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Giveaway: A to Z of Knitting

October 26, 2015 by Sarah White

a to z of knitting giveaway

Congratulations to Ella!

A few weeks ago I gave away a good collection of learn-to-knit booklets that I reviewed all at once with some other books over at About.

This week I’ve got another one for you. A to Z of Knitting is a reference book for knitters of all skill levels, covering everything from the basics of how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off to various ways to shape, embellish, add color and texture to and fix mistakes in our knitting.

It even has a bit of the history of knitting, an overview of types of yarn, needles and other supplies, and tutorials on everything from aran and beaded knitting to working in the round, Fair Isle, loop knitting, surface embroidery and much more.

Even better, the book has a lot of pictures and a spiral binding that makes it easy to look at the book and keep your place while you are working through a technique.

One copy (and I actually have a hardcover despite the photo above saying paperback) of this book is going to someone who comments on this post before the end of the day Sunday, November 1. (I cannot believe it’s almost November, but that’s another story.)

I’d love to know if there’s something in knitting you’d like to learn but haven’t tried yet, or something you were daunted by that didn’t turn out to be so bad once you tried it. Mine was probably double knitting, which I put off learning for a long time but actually isn’t that difficult if you’re paying attention to what you’re doing.

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

Next Pattern:

  • Giveaway - CraftsYarn Hand Dyed Skeins
  • Book Review - Knitting Socks: Quick and Easy Way to…
  • Knitting Tip: Using Interchangeable Knitting Needles
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Comments

  1. Deb Kegelmeyer says

    October 26, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    I still need to really learn steeling and putting in zippers. This prize is awesome, thank you so much for offering it.

  2. maureen says

    October 26, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    I am afraid of double pointed needles and therefore I have not done socks.

  3. lindarumsey says

    October 26, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Double knitting, entrelac and steeking are the all techniques I keep putting off, but I know I’ll get there in the end!

  4. Mitchell says

    October 26, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    I was put off by entrelac for a long time, but it’s actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

  5. Jean says

    October 26, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    Oddly, the thing I keep putting off is the long tail cast on. It’s easy, I”m sure, but it seems daunting. I’ve done lots of other castons, but each time I try it I get confused and put it aside. *embarrassed smile*

  6. Kathy McClain says

    October 26, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    I want to learn to knit period. Thanks for this nice giveaway!

  7. Jan Long-Connelly says

    October 26, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Lace knitting fascinates me, but I’ve never tried it. Looks like a great book!

  8. Liz says

    October 27, 2015 at 2:28 am

    I would like to improve surface embroidery and putting in a zip. Thank you for the giveaway chance.

  9. MelodyJ says

    October 27, 2015 at 4:08 am

    i would like to learn more colorwork.

  10. Patrice says

    October 27, 2015 at 9:57 am

    I would have to say making cables was pretty intimidating for me, but once I was able to learn not so difficult. I just love the results.

  11. Katelyn M says

    October 27, 2015 at 10:28 am

    The next thing on my list include short rows I haven’t done then yet! This book would be a great reference. Thanks for the chance to win.

  12. Kathleen K says

    October 27, 2015 at 11:16 am

    look like a interesting book

  13. Mary Helene says

    October 27, 2015 at 11:16 am

    I need help with lace knitting, So lovely but I am not very good at it.

  14. Kristen says

    October 27, 2015 at 11:31 am

    I wouold love to learn how to knit so this would be a great book to have 🙂

  15. char venesky says

    October 27, 2015 at 11:39 am

    looks great for a lucky person.

  16. knittingdancer says

    October 27, 2015 at 11:39 am

    i need to learn how to use double point needles. I always use 2 sets of circular needles when I need double point needles. The thing I am most afraid of with double point needles is that there are no stoppers at the ends of needles to keep the stitches for falling off the needles. One of these days I will try to knit a baby hat on double point needles. I like to knit complicated lace patterns but double point needles scares me.

  17. Maggie Cross says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    I need to work on mitered squares that end up the same size even when I use the same yarn and needles. ( Probably the glass of wine I sip when I make some of the squares!)

  18. Stacey says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I would love a clear explanation of double knitting.

  19. scapela says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    have rediscovered knitting as I commute by train to work for 2 hours a day. Need to upgrade my skills

  20. Helen King says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    I would love to learn Brioche and double knitting, I just have to build up the nerve to try it. I was a little bit afraid to try DPN’s, but have learned they aren’t as bad as I thought they would be. They are a little bit hard to start with, but once you get going they are not hard at all. I love learning new techniques!

  21. Karey says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    I’m still trying to learn cables. I just can’t get them!

  22. marjolein says

    October 27, 2015 at 1:25 pm

    There is a problem I stumbled on the other day.
    How to knit a border at the bottom of a sweater that doesn’t curl up. I mean another border than knit one, purl one.

