Rating: 
Summary: My Dog Eared Copy
Review: A self taught knitter, I found this book so good I scraped up the money to buy it years ago. It is really a good compilation of things you need to know. There are many color pictures and diagrams and step by step instructions. It would be a good first book for someone who is serious about learning. I gave it 4 stars because I was a little disappointed that it did not contain patterns for basic beginner projects like hats and mittens.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly useful
Review: This book changed my mind about the Vogue label. I half expected a lot of gloss and advertisements. Was I ever wrong and surprised. This book is well designed and informative. The pictures are clear and the variety is astounding. If you ever dream about going beyond Afghans this is the book to inspire you.What I found interesting was the two ways to hold needles, English and the continental. Now when I watch old movies I look at the way the needles are held. Naturally Aunt Jane Marple holds needles the English way.
Rating:
Summary: A must have for new knitters
Review: I received this book as a gift from a cousin who is a far more experienced knitter than I am. It has wonderfully clear photos of everything from basic stitches to more complicated techniques. It also has a spectacular stitch library. I'm sure I will use it as a resource for years!
Rating:
Summary: Very Vogue, Very Useful Reference Book!
Review: If you can only afford to get one knitting reference manual, let this be it! Of course, it's a good idea to have at least two manuals on the subject, however, be sure that this is one of them. Vogue's Ultimate Knitting book is my third reference book and I wish I had come across it sooner. The diagrams and illustrations are very clear and concise, showing exactly where to put the needles and where the yarn strand goes. It shows not just two or three ways to bind off, but several. Also, several different ways to cast-on, decrease, increase and the English and Continental method of holding the needles. As well as a left-hand way. When I gain more courage, I hope to try the designing section. The way everything is spelled out takes away some of the fear of attempting to design your own sweater. At the back of the book there are two pages of graph paper that you can copy and use for designing or just to map out a particular tricky pattern. Helped me immensly when I was plotting out decreases on a cable pattern, helped me to see exactly what it would look like. Also, if you are looking at a particular page and you come across a term you're not familiar with, such as "yarn-overs", at the bottom of that page the term "yarn-over" and the page number on where it can be found is right there. No more going constantly to the back of the book to look up page numbers. I found that a time-saver. This book is just chock-full of useful information that you will surely use again and again. Buy it and happy knitting!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the Best
Review: While this is the definitive reference book for everything about knitting, I think you could actually teach yourself from this book. The illustrations and diagrams are virtually self-explanatory. When I taught myself to knit, I used Debbie Bliss' "How to Knit," but also relied on this as a supplement. While Bliss' book is extremely helpful, I found Vogue's illustrations and descriptions to be a little more precise. For example, I had been confused about how to bind off, until I referred to this book. In that case, Vogue's diagram was more clear, and I proceeded with confidence. The layout of this book is amazing, as well. The Editors seem to instinctively place all the information you need at your fingertips. Cross references on each page and color-coding of each chapter help you flip instantly to what you need to know. This is not just another bland reference book. There is a lot of inspiration to be found here, in addition to unparalleled advice, and the last word on any technique you can imagine. One of the best features of this book is the design workshop at the back. Nowhere have I seen a simpler, more straightforward "how-to" for design. I never imagined designing until I saw their simple chart, diagrams, calculations, and advice on the subject. Debbie Bliss' "How to Knit" has a design workshop, but it is more of an introduction/afterthought and doesn't really get you there as Vogue does.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Knitting Reference Book
Review: I own several knitting reference books ( including the Big Book of Knitting, How to Knit by Debbie Bliss, and the Readers Digest Knitters Handbook), and this one is by far the best. The techniques are extremely well illustrated and explained. If you are hesistant to purchase a Vogue publication because of their reputation for "couture", please let me assure you that this is first and foremost a reference book, not a design or pattern book. It is my understanding that this book is required for Jil Eaton's (founder of Minnowknits)knitting classes; so this should give you a good idea of how good it is. If you can have only one knitting reference book, this is the one. If you need a secondary reference, the Readers Digest Knitters Handbook has a ton of techniques and information (but sometimes the illustrations leave something to be desired...in my opinion a picture really is worth a thousand words). Happy Knitting!!
Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable, but...
Review: This is a good primer of basic techniques. I taught myself to knit on 4 needles by reading the instructions and looking at the illustrations (which are nice, full-color photographs). The commentary by well-known knitters is a joy to read (especially a chatty article by Elizabeth Zimmerman). The modular knitting patterns in back are nice classic designs that can be used for years. My only complaint is the "fashion" knitting patterns at the very end. Whichever editor approved this layout should have been fired. I would love to make the Aran sweater, but I would have to read the directions on one page, the graphs are printed about 10 pages later, and the symbol keys you need to read the graphs are way up by the front of the book. No, thanks.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have!
Review: Within 5 minutes of opening this book, I found the solution to a problem I was having with an increase stitch that I had never done before (my mother only taught me one kind!). Unfortunate for me that I didn't have this book before I had already finished the other sleeve! The illustrations are large and easy to follow. If you are experienced or a beginner, this is the encyclopedia that will answer all your questions and give you new insights into how knitting really works when your mother lives too far away to help.
Rating:
Summary: Even if the magazine drives you nuts, this book is essential
Review: Don't let the affiliation with Vogue turn you off. This book isn't about trends or things you could never wear or afford. What this book is, is simply a great reference for most common needs of the beginning and intermediate knitter. There are bigger stitch dictionaries. There are books with way more patterns. What this book delivers is enough information on most topics to help you on a regular basis. I've owned this book well over a dozen years and still use its wonderful cast off and grafting diagrams routinely. I found this easier to work with than Montese Stanley's or June Hemons Hiatt's books -- and in the case of Hiatt, much more affordable.
Rating:
Summary: It's my pick
Review: Vogue Knitting is the best in my experience. As a long time knitter, Master Knitter (from The Knitting Guild of America) and a member of the Masters Hand Knitting Committee, I recommend this volume to anyone who is serious about knitting the very best that they can. If you can't find the answer there, ask an old-timer like me!
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