The best knitting books make you want to get knitting! Sifting through the beautiful photography of the fabulous knitted designs is great! Here are my recommendations and reviews.
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My Quick Recommendations
- My Top Pick – Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
- Best For Beginners – Knitting Gritty - Knitting for The Absolute Beginner
- Best Knitting Pattern Book – A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker
Table Of Contents
- Best Knitting Book For Beginners
- Knitting Socks Books
- Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible
- Lace Knitting Books
- Baby Projects Knitting Books
- Brioche Knitting Books
- Books About Yarn
Knitting Books Inspire and Delight!
There are knitting books covering help, stitches, techniques, tutorials, and stunning photography. They guide you on a project you’re tackling. Great for inspiration on what to knit next. Having the best books on your bookshelf or in your e-reader library is essential.
Best Knitting Books For Knitters
What Is The Best Knitting Book For Beginners?
The best knitting book for beginners is:
1. Knitting Gritty by Aneeta Patel
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Knitting Gritty – Knitting for The Beginner is an invaluable resource for those taking their first steps of their knitting journey. Designed with the absolute beginner in mind, this book expertly breaks down the essential techniques, tools, and terminology in an easy-to-understand and engaging way.
One of the reasons beginners will find this book helpful is its comprehensive step-by-step instructions, accompanied by clear illustrations and photographs, which take the guesswork out of learning new stitches and patterns.
This book also offers invaluable advice on selecting the right materials and tools, troubleshooting common issues, and understanding the importance of gauge and tension. Something I appreciate understanding, even now as a knitter of many years.
2. Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag Of Tricks
Learn handy tips to improve your knitting stitch skills from expert Patty Lyons. Here’s the book trailer so you know what to expect. Fabulous illustrations clearly showing the steps involved and also ones that’ll make you chuckle.
3. Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
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4. Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann
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Excellent hints, tips, and great humor from the author who was well known in the community for her expertise. She revolutionized the modern practice of knitting with her knowledge and skill through her instructional books.
This book deciphers what looks like a foreign language with the terms. Understand reading patterns. Learn the basics, including using two colors.
Also, discover Elizabeth’s Percentage System (EPS) for sweater design, yoke-style sweaters, drop-shoulder sweaters, garter stitch, lace, arans, guernseys, and fair isles. Adaptable, fun patterns to try when learning to knit.
5. Stitch ‘n Bitch by Debbie Stoller
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Something for everyone in this book, whether you’re a beginner knitter, intermediate, or advanced. There are 40 fun projects, and handy skills and tips for learning how to knit.
6. Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmermann
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An introduction to designing sweaters. Learn how to create sweaters to fit anybody with any yarn. The book is full of practical tips and tricks for improving your knitting stitches. Full of skill building with ways to create your patterns. Elizabeth Zimmerman’s books are loved by thousands of knitters.
7. The Ultimate Knitting Book by Vogue Knitting
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The new version has 65 extra pages, photos and tutorials. This knitting book includes how-tos, methods, circular and flat knitting, cast on/bind off techniques, lace, cable, brioche, tools to use, and how to correct mistakes.
Written in a clear and easy-to-follow manner. Suitable for beginners to advanced knitters. The basics include English and Continental knitting style, increases, decreases, joining yarns, knitting gauge/charts/symbols, knitting in the round, and finishing techniques.
8. Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac
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This provides a rough framework for a variety of knitting projects. It teaches you about design choices and techniques. It’s readable and fun with great writing. Suitable for advanced knitters wanting to further their designs and creativity.
9. The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt
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The Principles of Knitting includes everything you need to build skills and confidence. How-tos, knitting methods, circular and flat knitting. Includes decorative techniques plus so much more. Written in a clear and easy-to-follow manner. Suitable for beginners to advanced knitters.
10. Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore
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Discusses everything about the history and traditions of Aran Knitting with wonderful patterns. People love Alice Starmore’s intricate designs. Detailed patterns for men and women. The cable designs are interesting. You learn the historical elements of Aran.
11. You Can Knit That by Amy Herzog
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A simple reference book and design collection covering sweater-making. Suitable for those knitting a sweater for the first time. Or those looking to expand your skills to sweaters in styles you’ve never tried before.
