Rating: 
Summary: Best Knitting Book I Own
Review: I have been knitting for many years. This is clearly the best book of instruction I have ever seen. It's clear, concise, and has great illustrations, not to mention the added touch of humor.
Rating: 
Summary: Get Pam Allen's book first...
Review: ... and here's why. Yes, this book is cute (in fact, a little too cutesy in spots) and it has the best beginner patterns - things you'll really want to wear. But it also has some questionable advice - for example, the first thing I turned to was a recommendation to forget blocking your work before you assemble it. Dumb. Very, very dumb. That's like not washing fabric before you sew it - you may get away with it sometimes, but not often, and it's a sloppy habit.I'd buy this book in conjunction with the "Dummies" guide, if you can afford both. Otherwise, start with Pam Allen and add this one next.
Rating:
Summary: Consistently Cute Patterns and Entertaining Banter
Review: I've been knitting for quite some time and as many of us young, non-traditional knitters know trying to find cute and modern patterns can be a challenge. Usually I'll buy a book when I really love 2 or 3 of the patterns but in this book almost every pattern appealed to me. Many of the patterns are simple enough for the beginner and Stoller covers a lot of ground as far as techniques are concerned. It's not a knitting bible nor a complete reference, but I learned a lot from it and I've been very happy with the results. The writing style is pretty cheesy at times but in a funny way and anyone who's fallen asleep while reading dry, boring knitting books will welcome Stoller's puns and rock 'n roll knitting attitude as refreshing.
Rating:
Summary: Great coverage of the basics
Review: This is a great book for beginners and presents a foundation of knitting skills in an approachable fun and non threatening way. Everything from knowing how stitches should "sit" on a needle to how to wind your own center pull ball have been invaluable. This is a little too basic for a knitter who has more experience, but the patterns are fun and challenging for those starting out. I still turn back to this book when I need some clarification for techniques that I dont use all the time.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL book for beginners!
Review: I have only been knitting for a week now, being taught by a HORRIBLE beginner book that I don't remember the name of. The reviews were right...this book is fabulous. Not only is it basic enough for beginners, it is downright funny and histerical!! I laughed so many times while reading. I definitely suggest reading through the book before you begin to get a good sense of what knitting is all about...but I was too anxious to take my own advice :) The chapters are split into very precise topics. It is very well organized and has hints all over (which is why I suggest reading it first before starting so you know where everything is). The patterns are so great! I can't wait to make the cat bed for my two kitties! They are going to love them!
Rating:
Summary: worth every penny
Review: This is by far the best knitting book I own. It has step by step directions written in plain, fun language, and its projects are amazing. I went into my local yarn store (LYS, as you'll learn on psge 116) looking for a pattern for a felted purse, but was sorely disappointed--they were all so ugly. Then I found SnB, and flipped through the gorgeous glossy pictures of equally gorgeous projects: cardigans, blankets, scarves, a sweater you dye with Kool Ade, and, yes, a felted purse. Right now I'm combining several elements from different projects to make a supercute purse, complete with a little pouch and a star on the pocket. As soon as I can find the right yarn, I'm making the Queen of Hearts bikini!
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate guide for knitters
Review: This book answers all the questions a new knitter might ask, and provides a quick and easy reference for the slightly more expirienced. Not only did this book provide me with easy to follow guides on the really cool things you can do with a pair of needles, but it gave me some really fun and hip to projects to try. This book is funny, informative and not so large that I cant tote it around in my knitting bag to have handy for a quick refernce on trickier teqniques and even a step by step guides on how to fix the inevidable mistake or two. I would recommend this book as a must have for any knitter.
Rating:
Summary: A Welcoming Book For Beginners
Review: As a young man who is learning to knit, I have felt alienated by many of the books out there on knitting. This is the first book I've found that has not only helped me with the simple basics such as casting on, binding off, etc - but also helped explain the appeal knitting has for me. I really connected with this book! Stoller writes about her grandmother's knitting, of the feminist artistic lineage she hopes to reclaim and reinterpret, of the crafty do-it-yourself consciousness (which is popular here in Vermont) and of the therapeutic, calming effect knitting has. All of the lessons she gives are easy to understand with helpful graphics to illustrate. This book will appeal to those frustrated with the glut of dated matronly images so prevelant in other books and will hopefully inspire a new generation of knitters to reclaim the artsake passed down by family members - or to start new traditions of their own. Many of the projects in the book are actually of things younger people might conceive of wearing, not like those anacronistic patterns that riddle other books - and they're pretty straightforward. The only improvement I'd suggest would be a greater exploration of the various stitches - but this is a great book and a welcoming introduction. I'm so pleased that I found it!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and a good addition
Review: I had avoided buying this book because I thought it sounded like a waste of money. However, I saw it in a brick and mortor book store and picked it up to peruse. I liked it almost immediately. I didn't buy it for the patterns - I have plenty of those. I also have lots of "tips and technique" books, but this one was fun to read. It's clever and witty and inexpensive enough that it didn't matter to me that the patterns weren't so great. That said, my boyfriend does want a sweater with skulls on it now! I wouldn't recommend this book for a brand new knitter with no other books, but it is definitely worth adding to an existing knitting library.
Rating:
Summary: Great for the Young at Heart
Review: I just started knitting, and the thing I have been having trouble with is finding projects that I would actually use. I find many patterns extreemely frumpy, but these are young and fresh. I mean I picked up this book and was like, FINALLY something I actually want to make. Now it is true, people with more sophisicated tastes may not be impessed, with a sweater with a skull on it, but that isn't who this book is aimed towards. I am currently working on the punkrock backpack, and just finnished the cat ears hat.
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