Knitting for the first time (For The First Time)

Rating:
Summary: Not bad If you already know how to knit
Review: This book is very confusing and I don't recommend it unless you have a buddy there with you who already knows how to knit. There are multiple directions for one drawing and it is unclear, since it is not clearly shown, how one should exactly proceed. Using this book is similar to learning how to knit with only verbal instructions. Though the book is cheap, the beginner knitter is probably better off spending his/her ten dollars on another book with more, clearer drawings. Otherwise it is just as well to get knitting instructions free online since they are equally as obscure as this book. Likewise, there are too many baby projects here. While making tiny sweaters over and over again might be useful for someone with children or grandchildren, if you are looking to make something for yourself, this book is limited in terms of projects.

Rating:
Summary: Great Next Step for "Experience Beginner"
Review: This was the second knitting book I bought after "Knitting for Dummies" and I'm really enjoying it. Whereas "KFD" was a good jumping-off point for teaching yourself to knit, about halfway through "KFD" I got tired of practice pieces and scarfs and wanted to make SOMETHING. "Knitting for the First Time" incorporates a lot of the same techniques but works you through projects -- potholders, children's cardigans, infant sweaters, etc. -- so you get experience with the basics of shaping, seaming, etc. ONE CAUTION: I have found a pretty serious error in one of the patterns and cannot find an "errata" page on the company's web site -- this means if you dive into this one, you'll have to be a good-enough knitter to graph, visualize, or count the next step before you take it or you will find yourself with a problem. So far, the problem seems to be limited to patterns where more than one size is given and the parenthetical stitch counts for other sizes is missing from some steps. This is the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars; it is otherwise fun to work through, beautifully laid out and photographed, and a great next step if you're on your way out of the beginner stage. Happy knitting!

Rating:
Summary: Great Next Step for "Experience Beginner"
Review: This was the second knitting book I bought after "Knitting for Dummies" and I'm really enjoying it. Whereas "KFD" was a good jumping-off point for teaching yourself to knit, about halfway through "KFD" I got tired of practice pieces and scarfs and wanted to make SOMETHING. "Knitting for the First Time" incorporates a lot of the same techniques but works you through projects -- potholders, children's cardigans, infant sweaters, etc. -- so you get experience with the basics of shaping, seaming, etc. ONE CAUTION: I have found a pretty serious error in one of the patterns and cannot find an "errata" page on the company's web site -- this means if you dive into this one, you'll have to be a good-enough knitter to graph, visualize, or count the next step before you take it or you will find yourself with a problem. So far, the problem seems to be limited to patterns where more than one size is given and the parenthetical stitch counts for other sizes is missing from some steps. This is the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars; it is otherwise fun to work through, beautifully laid out and photographed, and a great next step if you're on your way out of the beginner stage. Happy knitting!