12. 200 Fair Isle Designs by Mary Jane Mucklestone
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Fair Isle knitting looks complicated, but it needn’t be. Mary Jane Mucklestone steps you through how to use the stranded colorwork technique. This suits beginners to more advanced knitters.
Includes an actual-size photograph of the design, clack and white chart, a color chart, a color variation chart, and a repeat chart for each of the 200 motifs
13. A Second Treasury Of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker
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This has clear explanations. Easy for anyone to follow. The designs are simple, and a beginner could do them with little difficulty. There are enough designs to please the beginner knitter and an experienced knitter looking for a challenge.
14. The Knowledgeable Knitter by Margaret Radcliffe
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This knitting book answers questions about the art of knitting. Topics covered: patterns, yarns, needles, planning projects, changing a pattern, shaping and fitting, and borders and embellishment.
15. The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd
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Includes basic knitting patterns like sweaters, hats, a scarf (see my guide to the best yarn for knitting scarves), gloves, mittens, and socks.
16. The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe
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It contains common problems a knitter faces. Excellent for beginners and advanced knitters. This guides you to be a better knitter.
17. 55 Christmas Balls to Knit by Carlos Zachrison & Arne Nerjordet
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Full of quick and easy knitting patterns for the festive season. Arne and Carlos translate traditional Scandinavian knitwear designs into individual patterns perfect for holiday décor. Hand knitted items to suit beginners and experts.
You’ll find step-by-step instructions, how-to tips, and full-color photos of great knitting ideas.
18. AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary by Andrea Rangel
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A stitch dictionary for Stranded colorwork with a modern twist. Explore the 200 motifs derived from graphic design elements and colorwork charts. Learn to use stranded colorwork in design with five accompanying projects, including mitts, cowls, shawls and sweaters.
19. Seamless Sweaters in 2 Weeks by Marie Greene
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Marie Greene’s twenty gorgeous seamless knit patterns make knitting a sweater simple. Struggled to complete a pullover or been too intimidated to start a cardigan? These seamless, top-down designs change the way you think about sweaters.
20. Knitted Dinosaurs by Tina Barrett
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Patterns for cute dinosaurs.
21. Friday Night Knitting Club
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A fun, light-hearted read. No knitting needles or yarn required. As a knitter, this well-written, heartwarming story resonates.
What Are The Best Sock Knitting Books?
There is an enormous amount of sock knitting pattern books with creative designs and stitches. Never knitted socks? I’ve got you covered.
22. Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd
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A handbook for navigating difficult knitting. Filled with photographs and illustrations. Beginners and advanced knitters create gorgeous socks. Plenty of tips and designs for sock knitting.
23. The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes
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The Knitter’s Book of Socks talks about what makes a great sock. Learn about strength, elasticity, and wicking away moisture. There are patterns with fabulous designs and colorwork.
Some patterns are suitable for beginners with simple knit and purl combinations. It includes intricate designs with cables and delicate lace.
24. Knit 2 Socks In 1 by Safiyyah Talley
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Learn the magic of turning one long sock into a pair. There is a range of designs. A unique method of knitting two socks at a time.
25. Sock Knitting Master Class by Ann Budd
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Covering the skills of sock knitting construction top-down and toe-up construction. Seventeen wonderful sock patterns with instructional illustrations. Ann Budd’s book has excellent Amazon reviews. Read Amazon books either on an e-reader or paperback.
26. Sock Architecture by Laura Neal
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This is an amazing resource! Great for beginner knitters and those with more experience. Includes 17 design patterns, most of them cover five sizes.
27. Custom Socks by Kate Atherley
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Whether you knit them toe-up or top-down, getting the right fit on hand-knit socks is a major challenge! In this book, Kate Atherley teaches what you need to understand sock fit and make a pair of socks.
28. Folk Socks by Nancy Bush
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Good for the experienced sock knitter. This knitter book includes the history of socks and great sock patterns.
What Are The Best Baby Knitter Books?
Looking for adorable baby knits? Don’t miss these, they’re full of cute, soft, snug designs for an infant loved one.
29. The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits
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These include gorgeous baby blankets/afghans, teddy bears, bootees, a hooded wrap, a snug duffel coat, felted slippers, and 50 contemporary projects.
30. Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss
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Excellent for knitting for babies. This book teaches the basic knitting steps and techniques. Included are 15 super-cute knits to try like bootees, blankets, beanie hat, sweater, and baby shoes.
