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Book Review – Knitter’s Know-How

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Knitter's Know-How giveaway

Congratulations to Dina!

One of my other jobs aside from writing for Craft Gossip is that I occasionally write book reviews for Foreword, a great magazine and website supporting small, independent publishing.

I recently did a roundup of craft book reviews for them, which was a lot of fun, and included a knitting book I’d like to share with you: Knitter’s Know-How: 127 Techniques Every Knitter Needs to Know by Cap Sease.

From my review:

Cap Sease covers a wide range of planning and finishing techniques in this straightforward and helpful book. Clear illustrations, sometimes photographs and sometimes drawings, show knitters just what to do to get the results they want. The book offers many options for the necessary steps of finishing, leaving it up to the knitters to determine what works best for them. For example, while most knitters are familiar with mattress stitch as a way to sew seams, Sease offers nine other options, as well as knit and crocheted edges.

The book covers project planning, weaving in ends, blocking, seams, Kitchener stitch, picking up stitches, working bands, cord and crocheted edgings, buttons and buttonholes, zippers, pockets and more, as well as how to care for your knits to keep them in the best shape possible.

It’s a great reference book for knitters of all skill levels who knit garments and want to explore ways they could do things differently and better than they do now.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Dec. 11. Tell me about the last sweater you knit or what you hope to knit next (I have a cardigan in Christmas colors on the needles for my daughter).

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

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Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

 

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Comments

  1. I am trying to finish an afghan sampler for myself – so that I can start knitting a nativity set.

  2. I have startitis….I haven’t finished anything lately, but the last thing I started was the first baby sweater for my twin grandsons.

  3. The last sweater (and the first sweater!) I knit was a vest from a 1980s pattern and I used a pale green yarn because I had it. It turned out beautifully except the color is a little … different. I lost weight and it is too big!

    Next sweater project planned is something quite complicated that I saw Staci from verypink.com knit. Fair Isle, steeking, intricate pattern – I can’t wait! I have some gorgeous Icelandic wool in natural colors that are perfect for this.

    I always start big.

  4. I quite often start knitting without a pattern or a definite plan, then wind up with a garment I’m not quite sure how to finish. These go into my WIPWIPWIP pile. That’s Work In Progress While I Ponder What I Prefer.

    Right now I have a sweater sitting waiting for me to figure out how to add a facing and zipper where there was no facing or zipper planned when I started. Perhaps this book could help?

  5. The last sweater I knit was entirely in seed Stitch which I ordinarily avoid like the plague. I participated in a shawl knit along with Marly Bird and thanks to her instruction and tips, I finally get how to keep my seed Stitch mistake proof

  7. I saw a link a few days ago about an owl pattern hat, so hopefully that will be something i can sink my teeth in next!

  8. I have been thinking about knitting a pink sweater for myself. I just have this caught up in my mind as to what I want. I usually make things for others and it has been some time since knitting a sweater. Lately it has been scarves, hats and afghans.

  10. I’m on the second sleeve of my first jumper – a gift for my husband! Next I want to get a handle on knitting lacey patterns for a lovely hat

  11. I knitted my first and last sweater 7 years ago for my toddler daughter. I’m currently working on mittens for me!

  13. The last sweater I knitted was for a Barbie doll. My granddaughter finds it easier to dress her Barbie doll if the clothes are hand-knitted.

  14. After my chemo hat, and a baby blanket, I will be knitting an Aran jacket. Thank you for the giveaway.

  15. I am currently knitting a Tallulah in Bella Lino. It’s my 3rd top, and I’m loving the pattern–except for the pick up and knit on the vertical edge, a combination of garter and stockinette. I am not sure I did it right. I don’t think I like the picked up edge. Maybe the book could help?

  16. Last sweater was a top down navy blue one, had bands of garter stitch round the yoke. Fitted so well that I have another one on the needles in pink.

  19. I have a wash clothe in 2 colours of cotton to finish – I sell them with my homemade soaps. Have a lovely shrug to do next

  22. I have one cardigan, one top down bulky cable knit and one sport weight bottom up sweater on needles. I vow to finish all in the new year!

  23. Last thing I knitted was a no-seams summer jacket for my toddler. It’s green and she looks gorgeous wearing it!

  24. I have a cardigan on the needles in hibernation whilst I knit Christmas decorations for my local library!

  25. The last thing I knit was dish cloths and right now I have a Christmas sweater for one daughter and a scarf for the other daughter on my needles.

  26. My last sweater was Thea Coleman’s Dark and Stormy. I’ve been wearing it a lot lately, it’s cranberry colored and very warm and cozy.

  27. I have so many things on my to knit list, I wouldn’t know where to begin! Finishing up Christmas presents now, then maybe an afghan stash-buster.

Have you read?

Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.