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Giveaway: Knitting Know-How

June 13, 2016 by Sarah White

Knitting know-how giveaway

Congratulations, Heidi!

It seems like people are always interested in general knowledge books about knitting. Whether we are new knitters (or knitting hopefuls!) or people who have a lot of knitting skills but want to know if there’s a better way to do something, I think most knitters have a few reference books on their shelves. The Internet can tell us a lot, but sometimes it’s nice to have a book close when you need to know how to make a short row or turn a cable.

The book Knitting Know-How: Techniques, Lessons and Projects for Every Knitter’s Library by Dorothy T. Ratigan and Judith Durant is a good reference for knitters of a variety of skill levels. It’s a big book, but at 270 pages it isn’t so big that it’s overwhelming. It also includes a lot of large pictures, which make it easy to see what’s going on in tutorials and swatches.

And it covers a wide variety of things a knitter would want to know, from the basics of yarn and needles to reading patterns, forming stitches, casting on, binding off, shaping, working flat and in the round. It also looks at a variety of color knitting, cable and lace techniques, knitting with beads and how to plan and design garments. There are also eight project lessons that help you use your new skills as you read.

I’m giving away a copy of this book this week. If you’d like a chance to win, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, June 19. I’d love to know what skill level you consider yourself, whether complete beginner or truly advanced. (I’m pretty advanced, but I still mess up when I try to knit lace, pretty much every time.)

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

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Comments

  1. Debbie Richardson says

    June 13, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I would like to win this book! I would consider myself a competent beginner. ????

  2. Chris Baker Cox says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:13 am

    I need all the help I can get. I am a beginner.

  3. Jennifer Aubin says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:20 am

    I would love to have this book! I consider myself just a tiny bit above beginner!

  4. Mary Helene says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Wonderful book, would love to add it to my knitting library.

  5. sbabettew says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I am a complete beginner! I’ve been trying for years to get this down. One of my co-workers tried helping me and I can do the basics. However, I cannot seem to keep my stitches loose enough consistently. If this book could guide me through this issue, I would love to win it.

  6. Margie says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:22 am

    This looks like a book that would be of great help as I teach my cousin to knit! I’m a pretty advanced knitter myself but some things…like short rows…still scare me.

  7. Lee says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:30 am

    I would say I am an intermediate beginner – still have lots I can learn! thanks!

  8. Marilyn says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:32 am

    I’m in the intermediate category and always like new ways to do things. Sounds like a good book!

  9. KnittingGG says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:33 am

    Could you ever know too much about knitting? Sometimes, just reading a book on knitting will iron out the wrinkles in a bad day!\

  10. C says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I have been knitting less than a year. I think this book will help me advance in my knitting skills. Thank you.

  11. Layne Lanpher says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I am a new needle knitter, but I have been loom knitting for about 10 years. I would like to learn more needle knitting so I can try socks.

  12. Michele says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:37 am

    I am experienced as a knitter but only know the basics. This book woul be helpful.

  13. Theresa says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:40 am

    I am a complete beginner knitting–only know the basic knit and purl. I can not seem to get the hang of picking up a dropped stitch, so I have to totally rip out a project if I drop one.
    Need all the help I can get.

  14. Rhonda says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:41 am

    I’m a new knitter, I have knit a few scarfs and a little baby sweater which was NOT easy. I think, I bit off more than I could chew.. lol
    I would to learn more… 🙂 Happy day!

  15. Hanni says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:44 am

    I am advanced, especially love lace knitting, but would like to learn new ways of casting on and binding off.

  16. Deanna says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:47 am

    This looks like a book I seriously need. I am not a beginner, however anything beyond plain knitting is a challenge for me. Currently struggling with soxes….

  17. DR says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:50 am

    I am a confident beginner, but I still have a lot to learn. This book would help me to gain confidence in trying new things.

  18. Marzia says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:57 am

    Would lote it!

  19. Marzia says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:59 am

    Ouch I typed wrong!!! I’d love it!

  20. Vivianne Breault says

    June 13, 2016 at 11:59 am

    HI! I consider myself as a maniac knitter, no more no less! Thanks for this contest! Have a nice day you all!

  21. Kylie C says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I’d still consider myself an advanced beginner- I’ve made some hats & scarves but nothing large, with a lot of shaping, or special techniques like lace or colorwork.

  22. KATE SARSFIELD says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    I used to do a lot of knitting in school but haven’t in years so I’m pretty much learning all over again!

  23. yolanda says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    I consider myself a beginner…
    My first project was cables and my latest, (which was full of learning curves!), was brioche…
    Thanks for the giveaway.

  24. kathleen k says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    more than a beginner, but not an expert

  25. joyce hancock says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    I think I am an intermediate knitter, even though I have been knitting for 40 plus years. There are a few advanced techniques I have yet to try. Thanks for the giveaway!

  26. pattipanuccio says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    i would love to knit again. Last time was 1979

  27. Heidi says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    Hi there!
    Even though I’ve been knitting for 8 years, I still feel like a beginner when I come across lace patterns..there’s something about charts that have me praying when I start! I would love to increase my skills and actually knit something other than a triangle, rectangle or circle! I love books and having them on a bookshelf is a thing I adore; I would love to add this to my collection

  28. Unique Threads and Yarns says

    June 13, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Although I’ve been knitting for over 45 years, I consider myself only intermediate. Would love to win the book. Since my Mom passed away, I have no one to guide me when I have a knitting question. Now, I’m passing my knowledge on to my granddaughter.