What Are The Best Japan Knits Books?
For those of us who do not read Japanese, why would you buy a Japanese Knitting Book? Japan Knitting Books have beautiful photography of the finished knitted items. Knitting is big in Japan! The good news is they work on a chart system.
Japan knitting books opens up a world of fabulous designs. Japanese patterns differ from the written patterns of European and Western countries. They include charted patterns rather than written row-by-row.
31. Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida
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Original designs and variations on a range of classic stitches result in intricate patterns. This is perfect for the experienced knitter who’s looking for new stitches.
What Is The Best Brioche Knitting Book?
The Brioche stitch is a knitting technique, creating a reversible ribbed design. Perfect for sweaters, hats, and mittens. Brioche Knitting Books on the market cover gorgeous patterns. The brioche stitch is a challenge to learn!
32. Knitting Brioche by Nancy Marchant
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Author Nancy Marchant provides an array of variations on the brioche stitch. Includes beautiful object patterns to get started, from simple to more challenging. The pictures of the techniques and swatches are excellent.
33. Knitting Brioche Stitch Socks by Barbara Sander
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Great for easy-to-make socks with wonderful warmth and comfort. Choose the right socks for you and look at the inspiration in this book. A mainstay in your knitting skills.
34. Knitting Fresh Brioche Creating Two Color
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A fabulous foundation for brioche knitting. Understand how to make brioche fabric to create brioche patterns. Sharing tips, projects, and adventures.
35. Knit One Below by Elyse Duvekot
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The author presents her K1B technique with clear illustrations. It includes gorgeous photos and detailed instructions. For beginner-beginners, it’s worth giving k1b a try. The technique is interesting, and the results are charming. It doesn’t take much time to learn the technique.
What Are The Best Lace Books?
Here are great lace knitting books to consider.
36. Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush
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This a history of knitting in Estonia and traditional shawl design.
37. A Gathering Of Lace by Meg Swanson
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Most projects are suited to knitters with experience with lace. The shawls are stunning.
What Are The Best Finger Knits Books?
Finger knitting is great fun. Let these books show you how!
38. Knitting Without Needles by Anne Weil
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Great projects to create objects for the home, gifts, scarves, blankets, and the cutest big bunny. Easy to follow instructions. It’s also a great introduction to the arm knitting technique. Trying out the creations should be such fun!
39. Finger Knitting Fun by Vickie Howell
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So much fun for kids 🙂 There are plenty of projects to interest them. Simple directions and lots of illustrations. From jewelry and wearable accessories to wall art, gifts, and room decorations.
Still Looking For More Recommendations?
Try the following options.
If you want to try your hand at the Portuguese knitting technique, this one book is an excellent choice.
40. Portuguese Knitting by Rosa Pomar
Containing history and interesting info, it also includes 20 projects to try your hand at this technique of knitting.
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41. Portuguese Style Of Knitting by Andrea Wong
It talks about the history of Portuguese knitting. Andrea also shares her learning this skill as a child in Brazil. You will learn all the basics: cast on, knit and purl stitches, and bind off. After mastering a smooth tension, there’s guidance for lace, cables, double knitting, and two-color knitting.
42. Rowan: 40 Years
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Featuring popular knitwear designers as Kaffe Fassett, Martin Storey, Louisa Harding, and Sarah Hatton. It focuses on sweaters, cardigans, and wraps.
43. Home and Away by Hannah Fettig
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Beautiful and doable modern patterns, inspiration with beautiful photography.
44. Building Blocks Knitting Book
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A great way to sharpen your knitting skills by knitting the squares in this book. Learn to knit cables, bobbles, knitting techniques, and how to use a chart.
45. Big Book of Loom Knitting
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Easy to follow instructions, great pictures. Each knitting project lists the items and supplies you need. Tells you what to do to master Loom Knitting.
Books About Yarn
46. The Knitter’s Book Of Yarn by Clara Parkes
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Clara Parkes’ offers an insightful, thoughtful exploration of a complex topic: the world of fibers. It’s a practical guide for helping you understand your yarn, and she breaks down the essentials of yarn production and characteristics.
If you’re curious about the science behind your stash, it’s worth a read!
