Rating: 
Summary: Love it, love it, love it.
Review: I have almost every book by this author. She has great patterns. One review I read said "Beware, this is not a beginner book". I believe it is a book for all levels. If you are a beginner then the best place to start with this book would be in the beginning. She takes you through how to hold the needles, to casting on the stitches (two differennt methods), the very basic knit and purl stitches and increasing decreasing and binding off (can't get more beginner than that). The first project is a garter stitch bag which is done in just the very basic knit stitch with no shaping (Increasing or Decreasing). She than takes you on to a stockinette-stitch sweater which consists of just knit and purl stiches with still no shaping just has you focusing on creating a neat and even fabric. If you are an advanced beginner you could go on to some of the more difficult patterns. She always shows you how to do the techniques and stitches before putting them into a pattern. I have just started to do some multi-colored knitting so I will need to look to chapter 4 Color Workshop. I love the "Aran Stitch Library". She shows row by row how to make lots of different designs. I would love to be able to design my own sweaters. Her last chaper shows you the basics of how to start, but this is a very short chapter. I would put this book at the top of my list of How to knit books. I love it, love it, love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Just to reiterate....there are better books for beginners
Review: I just started knitting a few weeks ago and picked this book up at the library. While I love Debbie Bliss' designs, there's no way I'll be making any of these projects any time soon. The first pattern is a bag which is relatively simple but it would take forever to finish it as a beginner as it uses neither big needles or bulky yarn. As a beginner I belive you need to start with a small project to feel like you are accomplishing something. I feel like the book covers a huge range of abilities and thus isn't apptly titled.It does have a good amount of directions on how to do many different patterns which is nice, and like I mentioned before, the designs are good.
Rating:
Summary: What I've been looking for!
Review: I love this book! It IS a great beginners book. The only way you cannot learn from it, is if you need some one-on-one hands on attention. Yes, most of the patterns are for children, BUT when starting a new project as a beginner, it is best to do a smaller scale project or you will be overwhelmed. The back of the book tells you how to calculate a pattern for the best overall measurements. The book does call for mostly Rowan Designer DK Wool, But they also all have a gauge, so if you want to use another yarn, just knit to the gauge. It is VERY helpful showing all of the techniques from holding the yarn, casting on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, bind off, picking up dropped stitches, yarn overs, knitting w/ beads, all the way to designing your own patterns. It has something for the begginer all the way up. I borrowed this from a friend and I am going to buy my own copy. I am also going to check out some of her other books.
Rating: 
Summary: Best for those with some experience and children to knit for
Review: I really enjoy the way Debbie Bliss's How to Knit is set up like a knitting course with each chapter building on the next. The book is a series of workshops covering a comprehensive list of knitting areas - basics, simple stitch patterns, Aran stitches, color work, lace, entrelac, decorative details, designing, and finishing.
Each chapter begins with a section of drawings and descriptions on techniques. In a few cases, I found these to be rather brief and had to refer to other sources for clarification. In addition to techniques, most chapters also include a stitch library and 2 or 3 projects. As other reviewers have stated, many of these projects are children's sweaters. However, while they are child-size, they are not childish. With a little help from the Design Workshop chapter, you could easily adapt these classic styles with simple lines for an adult. In any case, there are other projects for your home and yourself. Or you can work swatches from the stitch library examples in order to practice the techniques presented.
My favorite section was the one covering the entrelac technique. I have not seen such detailed step-by-step instruction on this anywhere else. However, you will need to know how to pick up stitches as to purl which is not covered here.
Overall, I would recommend this book with some small reservations. While it is nice to have a book which covers such a comprehensive selection of topics, the relatively short length of the book means that some of the sections are a bit skimpy. The book is best suited to someone who has at least some acquaintance with the basics and has small children to knit for. However, all knitters can probably learn something from this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for beginners
Review: I really liked this book because it was very detailed. It explains technique, terminology, and patterns that a beginner can understand. It is written so that you build your skills as you go, with project lessons for each section. I have completed the first lesson, a garter stitch tote bag, and am working on the second lesson, a stockingnette child's sweater. The only complaint I have is that I will the very beginning projects were a little smaller, so that you can learn quickly and move on to the next lesson or section. But, the directions are very easy to follow and you do really learn the stitches this way in a slow enough method that you really LEARN. If you have never picked up a knitting needle, I highly recommend this book. If you are a crocheter, like I am, and are wanting to learn knitting, you will learn with this book. I have tried four other books before I found this one and this is the one that I'm sticking with. Finally, this book does include more advanced techniques such as Fair Isle, intarsia, and jacquard as well as designing your own patterns. Not only do you learn the basics but you can keep advancing your skills as you become more comfortable with knitting. A true book for learning the craft!
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Helpful
Review: I taught myself to knit using this book, and I would recommend it to all beginning/aspiring knitters. The diagrams clearly illustrate every technique discussed. They accurately portray the textual descriptions, which provides a visual "quick reference" for each technique. The text is engaging and easy to follow. Bliss explains even the most complicated techniques without "dumbing it down." My only problem was that many of the projects in the course were for children. Since I neither have nor know any kids, I actually found myself searching for easy, similar patterns as substitutes. Even so, Bliss does a great job of walking the beginning knitter through the basic skills and on to more advanced techniques. Probably the best aspects of her book are the Aran and color-knitting (Fair Isle and Intarsia) and Entrelac workshops. They provide me with a lot of inspiration, and something to look forward to as my skills increase. I would also recommend this book to anyone looking to brush up on their skills, or to have around as a reference book.
