Rating: 
Summary: This one goes in the knitting bag, not on the shelf
Review: First, my copy doesn't look anything like the photo here. It has a wonderful covered spiral that is very appropriate for use while you're actually knitting. I've been carying this one around with me ever since I got it. Since I've forgotten what my GM and Aunties tried to teach me when I was little, and I just recently picked up this obsession again, I consider myself to be self-taught, or book-taught. I just never learned advanced techniques, and I really need the pictures to show me what to do. There are no classes available in my little out of the way town. The lovely little church-lady expert that helps me out, well, I just don't want to bug her at 1 AM! In no time, I was doing more professional looking garments, and making items that my family will actually wear in public. They're "custom made and designed" now, not just home-made.
The book includes Cast-ons and Bind offs as well as all kinds of increases, decreases, seams, picking up stitches, borders and bands. It even has about 8 different kinds of buttonholes. Then there's the techniques that I had never heard of before: I-cord, and knitted shoulder pads, and a very unbiased discussion on the different uses of flat knitting versus circular knitting. And finally, the worksheets help get you on the right path to keeping track of what you plan on doing. An index is the only thing missing from this book.
Rating:
Summary: self taught knitter
Review: I consider myself an intermediate to advanced knitter and I really appreciated the information given in this book. Yes, you can find this information elsewhere. Yes, some other books have more detail. However, this book is helpful because it is simply finishing. Casting on, casting off, increases, decreases, blocking and seaming all determine the outcome and 'finish.' I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Correcting a statement in abt1950's review
Review: I find myself using this book at least once for every garment I knit. I keep it with my current knitting project. This book gives you several different methods of the different techniques you encounter while knitting a garment - casting on, increasing, decreasing, seaming, etc.. It also gives you the pros and cons of eash different method (i.e. long-tail versus cable cast-on). The illustrations and explanations are extremely helpful. If you have room in your knitting bag, I highly suggest this book.
Rating:
Summary: A must have book.
Review: I have been knitting for 43 years and was surprised by how much I still had to learn when I read Wiseman's book. This book is a must have book for every knitter's library. Well written, every technique explained in the book is easy to execute. In many cases several different methods for doing a particular technique are given with recommendations for when each one should be used. With this book in your knitting basket you will never be afraid to try a new and challenging pattern again.
Rating:
Summary: Indispensible and portable!
Review: I use this book every time I knit. Well, maybe not every time I pick up my knitting, but I refer to it at least once, and usually multiple times, for every piece I make. I think I use it more than any other book I have. Some books are too big or have too much information. Others are too brief or only show one approach. This book is just right.In addition to showing you how to cast on, weave a seam, increase, or whatever, the author tells you the advantages and disadvantages of each available method. Need to sew a seam? There are 13 different styles, from basic stockinette to sleeves to patch pockets. Her directions for the tubular cast-on, increases, buttonholes, short rows, kitchener stitch bind-off, and so forth, are clear, concise and usually all on one page with a color picture. The one drawback: No index! But usually you can find what you want using the table of contents. From start to finish, this book will make your life easier with each thing you knit!
Rating:
Summary: Step-by-step color photos compliment lay-flat binding
Review: Nancie Wiseman's Knitter's Book Of Finishing Techniques offers over fifty expert techniques to cover increases, decreases, seam problems, and to enhance decorative finishes. Step-by-step color photos compliment lay-flat binding and tips on how to produce professional, polished results.
Rating:
Summary: Correcting a statement in abt1950's review
Review: The reviewer states "I wish that Wiseman had included some material on blocking as well". Ms Wiseman provides over 2 pages of information on blocking. This book is terrific for most knitters out there. Maybe professionals might find this too basic, but anyone else can definitely use it. In online knitting forums people are always asking for the best recommendations for reference books. Inevitably, the answers contain Vogue, Wiseman and Righetti. This books contains some of the best pictures and info about pros and cons of each technique. It is a must-have for any knitting library.
Rating: 
Summary: Basic for some; just right for others
Review: The way a garment is finished is often what distinguishes a professional-looking product from one that looks "hand made" in the bad sense of the term. You can find information on finishing techniques in most knitting references, but you have to wade through lots of other material to find it. This book focuses only on finishing and provides multiple options for many of the basic aspects of construction--from casting on to binding off and beyond. The illustrations are clear and the author let you know the pluses and minuses of each technique. Much of this information may seem basic to expert knitters, but it's knowledge that many knitters acquire through trial and error (with the emphasis on error). It's nice to have the options listed in one place, even if the pros & cons lists get repetitive. I wish that Wiseman had included some material on blocking as well, but that information is available elsewhere. Even so, this is a nice little book, small enough to be carried around with your projects, but big enough to be easily read.
Rating:
Summary: Basic for some; just right for others
Review: The way a garment is finished is often what distinguishes a professional-looking product from one that looks "hand made" in the bad sense of the term. You can find information on finishing techniques in most knitting references, but you have to wade through lots of other material to find it. This book focuses only on finishing and provides multiple options for many of the basic aspects of construction--from casting on to binding off and beyond. The illustrations are clear and the author let you know the pluses and minuses of each technique. Much of this information may seem basic to expert knitters, but it's knowledge that many knitters acquire through trial and error (with the emphasis on error). It's nice to have the options listed in one place, even if the pros & cons lists get repetitive. I wish that Wiseman had included some material on blocking as well, but that information is available elsewhere. Even so, this is a nice little book, small enough to be carried around with your projects, but big enough to be easily read.
Rating: 
Summary: Book binding- spiral bound
Review: This is not a comment on the content of the book (which is very good) but rather on the binding. The spiral bound copy is poorly made- it squeaks and creaks (equivalent to nails on a chalkboard). I know it sounds crazy, but it is so bad I am going to exchange this book for another... that I will actually enjoy using.
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