200 Knitting Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets

by Betty Barnden

Book Overview

The basics of knitting are quick to master, but learning to create a stylish, professional finish usually takes much longer. This book contains over 200 professional fixes, insider tips, and secrets arranged by topic to enable any crafter to achieve a great fit and finish when knitting garments and accessories. You will also learn how to dye yarns easily in an ordinary kitchen to get the color combinations you want, and how to embellish garments with...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312373732
• ISBN13: 9780312373733
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.8" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Great tips for knitters

This book is great for new and beginner knitters, packed with little tidbits to get you out of those pesky problems. I have referred to this book often. The photos and drawings are good, and let you see clearly the solutions. This book does not have project patterns, but many little hints to make your knitting go easier and look better

Great knitting guide!

I originally found this book at the library and kept renewing it. I finally decided that I needed my own copy. It has wonderful colored pictures and easy instructions that help when you need help! I keep it right in my knitting bag for quick references. I even bought one for my friend who used to call asking me to look things up for her. If you knit, this is a must!

200 Knitting Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets

Experienced knitters or beginners can indeed learn a lot from this book, like how to integrate beads or sizing a sweater. All is presented in clear writing and illustrations. Design-wise there is nothing new or inspiring.

A MUST-HAVE for knitters!

When I first saw this book at my library, I thought 'oh, great, another book offering tips, just like all the others.' WRONG! I checked it out from the library, took it home, then went online same day to order my own copy. This book is a MUST-HAVE for knitting libraries. I've had it only a few weeks, but I've referred to it more than any other book in my (extensive) knitting library, by far. And it has had a reference to everything I've been looking for. It starts with the basics: yarns - weights, pics comparing how they knit up in size & look; needles - sizes, what they're made of & which does the best job with each type of yarn; other equipment - crochet, measuring tape, space markers, tapestry needle, gauge, row counters, circular. Then it goes on & walks you thru the steps of knitting, from patterns to flatter each body type, choosing yarn, adapting patterns, casting on, knitting the project, fixing mistakes, binding off, blocking, pressing, after care. It also has a glossary section; how-to's on: seams, pompoms, tassels, pockets, embroidering designs, intarsia, Fair Isle, beads, felting, hand-dyeing, fastenings, buttonholes, shaping, hems & ribbing. It has great, helpful pictures, showing each step in performing, well, whatever it is you need to figure out how to do. Each tip or techniques is done with contrasting colors of yarn, needles, arrows, etc., and they're good close-up photos, not little tiny pics, or hand-drawn, or computer generated. The descriptions that go with the pictures, detailing the steps involved, are very clear, concise and user-friendly. All in all, this is now my favorite reference book, the first one I grab when I have a problem or need to figure out how to do something. If you don't already have it, you're missing out on a great resource.

Very Instructional

I am really pleased with this book. It has detailed instructions and wonderful illustrations. It shows how to correct mistakes and even shows fair isle knitting. The patterns are modern and the instructions are easy to understand and follow. Great for the beginning knitter.