  23. ella says

    October 27, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    I just got the hang of using circular needles – next I would like to try cable knits, then fair isle!

  24. Sylvia says

    October 27, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    With this book, I hope I can overcome my reluctance to try entrelac knitting and making socks with 2 dpn.

  25. Martha Donley says

    October 27, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    I would love to learn brioche knitting

  26. Lori Maki says

    October 27, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    I want to try knitting a sweater and fair isle. Already bought a yarn lazy Susan for doing fair isle but haven’t attempted it yet. I think my next project is a vest, a step towards the sweater, lol.

  27. joyce says

    October 27, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    Fair isle knitting was something I put off, but then when I tried it I was pleased at how easy it was. Now I just need to practice it enough to make it look really good.

  28. Susan Spiers says

    October 27, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    I tried lacy knitting, but because of the yarn & how it knits up, I had a hard time seeing the pattern come together. I got lost several times at the beginning & finally gave up after a dozen starts. I will have to change to a different yarn & try again.

  29. karen powell says

    October 27, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    I am learning how to knit via youtube and blogs and would love this book, I was amazed at how many things there are to learn in knitting, I love DPNs. Amazed at how many diff stitches there are out there or so many ways to bind on…..love it all

  30. opalspeacock says

    October 27, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    I would like to improve my expand my limited skills. Thanks have the giveaway.

  31. yolanda v says

    October 28, 2015 at 4:55 am

    Fair Isle and dpns are challenging for me.Thanks for the giveaway..

  32. lorraine M in sfv says

    October 28, 2015 at 5:05 am

    I would like to learn to knit cables

  33. Lee Ann says

    October 28, 2015 at 7:19 am

    I would like to practice fair isle more. It seems so daunting

  34. Patty Manders says

    October 28, 2015 at 7:39 am

    Double knitting is still daunting for me…………and steeking!

    from chilly VT,
    the Vermonster

  35. Margay says

    October 28, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I’m kind of daunted by colorwork knitting, but I’ll try anything!

  36. Sheila says

    October 28, 2015 at 11:45 am

    I’ve never really taken on intarsia. One of these days…

  37. Elena Tucker says

    October 28, 2015 at 11:59 am

    I would like to improve my short rows.
    thanks!

  38. Carla S says

    October 28, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    I would like to learn how to knit mittens. Using four needles is intimidating for me.

  39. Connie K. says

    October 28, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Cables were a big hurdle for me. I was afraid I’d never get the hang of them, but when it clicked I never looked back. Now I love cable knitting!

  40. inspired4eternity says

    October 28, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Beginner to advance, would be good to see if there is anything I have not tried and if there are better ways of explaining different technics to help teach others to knit!

  41. rosey175 says

    October 29, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    I’ve just started learning to knit, and just (yesterday) learned how to wrangle circulars. Maybe this would help with dp needles! I really want to make an army of socks and gloves. 😀 And how to do cables! Reading through some of the comments… I have a lot to learn yet haha.

  42. yarnaddicted says

    October 30, 2015 at 10:36 am

    For some reason, socks are challenging and I’ve attempted to start a few times without success.

  43. Carmen N says

    October 31, 2015 at 10:27 am

    I’m currently trying to learn brioche. I think it’s more the combination of yarn and needles I chose that’s hindering my progress than the stitch pattern

  44. boblosan says

    October 31, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    I would love to learn how to adjust patterns for plus size.

Have you read?

Knit a Linen Stitch Hot Pad

Linen stitch is one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns that, every time I use it in a project, I think about how I don’t use it often enough. 

It’s an easy stitch to make, with slip stitches done with the yarn held to the front of the work on the right/front side and to the back on the wrong/back side, which makes the strand of yarn a visible part of the pattern. 

It also makes a fabric that is thick and looks kind of like a woven fabric.

I recently used linen stitch to make a double-thick pot holder, which I worked in a kind of interesting way. I didn’t want to have to do any sewing on the project, so I started it from a crochet cast on and picked up stitches from the side of the cast on to make the hot pad all in one piece in the round with the edge sealed. 

This requires working on two circular needles, which is another technique I don’t use that often and am always reminded how much I like it when I do. 

The combination of double thickness and the stitch pattern makes for a hot pad that’s already pretty thick, but I also added a bit of old towel to the inside before I closed up the end to make it super thick and extra protective for your surfaces. 

I found the engineering challenge of this construction method to be a lot of fun, but you could also just knit it as a tube (casting on twice as many stitches as I did) and sew up the ends by hand when the knitting is done. Either way you’ve got a useful and pretty addition to your kitchen, whether you work it in a solid color, stripes or as a stash busting project will all your cotton odd balls. 

You can grab the pattern over at Our Daily Craft, or check it out on Ravelry. 

40+ Hot Pads You Can Sew For The Kitchen [Sewing]

A Cozy Knit to Calm Your Mind

Double Knit an Infinity Scarf

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