  29. Ashley Van Buren says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    I’m past beginner, but nowhere near advanced! Just call me intermediate. 😀

  30. sparkleanddoomdesigns says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    super super super beginner. I just cannot wrap my head around increasing and decreasing.

  31. Denise Penn says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    I am somewhere between “I got this!” and “oh crap!!”.

    Would really love to have this book, thanks for the opportunity!

  32. Karen H. says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    I consider myself a beginner. I have made a few things like scarves , hats and now working on a shawl. Mostly in garter stitch and stockinette.

  33. Carla Bottenfield says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Sounds like a great book. I am an advanced beginner knitter.

  34. Susan Spiers says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    I consider myself pretty advanced, but I too have some problems with lace designs. Sometimes, its just the type of yarn, other times I just get ahead of myself! Great giveaway, thank you -Susan

  35. Cindy S says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    I’m intermediate, there’s always something to learn, and better ways to do it. 🙂

  36. Helen King says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    I am an intermediate knitter. This book would be awesome as it goes into skills I have not tried yet but would love to!

  37. Connie K. says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    I consider myself an intermediate knitter, but one with ambitions. I woudl love to have this book!

  38. Deb says

    June 13, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    I am an incompetent beginner who kicks myself every day for not paying attention to my lovely grandmother who tried to teach me how to knit more than 50 years ago. I just wasn’t interested then and now I grieve the loss of her and her knitting and crocheting skills. It is such a loss on my part. Thank you for the give always, they are such nice gifts!

  39. Judy mills says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    I would love to win the book. I think I am an intermediate knitter

  40. Terry Paron says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    I’d call myself an intermediate knitter, but some days I’d have question that as some techniques are so challenging! The book would be a great resource!

  41. Janna says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    I would call myself a confident knitter. But you never stop learning!!! ????

  42. boblosan says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:28 pm

    I think I’m a beginning intermediate knitter (?). I would certainly love to win this book, as the beginning stages are always the hardest.

  43. Helen says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    Just finished my first big project – a baby sweater. Not quite beginner but nowhere near as talented as I’d like to be

  44. Flo says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    I consider myself an advanced beginner; new techniques usually challenge ma and I really enjoy taking them on. Thanks so much for the chance to win this awesome book!

  45. jo says

    June 13, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    intermediate – haven’t tried any serious lace work – yet

  46. Heidi Kirsch says

    June 13, 2016 at 3:10 pm

    I like to think of myself as an advanced intermediate knitter. Of course I think I’m barely a beginner when I’m frogging again.

  47. craftyone says

    June 13, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    I consider myself a beginning knitter. I have the basic knit/purl down and can work in the round.

  48. Margay says

    June 13, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    I would consider myself pretty advanced, too, in most areas, but I always like to have a reference guide for when I take on a project I’m not as comfortable with, such as intarsia, lace knitting or complicated cables.

  49. Corissa Johns says

    June 13, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    My skill level is Super Beginner. I can basically knit squares. I mainly make wash clothes but it would be nice to be able to make something else.

  50. Cindy McIlvain says

    June 13, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    I am a novice. This book would be a fantastic help.

Newer Comments »

Have you read?

Book Review: Circular Knitting for Beginners and Beyond

When I discovered Kate Atherley’s book Circular Knitting for Beginners and Beyond, I wasn’t sure there was enough to say about circular knitting to fill a book. It’s a pretty short book (144 pages) and includes 10 patterns to practice working in the round on small projects, and it provides a decent introduction to the various ways of working in the round. 

The book covers using double pointed knitting needles, flexible double points and circular knitting needles with cables. It talks about working using the full circumference of a circular needle and various ways to work smaller circumference projects, such as using DPNs, magic loop and knitting with two circular knitting needles. 

In addition there’s a discussion of preventing problems like twists and ladders, swatching in the round without actually swatching in the round, grafting, blocking and weaving in ends. 

More specialized techniques likes knitting from the center out, stranded colorwork, helical knitting and jogless stripes are also explored, as well as working pieces like socks or mitts two at a time. 

There’s also some information about seamless sweaters, including the different sweater designs that can be worked seamlessly (and why you might want seams in your sweaters) and how they are worked from the top down or the bottom up. 

There are 10 patterns in the book, including a basic stockinette stitch cowl and one with a deliberate twist, wrist warmers, mitts and a pair of colorwork mittens, a hat worked in a solid color or in helical stripes, toe up and top down socks and a beret. It would have been nice to have a basic sweater pattern, too, since the book does talk about working larger garments with circular needles, but it’s still a nice collection of basic patterns worked in the round. 

If you’re already comfortable working in the round in different ways, I’m not sure there’s much for you to learn in this book, but it is a good reference for people learning circular knitting or who maybe haven’t tried all the techniques yet or need skill building projects to try. 

About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 10 patterns. Published 2026 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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