been broken down and explained piece-by-piece for you to try your hand at. For instance, there are about 18 different sweaters, worked in different yarns and displayed in brilliant photos. Also, different types of bodies, necks and sleeves are set and explained.

The book also contains guidelines on measurements, so that you’re able to knit stuff that’ll fit as intended – Budd left no stone unturned in her effort to do this, so you’ll find all you need. There are also lots of side notes, personal touches and quick tips on the little but important things, like how to convert your yarn gauge if it isn’t any of the given ones; there are also charts for each of the diagrams so that you can make a garment of any size.

Its deep pocket and spiral binding add to the convenience factor of this book. The spiral binding makes it easy to lay flat while you consult its pages as you knit.

Susan B. Anderson has authored quite the number of books in her career as a pro knitter. Her knitting blog is a popular place where lovers of yarn and knitting meet. The blog won a Readers’ Choice Award as 2012’s top-knitting blog/website; she also teaches award-winning courses on Craftsy.com and many workshops across the country. Her YouTube channel boasts dozens of instructional videos on knitting.

Susan B. Anderson's Kids' Knitting Workshop is a great and helpful way to introduce kids, and indeed beginners of any age at all, to knitting in the round. It’s written in a simple, straight-forward manner that leaves not the smallest bit of information in doubt. The book is well-organized and contains 17 knitting projects with pictorial illustrations that are simple to understand and follow. The information will also come in handy for anyone who is interested in learning the ropes of knitting, regardless of their age.

Each of the 17 featured projects is more advanced than the previous one; the knitter progresses from the simple scarves and hats to a more challenging project, until they find themselves knitting décor and toys. The pictures provide clear, step-by-step tutorials that teach techniques such as casting on, binding off and combining different colors to create stripes, in a manner that’s easily understood and followed. A step-by-step approach to the instructions explains the photographs and the processes involved.

There’s also an interesting chapter that teaches you how to correct knitting mistakes that will, no doubt, be encountered, especially by first-time knitters; this thoughtful addition gives the book a more humane dimension, making it easy to trust as your skill increases. Moreover, there’s helpful advice on going about stocking your own knitting toolbox, how to source yarn and more.

Here are some more books by Susan B.:

• Kindred Knits: Knitting for Little Ones Near and Far, a guide to using a child’s tee for measurements to knit beautiful baby clothes and add ornaments
• 60 Quick Baby Knits; Itty-bitty Hats; Dogs in Knits; Toy Knits; Gift Knits Book Set, a set of five books that teach everything from knitting baby clothes to making knitwear for your mutt
• Spud and Chloe at the Farm, with adorable animal-themed projects and a fun story for kids