 | Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures by Kay Gardiner
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $13.50 Kay and Ann are chatty, engaging and fun to read. The patterns are easy to follow and yield positive results.
This is more than a pattern book - I found myself laughing out-loud as I read and able to curl up on the couch for hours, engaged in Mason-Dixon Knitting.
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 | The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges by Ann Budd
Buy new: $17.79 / Used from: $13.99 A good basic guide to sweater making. Budd's patterns tend to be boxy with minimal shaping, thus requiring some knowledge of shaping and sweater design to make them unique.
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 | Knitting for Baby: 30 Heirloom Projects with Complete How-to-Knit Instructions by Melanie Falick
Buy new: $21.33 / Used from: $5.38 Adorable patterns with easy to follow directions. A must for any baby knitter!
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 | Cheaper Than Therapy by Annie Modesitt (Editor)
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.55 Modesitt is a very warm and friendly woman (we knit together and chatted a bit when I bought the book). Cheaper Than Therapy contains stories about knitting rather than patterns and is a lovely read.
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 | The Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits by Julie Carles
Buy new: $19.80 / Used from: $4.36 Nice to look at. Patterns tend to have many errors and generally call for very bulky yarns which (a) can get very expensive and (b) be hard to find.
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 | The Yarn Girls' Guide to Beyond the Basics by Julie Carles
Buy new: $22.80 / Used from: $1.24 Nice to look at. Patterns tend to have many errors and generally call for very bulky yarns which (a) can get very expensive and (b) be hard to find.
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 | The Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits: Patterns for Babies and Toddlers by Julie Carles
Buy new: $19.80 / Used from: $10.00 Cute. I haven't tried any of the patterns yet, but as a trend, find that the Yarn Girls like to use bulky yarns that knit up fast. This can be (a) very expensive and (b) hard to find.
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 | Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns by Iris Schreier
Buy new: $14.36 / Used from: $4.93 Beautiful projects with luxurious yarns. My personal favorite is chevron scarf which I made for my mother with a delicious silk and linen blend in a lovely rosey color.
This book is not necessarily a practical knits book, but is a wonderful accent to any knitting library.
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 | Big Book of Knitting by Katharina Buss
Buy new: $13.57 / Used from: $4.99 My very first knitting book. I used it daily at first and haven't looked at it for over a year. A great staple for a beginning knitter.
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 | The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting Illustrated, 3rd Edition by Barbara Breiter
Buy new: $13.57 / Used from: $11.09 Not my favorite. I don't like the concept that we are all idiots and need a guide to help us through life. If you are fond of the series, buy it.
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 | The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Buy new: $30.00 / Used from: $27.99 My newest addition and I am in love! Elizabeth Zimmermann is a joy to read and her patterns are "pithy" and timeless. A must-have! I can't believe it took me so long to get it!
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 | Wrap Style: Innovative to Traditional, 24 Inspirational Shawls, Ponchos, and Capelets to Knit and Crochet (Style series) by Pam Allen
Buy new: $14.93 / Used from: $5.91 A delightful twist on what can be a boring project - scarfs, stoles, and wraps. Interesting and well written patterns to warm your shoulders and your neck.
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 | Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss
Buy new: $13.57 / Used from: $5.00 Simple baby knits for a beginning, novice or advanced knitter. Patterns are straight forward and can be embellished and/or altered if so desired.
Bliss' patterns tend to run a bit roomy - my 12 month sweater fits my now almost 2 yr. old neice.
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 | Knit Baby Blankets!
Buy new: $12.78 / Used from: $3.00 Have it. Never used it for a full pattern, but got some ideas....
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 | Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit by Christina Stork
Buy used from: $0.11 Pretty ponchos and cool capelets. A nice addition to a developing library.
Yarn recommendations are easy to find, substitutes are also available.
Plus, this book will fit nicely in your purse, no need to pull out a backpack or suitcase :)
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 | Little Badger Knitwear: Knitted Projects for Babies and Toddlers by Ros Badger
Buy used from: $0.36 Adorable baby and toddler knits! The models make the book a pleasure to look at (those cheeks!) and the patterns are straight forward.
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