47. The Knitter’s Book Of Wool by Clara Parkes
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In a companion book to the Knitter’s Book Of Yarn, Clara Parkes creates a complete guide to everything you need to know about wool, and then some!
Written with her trademark warmth and endless curiosity, she shows you how wool is transformed into yarn and the fascinating people involved in the process, the different breeds, and what wools to use when.
48. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook by Carol Ekarius & Deborah Robson
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This is an encyclopedia specifically for yarn lovers! In this treasure trove of knowledge, the two authors, both sheep experts, spinners, and knitters, they discuss over 200 kinds of animal fiber, fleece, and yarn.
Learn how the fleece becomes yarn, and so much more.
49. The Yarn Whisperer by Clara Parkes
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50. The Joy Of Yarn by Marie Greene
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If you’re struggling with an overwhelming yarn stash… This is the book. Marie Greene provides a refreshing approach to organizing and curating your yarn collection. Rather than advocating for strict rules, she teaches you how to rediscover the joy in your stash and shop mindfully.
51. Adventures In Yarn Farming by Barbara Parry
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Take a journey through the year of being a fiber farmer, shepherd, and yarn dyer. Barbara Parry writes beautifully about her experiences on her farm in New England, giving you a unique look into the process of living on the land and making yarn.
52. The Yarn Garden by J. Marsha Michler
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Learn everything you need to know about working with plant-based yarns in this delightful read, and then some! Their construction, how they work up, and their production. It also includes some designs to practice what you’ve learned.
53. Yarn Substitution Made Easy by Carol J. Sulcoski
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I can’t recommend this enough for tricky moments of choosing the right yarn. It’s filled with expert advice on yarn characteristics, calculating yarn quantity, and swatches. Whether you practice with the provided projects or just need to swap yarns confidently, this guide is a treasure! Plus, the approachable tone feels like learning from a wise friend.
54. Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs by Sarah Anderson
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If you’ve ever wondered about making your own yarn, this guide is a beautifully illustrated journey through yarn design. With 80 unique styles, from classics or quirks like bouclé and supercoils, this book demystifies the art of making each with step-by-step guidance.
Others To Try
- The Urban Knit Book – Leeni Hoimela’s Knitting (It contains stylish sweaters and modern Nordic knitwear designs for quality handmade garments)
- A knit stitch reference guide
- Any Elizabeth Zimmerman Book
- Barnes And Noble Knitting Books
- A knitting magazine like Pom Pom Quarterly
- Movie inspired book for knitting projects like Star Wars
- Reader’s Digest Knitter’s Handbook by Montse Stanley
Conclusion
Plenty of great knitting books to start or add to your knitting resource library on your bookshelf or e-reader. Enjoy the new knowledge for your journey.
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Has anyone experienced using the Japanese Stitch Bible? I worry that I won’t be able to understand it.
Hi Peta, the Japanese Stitch Bible is a wealth of information with some stunning stitch patterns. The patterns are all charted, so take your time understanding each symbol. The charts are easy to follow and the pictures are helpful. Cheers Jodie
Is there a really great book for learning stranded knitting, floats and the best way to do them? I have a pattern and yarn, but all of the books seem to expect you to make one of their patterns. I splurged on a boyland knitworks colorwork sweater, so I’m anxious for some resources. Thank you!!
Hi Holly, back with some suggestions from some very kind experts.
Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting by Melissa Leapman https://amzn.to/3hGESfk
The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe, published by D&C https://amzn.to/2UZueXf
Knitting With Two Colors by Meg Swansen and Amy Detjen https://amzn.to/2UXHADA
The reader who recommended Knitting with Two Colors by Meg Swansen and Amy Detjen highly recommends it and said this-
It’s nice book because, not only does it start at the beginning but then goes on with more details as one gets more experienced which usually happens as this kind of pattering is so addictive.
I encourage that person to knit a hat first using color-stranded patts to get used to tensioning the yarns without major puckering, the most likely problem many newbies encounter. Working in the round is an easier way to approach stranded patts, I think, because you’re only dealing with getting the tensioning good with just the knit rows first. Fortunately the Boyland Knits patts are set up for circular knitting so that cuts out the double whammy of getting it going smoothly with both knits and purls.
Great advice to be sure 🙂 Good luck with your colorwork pursuits Holly! I am super excited for you.