Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-To-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes

by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Book Overview

From Elizabeth Zimmermann, who "revolutionized the art of knitting" (New York Times), the classic knitting bible that removes the frustration and puts the fun back into knitting with easy-to-follow instructions and timeless designs.Do you love to knit--and hate to purl? Have you ever started a sweater without enough yarn from the same dye lot to finish it? When you cast on, do you end up with a tail of yarn that's maddeningly too long or too short?...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684135051
• ISBN13: 9780684135052
• Release Date: July 1971
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.4" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

I wish I could say

I never received the book though the P.O.says it was delivered

Experienced OR beginner- this can be a lifesaver for UFO's & book "opens your mind".

BEFORE discovering EZ's books myself (experienced beginner?) the thought of implementing what I imagined (in my mind, never reading her books before) EZ's methods to be seemed daunting, out of my limited reach. This title by E.Z. is a lot of conversational, informal, almost "chatty" kind of stuff- but what stuff it is! Please, when you see it buy it. OK, so her style of knitting instruction is indeed revolutionary. Do not be put off by her chatty conversational way the book's written. She goes further than solving the old problem of not enough yarn to finish a project by using an alternate colored yarn- she gives ideas on exactly how to do it, and make it appear "on purpose". This book taught me you can knit up something from scratch without a pattern, practically making it up as you go along. I didn't know you could do a very elegant all-ribbing sweater just by knitting into backs of your knits and purls all the way! SO many things Ive learned from this book. Many, many things. I have a lot of knitting books but this one is so different. I just love this EZ lady and so glad she wrote this book- wondering if I should invest in any of her others, now that I know her "method" from this one.

Must have for serious knitters!

This book is an absolute must-have if you really love knitting. It's filled with so many practical tips and hints that your average how-to book just doesn't cover. This isn't directed towards the newbie, it is NOT a "learn to knit" book. But if you have a basic understanding of knitting, love the craft, and want to become even more skillful, this book is for you. Even if for no other reason, you must own it for the completely SEAMLESS SWEATER pattern... it's SO much easier that you would ever think!! EZ had a talent for writing in such a way that she makes you feel like you have a seasoned knitter right there with you as you navigate your way through knitting. This book is a wonderful "friend" as you further your skills. After I read it, I seriously had a boost of confidence in my own knitting.

My knitting took off after learning the method in this book

This knitting book is ground-breaking. Instead of following a pattern line by line (nothing wrong with that, I like to do that) you learn how to create sweaters to fit any body, with any yarn. Why would anyone want to do that? Well, you might have bought 15 balls of yarn on sale and don't know what to make of it. Instead of waiting for a pattern to turn up for that amount of yarn, that weight, etc, you can create your own sweater in various styles to fit anyone, you, a family member or friend. The Percentage System used in this book is easy to follow: knit a sample of your yarn, carefully measure how many stitches per inch or centimeter, then multiply that gauge times your chest circumference MINUS 10 percent for the ribbing. Increase up to 100 percent and off you go. Soon you will have a yoke style sweater, Norwegian drop shoulder or saddle shoulder, or even raglan style. Such freedom. You can go to yarn sales and as long as you have enough yarn, you can make anything from it. Right now I am knitting a cotton summer top using this method with some bargain yarn. While this book doesn't have gorgeous color photographs of stylish knits, it does teach you to create your own. After I bought this book, my knitting really took off. Yours might, too.

Indispensable fun for the serious knitter

I'd repeatedly read and heard about Elizabeth Zimmerman (or "EZ" as she was/is fondly known) but never read any of her books. I was, however, skeptical that her books could be as wonderful as they were reputed to be. The photograph on the cover of "Knitting without Tears" did little to entice me; the sweaters looked, well, a bit dowdy and boxy for my taste. Eventually I gave in and bought this book. Now I am a believer. EZ won me over with her very first sentence: "Most people have an obsession; mine is knitting." Somehow she managed to take knitting very seriously without ever taking herself very seriously. The book is full of practical tips and tricks for improving your knitting, conceptual ways to create your own patterns, and EZ's very decided opinions about the craft (worth considering whether or not you agree with them all). Best of all, anecdotes and humorous, often ironic commentary abound. Even if you never knit a seamless sweater, you'll be glad you bought this book.