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Get a Grounding in Knitting with the Knitter’s Bible

May 8, 2017 by Sarah White

the knitter's bible

Phyllis is the winner.

I’ve been at these knitting book giveaways for so long I regularly come across books that I’m sure I’ve given away before. The Knitter’s Bible by Claire Crompton is one of those, but you all are lucky I haven’t given it away before because it’s a good one.

This is one of those comprehensive knitting instruction books that covers everything from the basics of getting started knitting to increasing, decreasing and understanding knitting abbreviations. A creative options section covers lace, Fair Isle, cables, embossed knitting, short rows, twisted stitches, intarsia and circular knitting.

Another section covers things like beaded knitting, loop knitting, entrelac, mitered squares, fulling and smocking, among other embellishments.

It talks about how to read knitting patterns, knit garments and alter patterns to your needs. You’ll learn about edgings, buttons, embroidery and more.

Beyond all that, there’s a stitch library with:

  • knit and purl stitches
  • gansey patterns
  • texture stitches
  • rib stitches
  • cables
  • lace stitches
  • edgings

And then there are 25 patterns that cover a lot of the techniques explored in the rest of the book. Check out all the projects on Raverly.

This is a great one-stop guide to a lot of things you need to know to get started knitting or to build your skills. And someone is going to win it this week!

If you’d like a chance to take this one home, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, May 14. It’s Mother’s Day in the states, and because my mom is one of the people who taught me to knit, I’d love to know who taught you.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. Nancy Covington says

    May 8, 2017 at 4:03 pm

    Oh, I’d love to have this book, Sarah. I love to knit, but there’s always room for improvement. It seems like no matter how long I’ve been knitting and how much I learn, there’s just more and more out there that’s waiting for me. I think it’s amazing how many new stitches people come up with for something that’s been around for so long. We have an amazing planet, filled with so many talented people.

  2. Amy McGlynn says

    May 8, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    I figured it out while I was recovering from abdominal surgery, while having one leg in a cast and an 8 month old baby I was not allowed to lift. I really needed something to hold my whole concentration. So I had my husband pick up a book and some needles and yarn, and I was off to the races. Slowly. This book sounds like it would help fill in some of my blanks.

  3. Jonquil says

    May 8, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    I taught myself to knit. I would love to add this book to my library!

  4. CdnCrafter says

    May 8, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    My third grade teacher taught me to knit. She started an after-school knitting club which I joined. I moved away part way through that school year, so my mother continued to teach me. I have been knitting now for over 50 years!

  5. Tricia says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    I was taught by several people…..first my Grandma, then my Mom and a neighbor. I was communially taught and I am very greatful.

  6. yolanda v says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:12 pm

    I taught myself to knit…
    This book looks like one I’d appreciate
    in my library.

  7. Sheila says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    My mom taught me to knit when I was little, but I didn’t stick with it. I re-taught myself from library books when I was in my 30s.

  8. Chris Lopez says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    Sounds like an amazing book every knitter should have. Thanks for the giveaway.

  9. Isabel says

    May 9, 2017 at 7:33 am

    It looks like a “must” in any knitting library. Thank for the opportunity. Good knitting!!

  10. Isabel says

    May 9, 2017 at 7:36 am

    Oops,I forgot,my granny taught me to knit and crochet but I prefer Knitting. 😉

  11. Gail says

    May 9, 2017 at 8:18 am

    My mom didn’t knit so I took a class at Joann’s to learn. I’ve been addicted ever since!!

  12. sally howard says

    May 9, 2017 at 9:24 am

    This book would be a great game changer for me. Next level would be great.

  13. missmagners says

    May 9, 2017 at 9:52 am

    From my mother I learned crochet when I was a child (though I never got past a basic chain), I leant knitting from my sister a couple of Christmases ago. 🙂

  14. knittingdancer says

    May 9, 2017 at 10:09 am

    My mother showed me when I was about 10 years old but I never knitted much that summer. When I was 50 I saw that one of the recreation centers in my area was having a knitted felt purse class and talked my sister in taking the class with me. She had picked knitting back up a few months before. I bought a teach yourself to knit kit a couple of weeks before the class. I was surprised how much came back to me from my childhood. We have been knitting every day since then.

  15. pattipanuccio says

    May 9, 2017 at 10:34 am

    I just picked up my needles after 39 years of just crochet. This book sounds awesome.

  16. Stacey says

    May 9, 2017 at 10:36 am

    My mother in law taught me the basics of knitting. We are both left handed and knit right handed, go figure.

  17. Terry says

    May 9, 2017 at 10:40 am

    I mostly taught myself, with a lot of help from my Grandmother and Mom.

  18. Rose Scott says

    May 9, 2017 at 11:58 am

    I took a beginner’s class at our local technical college and I was off and running learning new stitches from pattern books. I love these types of reference books. One always has room to learn more new stitches.

  19. yarnaddicted says

    May 9, 2017 at 12:56 pm

    I was taught the very basics by a neighbor as a child. I would love to learn more stitches to expand my skills!
    Thanks, Kim R.

  20. Vivian Helton says

    May 9, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    My mom taught me the basics. Through the years I have learned a lot more. I am totally addicted to knitting. So there is always a need for even more knowledge. I would love to win a copy of this wonderful sounding book!
    Vivian H

  21. Carol says

    May 9, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    I love this! I love seeing all these really cool things that you post! I also love to knit and would love to win that book!

  22. Phyllis Bremner says

    May 9, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    A teacher at primary school taught me to knit many years ago then I sort of picked it up as I went along. There is always room to learn more. I find it much easier to learn from books rather then the computer.

  23. dorcas says

    May 9, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    My mom taught me to knit. I used to have this book, but we lost everything in a fire. I’m slowly getting my knitting needles again with wiser choices. All bamboo circs this time with dpn’s too. But no books yet.

  24. Heidi Hochrein says

    May 9, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    I basically taught myself, but I have my knitting grandma’s genes!
    I am completely crazy about it, having restarted in January, after 30 years of not knitting!

  25. Barbara Young says

    May 10, 2017 at 2:13 am

    I’d love to have this book. Anything to help me become a better knitter is fine by me.

  26. Mary Jarvis says

    May 10, 2017 at 7:47 am

    I think it was my Mum who started me knitting, I also remember knitting with my aunt and we used to knit at school. This sounds like a good book would like to win.

  27. Denyalle says

    May 10, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    My mom taught me multiple times when I was young, and I kept forgetting, so eventually she refused to teach me and I re-taught myself with the help of the internet as an adult.

  28. Cyd says

    May 10, 2017 at 2:52 pm

    My grandma taught me, wish I would have kept going. Can just do the basics, want to learn the continental stitch.

  29. Sue Sanderson says

    May 12, 2017 at 2:39 am

    My mother refused to teach me to knit. She could only knit the Continental style, and from my cousin’s experience at school, this method was unacceptable. I’m glad to say there is no such prejudice today. I managed to save my pocket money and bought a knitting book, teaching myself to knit almost fifty years ago and have never looked back.

  30. Mary says

    May 13, 2017 at 11:26 am

    I love knitting but only know so much! I want/need to learn more.

  31. Pat says

    May 13, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    My poor mother tried to teach me but it was better for our relationship for me to take a class.

  32. asteride says

    May 14, 2017 at 2:09 pm

    My grandmother taught me! She is not with me anymore but knitting for me is a way to feel that she is always with me. We spent precious time knitting together and she helped me with my first sweater for my first boyfriend!

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites. 

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