This Bitch loves to Stitch
Written: May 28 '06 (Updated Jun 02 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: clear how to diagrams, some great patterns
Cons: Book set up
The Bottom Line: This is a great beginner book!
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| annecal's Full Review: |
On Valentine's Day two years ago my husband and I decided that we wouldn't exchange gifts. We were gifty by nature, and we weren't going to buy into a hallmark holiday. Needless to say my husband didn't listen, and he came home with Stitch n' Bitch and Stitch n' Bitch Nation. I'd recently taken up knitting again, and was taking the odd private lesson, but hadn't ventured past scarves and hats. I didn't have any pattern books, and the patterns I knew of were sold as a one of in the yarn shop. So my most wonderful husband went to a book store, found the craft section and poured through them, actually looking at patterns to see things he thought I'd like. He did good.
Stitch n' Bitch (The Knitter's Handbook) is the first pattern book by Debbie Stoller and it's a fantastic book. It not only talks a bit about the history of knitting, but it shows with good illustration how to complete certain stitches and techniques, and it also leads you through several patterns.
Brief History This bit talks about Stoller's own history with knitting, and a more encompassing look. For example, though men are starting to pick up the needles (let me clarify, straight men are starting to pick up the needles without shame, in the past it was quite common. Soldiers during both world wars, when wounded, would knit blankets, socks and underwear for men still on the front lines. It made them feel as though they were contributing in a meaningful way.
Techniques and How To This is a great book for a beginner, just picking up the needles. It looks at the very beginning stages of knitting, choosing yarn, making a swatch to determine if you're knitting the correct size in something, and, of course, how to knit. The book shows you all of the basic stitches (of which there are two, knit and purl), and the techniques you need to learn in order to increase (knitting into the front and back of the same stitch, for one), decrease (knitting two together, or slipping a stitch, knitting a stitch and passing the slipped stitch over, also known as SKP), casting on (several methods), binding off, etc. There are instructions for people who knit continental (holding the yarn with the left hand), and English (aka "Throwers"), like me, who hold the yarn with the right hand. The images and written instructions in this book are very good. The images are usually 3 color drawings, and are done in a way that makes it helpful to see exactly what you're meant to be doing, which, when you're meant to be using sticks and string to create a sweater, is most helpful. Stitch N' Biitch also shows you incredibly helpful things, such as how to make sure your stitches aren't twisted, how to fix it when you've (gasp!) dropped a stitch, and how to choose your supplies.
The Patterns One of the great things about this book are the patterns. After you've gone through all the techniques you'll need to knit (and when I say knit, I mean cast-on, knit, purl, bind off,and weave) there are patterns that show you how to make a number of items. One of the great things about the patterns is that the book is specific about the sorts of skills you'll need to complete each pattern. For example, to make the "Ribbed for Her Pleasure Scarf" you'll need to cast on, knit, purl and cast off. A great beginner project. For the fluffy cuff mittens, you'll need to cast on, knit, purl, knit in the round, pick up stitches, color change and decrease. This allows you to have a good general idea of whether or not you're ready for the pattern in question.
The patterns themselves are pretty good! Think young, hip, trendy. This is not your grandmother's pattern book. Fun, funky sweaters, a backpack with monkey face or funky bunny on the back, hats, scarves, several bags, wrist warmers, cell phone covers and other fun to knit items. You can look inside the book at the patterns featured at www.knithappens.com.
This book is worth buying for the patterns, but if you already know how to knit, you might be better off getting this book from the library for the odd pattern. If, however, you know someone who is interested in knitting, this is a great book to get them started.
One thing I don't particularly love about this book is that all the photos of the items to be knit are in the center of the book, in full color. So you'll open it to the photo section and it'll say "Fluffy Cuff Mittens, see page xx"
I much prefer the page to have a photo of the item followed by the pattern. This issue is addressed in the sequel to the book, Stitch N' Bitch Nation, and this is the only real critique I have of this book.
Stitch N' Bitch, Bitch, Bitch! One of the greatest things to come of this book is the start of SnB groups around the world. Odds are there's a SNB near you, a group of knitters from all walks of life who will meet at a local coffee shop, or book store, or yarn shop and knit and chat. How wonderful!
Overall
I give this book 5 stars for a beginner knitting book. It's clear in it's instruction, fun in patterns, and informative when it comes to the information you'll actually want to know before choosing your materials.
Special thanks to MobiProf
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
annecal
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Member: Annie
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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