Rating:
Summary: Great beginner's book!
Review: I've tried to learn how to knit over the years from 3 very experienced knitter with no success. I gave up and just settled with crocheting with lots of success. Then I found this book in my storage and decided to give knitting one last try. After sitting down with it for a weekend, I've now learn the basic stitches and am working on the baby blanket pattern! (I'm not doing the color work though, just the blanket with the heart design.) I've even tried most of the basic patterns with great success as well.
The step-by-step graphic is very, very clear and the hand positioning is given in the first section! The instructions for the patterns are very clear as well.
My only complaint is that most of the projects are large and takes a while to do. For a beginner, I feel that it may be best to have some simpler and faster-completing projects like a scarf. The few smaller projects, like the child's hat, it requires color work. Perhaps, since this is a beginner's book, it should include more monochromatic patterns?
Regardless, I still like this book a lot and I know I will be referring to it even as I get more familiar with knitting! My recommendation would be to practice the basic stitches until you are comfortable with the hand positioning and yarn application before beginning a project. It took me a couple of days to get consistent with my tension/guage before I started my first project. Good luck =)
Rating:
Summary: One of the Better How-to Books I've Seen
Review: I've tried to teach myself using other books and I haven't been successful. I picked up this book based on others' recommendations and am happy I did. I can see this being a staple book in my knitting library. Bliss offers workshops on everything from simple stitches and color to textures and lace. The projects start out very basic. Learning a few simple techniques like casting on and the knit stitch, the first project has you practicing and practicing. By the time I am done with project one (a tote style bag, only knit) I am confident I will be comfortable holding the needles and managing the yarn tension. Then I'll be ready to tackle the purl stitch and project two, my first sweater! I've read the entire book, and each project continues to focus on only a few techniques, building your skills. I love all of the projects. There are pillows, blankets and throws, and sweaters for both children and adults in various sizes. And s-u-p-r-i-s-e, no hat and scarf! Fabulous diagrams and wonderfully detailed photography aid along the way. I would love to go through the entire book as if it were a class and complete each project in order. With 15 projects this could take some time. My only concern is if I do work on the adult sweaters and some of the child sweaters, the photos show the models in non-normal positions. You can't clearly see the way the articles lay. It would be nice to see a pattern shown on a model standing comfortably and have both front and back views.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond the basics
Review: This is probably not the book for you if you've never even picked up a pair of knitting needles, but once you've got the basics (i.e. you know how to knit and purl), this could be the book for you. The stitch library is extensive and can provide plenty of variation to experiment with. Debbie Bliss has divided the book up into workshops, which are very helpful as you progress from one skill level to the next (you should be able to see these on the table of contents). Each workshop has 2 - 4 attractive patterns for you to use to perfect your new skills and techniques. Most of the patterns are for children, but there are a very nice Fair Isle cardigan and a lacy tunic in adult sizes. I only have two complaints. Bliss calls for Rowan yarn -- and only Rowan yarn -- throughout the book. Rowan is expensive and hard to find in my area. I think it would be possible to make substitutions, but I haven't tried it yet. Second, almost all of the patterns are for children. As I've gained more experience looking for good knitting books, I now realize that Bliss designs mainly for children, and I would have taken that into account when buying this book. However, I do not have any children, and I'd rather have a book with patterns that I could make for adults.
Rating:
Summary: Beginners, beware! This is not the book for you!
Review: What an ideally versatile book for beginners or more seasoned knitters! It has become my knitting bible and should be a staple on every knitter's bookshelf. Sadly, a few years ago my grandmother became too tired to knit so we were no longer blessed with her gorgeous afghans. I decided that was the perfect time for me to learn. The title alone of Debbie's book, "How to Knit", was enough to entice me into buying it. Some people might learn to knit more easily by watching others, but if you are usually able to follow written instructions and diagrams you should have no problem learning from this book. It worked for me and I was thrilled to be knitting my first garter stitch pattern in no time. If you start from the beginning of the book and continue knitting every project I promise there will be almost nothing you won't be able to knit. I would not label her patterns as quick-to-knit ones, but the fact that you are spending plenty of time learning the technique allows you to truly master it; however, you could knit just a few rows from some of the patterns and be able to learn the technique just as well. Every project I knit from this book has turned out so beautifully I haven't wanted to miss out on any of the patterns. The projects are versatile and always appropriate for someone in your family, although you'll be tempted to keep many completed projects for your own pleasure! As it should, the lessons progress from the very simple garter stitch to the more challenging (but not as difficult as you might think) Fair Isle design, lacy patterns and the entrelac technique. Don't let any of these patterns intimidate you, because the instructions are so well written and timed appropriately, considering what you have already learned. I was pleased with the section on designing your own sweater. There are also sections in many chapters showing many different patterns so you can put your creativity to work. The Debbie Bliss yarn that is available is a pleasure to knit with, too - the colors and textures are so appealing and beautiful! The only thing that this book is lacking is at least one pattern knit with quicker knitting chunky yarns.
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