A few weeks ago I was contacted by a Marketing Manager from Taunton Press asking me if she could send me a free copy of a knitting book. Her hope was that I'd tell the other members of my knitting group about it, but I want to do one better and let all of you know about it too.
I've been knitting for almost 4 years now and I must confess publicly, although anyone at the last NYGK meeting knows already, I have no idea how to fix a dropped stitch. Seriously. When I drop a stitch, I usually drop the project. Or shriek and ask my Mom or Adrienne to "fix it, fix it, please, please, fix it!" (Thanks to both of you!)
I have plenty of knitting books, some even discuss this subject, but never with enough detail for me to feel confident that I know what to do. My search for detailed directions ended with When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters (WBTHTGK) . Each and every direction, for the myriad of things that can go wrong while knitting, is written plainly with clear and concise illustrations. And this book covers EVERYTHING.
Marion and Ahza have over 100 years of knitting experience between them and a charming humor that you'll love. Think of them as your LYS owner, but available in the middle of the night in cute little book form.
Starting with explanations about what tools you need and the very basics for the new knitter, WBTHTGK moves on to intermediate skills like chart reading, making even decreases/increases and how to modify a pattern to suit your available yarn. There's even a chapter on how to finish your knit projects, complete with tips on seaming, blocking and not abandoning it for another day.
Full of amusing anecdotes about mistakes the authors have made and stories about their students, When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters is an enjoyable read as well as handy guide. One of my favorite features is the International Laundering Symbols chart - ever wonder what those crazy symbols on your ball band means? This is the place to find out.
When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters is a great addtion to your knitting library and compact enough to carry around in your project bag. And affordable, at about $10 - it's a great gift for your knitting friends.
4 comments:
Have you seen "Knit Fix" by Lisa Kartus? That is the best book I've ever seen on fixing knitting mistakes. Love it!
Thanks for the reco dear!
That's so cool that they contacted you!
thanks for the book review.. I will definitely take a look at it next time I'm in the book store.. Probably at the next NYGK..
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