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10 Knitting Books That Every Serious Knitter Needs In Their Collection
Image Credit: Ursula Castillo
I've been knitting since I was about 8 years old, and when I'm not knitting I like reading...about knitting!
There are millions of books about knitting on the market, and I love buying knitting books, but I've ended up with a few duff ones over the years. But there are other books in my knitting library that I go back to year after year. Some of them are classic knitting books which have been around for decades. Some of them are newer favourites.
Some I love because they can teach me something new, some are there to remind of things I used to know, and the rest just give me some gorgeous new patterns to try out.
So here is my selection of ten books which I can thoroughly recommend to you whether you are a beginner or a more experienced knitter looking for a new challenge.
- Vogue® Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book
- Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook by Debbie Stoller
- Mary Thomas's Knitting Book
- Knitter's Almanac: Projects for Each Month of the Year by Elizabeth Zimmermann
- Glorious Knitting by Kaffe Fassatt
- Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore
- Things I Learned From Knitting: ...whether I wanted to or not by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
- The Baby Knits Book: The Ultimate Collection of Knitwear for 0-3 Year Olds by Debbie Bliss
- The Urban Knitter by Lily M. Chin
- History of Hand Knitting by Bishop Richard Rutt
Vogue Knitting has always been the go-to magazine for knitters. It's the place to find high fashion designer knitting with patterns from big names. With patterns that will range from easy to (occasionally) ridiculously complicated, it inspires and challenges. It's also a really good read, with interviews with top knitwear designers and all the latest trends.
If you are serious about your knitting this is the book that you need to have to take your knitting to the next level; Although it starts with a beginners how to knit it goes on to teach you all the intermediate and advanced techniques that you will need.
Although this book also starts with a how-to-knit section this book is really aimed at the enthusiast, with articles, amusing asides and some patterns to really get your teeth into.
This book is great fun from the inventor of the 'Stitch'n'bitch'. Some of the items could only be worn by the very young but there are plenty of sweaters, hats, scarves and accessories that everyone will love.
My favourite is the Alien Illusion Scarf. To the casual observer it just looks like a stripy scarf, but those in the know will see strange alien faces knitted into the design.
The original doyen of knitting, this is a reprint of the 1948 original. The language may seem a little old-fashioned to us but the information is sound and the Blyton-esque illustrations charming.
You won't find much in the way of chunky fashion forward patterns here, but classic techniques intended for the fine yarns and thin needles that were the norm when it was written.
If Mary Thomas was the British Queen of Knitting, then Elizabeth Zimmerman is her US equivalent. 'The Opinionated Knitter' writes with affection here on life and knitting and writes pattern in her own pithy style.
There is a pattern for each month of the year, including mittens for cold Wisconsin winters shaewls and the pattern to her legendary Baby Sweater on Two Needle.
If colour is your thing then Kaffe is your man. Every serious knitter has to have at least one of Kaffe Fasset's books intheir knitting library. American born but resident in Britain since the 1970's, he understand's colour and pattern like nobody else.
Glorious knitting is his original book and each of the designs is a classic that you will keep for decades until they wear out. The designs range from a simple stripey t-shirt to full a length knitted coat.
Scottish knitter Alice Starmore is a champion of the craft of knitting and uses the Scottish landscape as he inspiration.
This book of patterns takes traditional cable patterns to new heights with contemporary designs and imaginative twists on the centuries old techniques of Aran knitting.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, better known as knitting blogger Yarn Harlot, is another writer who you should own at least one book by.
Her books don't contain patterns, but do contain wisdom and philosophy of knitting, musings on a life, mostly spent knitting.
It's hard to pick just one book by the prolific British designer and yarn creator Debbie Bliss. A she is probably best loved for her baby and toddler designs, this collection of her favourites would be a good place to start.
Her patterns are both accesible and wearable, stylish and classic. A perfect book for anyone who loves to knit for babies.
Knitwear designer Lily Chin collaborated with a number of 20-30 year old knitting enthusiasts to design items as diverse as shoes and bags, stoles and bras.
With a biog for each designer, the popular designer presents a book full of wearable and knittable designs. I loved the log cabin baby blanket.
The 'Knitting Bishop' wrote the definitive history of knitting, a scholarly and comprehensive work from the earliest archeological evidence to the present day.