Read into this what you will…

As you can see, I have a few knitting books:

It’s not that I’m addicted to buyinging them. Or at least, not just that! I can’t bear to get rid of them. They’re the history of my knitting career which started nearly nine years ago when I found out that my sudden weight gain wasn’t due to eating too much chocolate for once.

I learnt to knit many many years previously (crossed out one many because it makes me sound ancient!), when I was about five or six years old. I remember knitting at school but I’m sure I had actually already learnt from my grandma. But knitting back then consisted of a never ending dishcloth which would be frogged and re-knit about twice a year and never progressed to being remotely dishcloth sized. I knitted a couple of jumpers in my teens for a boyfriend, but it wasn’t until later that I became really interested in knitting again.

So these books have a lot of memories associated with them. And I never even refer to most of them. They get shifted about occasionally when a new book joins the collection and I briefly think about selling some on eBay or swapping them for yarn, but then I think: “What if I suddenly need x book?” So then I don’t get rid of any of them.

Today’s post is about which of those books I do like. These are the ones I refer to regularly and that I think are worth buying, in my very humble opinion. I’ll do this in reverse order, just to add to the suspense. I can see you all biting your fingernails with anticipation so, without further ado:

5. Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann

I find this book almost more like literature than a pattern book. I love Elizabeth’s prose. She writes like she was sitting in the room with you having a conversation. It doesn’t matter that this tiny book has few photos and those it does are in black and white. You can picture the finished garment in your head as you read. I have never knitted any of the designs in the book. I just find it perfect reading if I’m feeling the knitting “blahs” and nothing inspires me.

4. The Harmony Guides

Okay, so this isn’t one book on its own, but it’s hard to say which of these is better than the other. They all have some stitch patterns that I love and others that I would rather not use ever in a million years. But if you need inspiration for a design, it’s hard not to find it between the pages of one of the guides. Page upon page of swatches. I love these books. I wish I’d bought them sooner than I did!

3. Stitch ‘n Bitch by Debbie Stoller

I only bought this book relatively recently. I figured it was just another how to knit book and I already have a glut of those. But having heard about a couple of the patterns in the book, I gave in and have never regretted it. Another book that’s written in a very conversational style, and the patterns are worth it, even if you can knit fairisle with your eyes closed.

2. The Knitter’s Handbook by Montse Stanley

Now, this book is a completely the opposite to SnB. Montse Stanley doesn’t want to be your friend, she wants to tell you how to DO THINGS PROPERLY. But it’s impossible not to admire someone who can show you over 40 ways to cast on. I refer to this book less frequently than I should; usually after muddling through something and getting frustrated because a cast off wasn’t working no matter how many times I frogged and re-knit it. A quick read of the Handbook and I finally had a neck hole big enough for a head to fit through. True story!

And drumroll, if you please!

1. The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd

This book is the book that every knitter should have, be they a brand shiny new knitter who can only knit and purl, or a big old one who can add beads all over and is generally very clever. Choose a style of sweater or cardigan, some yarn and your size. Mix it up and you’ve got a sweater. Seriously: use any yarn at all! The basic designs are stocking stitch, but that big old clever knitter can add any pattern or cable or lace or anything to make a unique and lovely design. The companion book has hats and gloves and socks. What mroe could you ask for?

Tomorrow I will have sock news! And that’s all I’m saying for now…