Rating: 
Summary: This is a superb reference for all knitters
Review: Anyone at all interested in learning knitting or in improving their knitting needs this book. It is absolutely complete and can address any question or problem. I am learning how to knit from it. Please, do reprint it! There are not enough copies to go around!
Rating:
Summary: Good info & a fascinating read. SOMEONE PLEASE REPRINT IT!
Review: As a mostly self-taught knitter, I bought this book when it first came out at the extravagent price of around forty dollars. I needed a basic, all-around reference. It was a little advanced for me then, but enthralling in its detail. What I like about Hiatt is that she doesn't just provide instruction, but also information--the pros and cons of various techniques, details about types of fibers and how each behaves, and lots and lots of details about all aspects of knitting. If all you want is simple instructions, there are lots of other books out there. But I have yet to see a work as comprehensive as Hiatt. I have lots of other knitting books--Vogue, Zimmerman, and Rigetti being among my favorites, but this is the one that I turn to most often for basic information.
Rating:
Summary: Good info & a fascinating read. SOMEONE PLEASE REPRINT IT!
Review: As a mostly self-taught knitter, I bought this book when it first came out at the extravagent price of around forty dollars. I needed a basic, all-around reference. It was a little advanced for me then, but enthralling in its detail. What I like about Hiatt is that she doesn't just provide instruction, but also information--the pros and cons of various techniques, details about types of fibers and how each behaves, and lots and lots of details about all aspects of knitting. If all you want is simple instructions, there are lots of other books out there. But I have yet to see a work as comprehensive as Hiatt. I have lots of other knitting books--Vogue, Zimmerman, and Rigetti being among my favorites, but this is the one that I turn to most often for basic information.
Rating:
Summary: Like having a knitting mentor by your side
Review: How can a large, thick, heavy, unwieldy book, printed in only two colors (black and aqua) have captured the admiration and loyalty of almost every knitting instructor and needleworker who's seen it?This book explains, in excruciating detail, THIRTY-THREE ways to cast on, and when to use each method. Likewise for casting off, increases, decreases, seaming, picking up stitches, etc. -- practically any technique a knitter will ever encounter is illumined in the author's precise, clear, accessible English. The line drawings are flawless and crisp; the black-and-white photos are sharp and tonally balanced; the topics are organized in logical sections under highly legible headings; the subjects are indexed for instant reference. It's like having a knitting mentor by your side, who'll answer any knitting question you have in an honest, intelligent, informed manner. This book exhibits not only a thorough, thoughtful approach to the craft, but a passion for carrying on the art of knitting to future generations. Even novelty techniques (for ribbon, beads, sequins, felting) are discussed in depth. The only weakness I've noticed in this amazing book is that the author's "sweater-centric" viewpoint, which influences whether she'll recommend or disapprove of any given technique (especially her discussions on joining yarns, stitching seams, or choosing needles), could potentially confound afghan, scarf or "art" knitters who don't have outsides or insides to their projects. And despite a touch of traditional knitter's elitism (an unabashed bias toward knitting complex sweaters with fine gauge worsted yarns) this book provides any aspiring knitter with a solid foundation in technique and theory. The only way this book could be improved (if it were to be reprinted) is through the expansion of the chapter on handling different yarns to include the novelty yarns and gigantic gauges that have dominated the knitting landscape for the past fifteen years. Contrary to being a fad, this field of knitting is a recent and viable addition to the body of knowledge that Hiatt reveres and preserves in this essential (and tragically out-of-print) knitting reference.
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Summary: Why is this book out of print?
Review: I am fortunate that my local library has this book, but I dread the day someone steals it and pays the "lost book" fee just to add it to their collection. :( I look in every used book store I come across, hoping that _Principles of Knitting_ will be on sale. So far, no such luck. If you have a question about knitting, this should be the first book you reach for on your shelf. Unfortunately, due to it being out of print, that is impossible for most us. Please, please re-print Principles of Knitting and bring joy to knitters everywhere! :)
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Summary: The Encyclopedia of Knitting
Review: I am just now learning to knit and my mother loaned me this because she said it had the best section on learning how to knit. I don't have anything to compare to so I'm not sure, but it explains it clearly and thoroughly. I don't think that this is a book for people who want to try out knitting though. It is phone book thick (and I'm from a big city). About half of it is teaching you how to knit. It assumes you know nothing and then tells you EVERYTHING. So it is for someone who knows for sure that they want to really get into knitting. I think someone who already has done a lot of knitting might also like this. It is so thorough they might like it for reference.
If this is what you are looking for then its perfect. If it isn't then its too much information.
Rating: 
Summary: A new edition is expected
Review: I understand that the author is planning on another edition to come out probably in the next year or two for all of you that are in withdrawal because you cannot buy this book.
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Summary: YES, REPRINT THIS MASTERPIECE
Review: I was able to peruse this book once. I immediately knew I had to have it. I never dreamed it would be so difficult to obtain a copy. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, and I cannot afford the huge price tags that are being placed on existing copies. This is not a typical review where I explain the contents or details of this book. This book is a masterpiece, and I want it to be reprinted. And I believe I am not alone in this request. WE NEED TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS TO GET THIS BOOK BACK INTO PRINT! If you AGREE that it is time to have this wonderful masterpiece back in print, then click "YES", and let our numbers be counted.
Rating:
Summary: Best knitting reference
Review: I was so disappointed to find this book was out-of-print! Being a novice knitter, I'd been checking out my library's knitting books to find THE one to buy. This was it! I learned how to do the two-handed method of fair isle knitting from the wonderful drawings which are also accompanied by clear written instructions. Not only that, the author covers yarn types (magnified photos of fibers) and knitting needles in detail. I had to return this book to the library before exploring more but it seems that the breadth and depth of this book is unmatched. Simon and Schuster SHOULD definitely reprint this--a zShop seller offers this book for (...) as I write this!
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Summary: Overkill if you're a beginner, but great comprehensive book
Review: This is an excellent book--very comprehensive. I can't swear that it has *everything* you could possibly want to know, but it is very broad. It's definitely more information than you'd want or need as a beginner, though. As a first reference book for stuff beyond basic knit and purl (to learn increases, decreases, blocking, sewing a garment together, etc.), I'd suggest "Vogue Knitting." For really basic, learn-to-knit info, plus a bit more, "Knitting for Dummies" is supposed to be a good one...
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