Big Book of Knitting

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book but Bad Translation
Review: A friend recommended this book to me but after obtaining a copy I sold it. I am sure that Ms. Buss knows her stuff but obviously she had a poor translator (or at least I hope that is what it is). The pictures are beautiful but the instructions are very difficult if not impossible to follow. I have worked with people from other countries and know they have different terms for the same techniques as Americans but this one doesn't come close. I think that it has to be a bad translation or either the lady doesn't know how to explain things which I doubt. Sorry but don't waste your money unless you are looking for a beautiful coffee table book.

Rating:
Summary: Lacking some information...
Review: As a beginning knitter, I was amazed at the great wealth of information that this book held. It does, however, leave out some CRUCIAL information for the beginner. Such as, incorporating new colors into works. I was clueless on how to go about doing this and had to search online to figure it out after scouring the book for the answer. It would probably be a good read if you know the basics, but I don't recommend it for total beginners.

Rating:
Summary: Non-Sequential Unclear Instructions
Review: As someone who has never knitted, this book initially appeared to be one that would help me get started. Well, when I sat down with my knitting needles and yarn, I was able to follow the steps for casting off with only some difficulty. At the end of the casting off instructions however, it was not clear what I was supposed to do next. I don't know if the problem is that this book was translated from German, or if I stumbled over 'knitting lingo', with which i am unfamiliar, but not only were the instructions not clear, but there was no indication of how to transition to the next step, or even what the next step was. While the book seems comprehensive in that it offers instructions on details such as buttonholes, etc., those instructions were no good to me because I could never figure out how to do the basics. Ultimately, I set the book aside, and found a website that offered clear useful instructions. Now, I am finally knitting. If you are a complete beginner to this craft, I recommend trying another instruction source, not "The Big Book of Knitting".

Rating:
Summary: Very solid reference for adv beginners to professionals
Review: First, this book is not for those who have never picked up a knitting needle. However, if you are a beginner who is comfortable with the basics, then this book is a great stepping stone for building your techniques. Your can really build your expertise with this book!

I'm only an advanced beginner but I feel this book would benefit those who are more experienced because it is a wonderful reference book. It covers all forms of knitting, from beautiful cables, openwork, pattern stitches, and even touches on intarsia and other more advanced concepts.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a reference or a tool for developing your knitting skills.

Rating:
Summary: Essential for finishing techniques
Review: I agree with other reviewers as to this not being a book for beginners. That said, I feel it picks up where a lot of knitting books end. For example, Katharina's explanation for sewing zippers is essential, especially her zipper double facing, which produces a professional result that renders a zipper practically invisible. Same thing with her instructions on knitting neckbands and collars; she covers almost every type of collar possible.
I like Katharina's Germanic attention to detail and perfection. My only complaint is that instructions are too brief and condensed (I have a theory that Europeans are more used to general instructions under the assumption that your grandmother taught you how to knit -- the same thing happens in their cookbooks).

This is an essential reference book in any serious knitter's library.

Rating:
Summary: Complete, Helpful, Wonderful
Review: I learned to knit at a very young age from my mother and never used a book until about twenty-five years later, but progressing to harder patterns has made using a reference book necessary for me. This book has excellent explanations and illustrations, and answers to every one of my questions. It is incredibly detailed and comprehensive. I likely will not use the older patterns in this book, but it is a terrific reference book that is easy to understand - even complex stitches and patterns. I believe this is a must have for beginning to intermediate knitters, and is particularly suited to me as I strive to become a great knitter like my mother and aunt who were true masters.

Rating:
Summary: Not Worth the Money by a Long Shot
Review: I'm amazed as a knitter that this book got as many good reviews as it has. Although it is handy for some references such as sewing in elastic, I found most items and techniques ridiclously unexplained, such as selvedges. There was a whole page of pictures of these lovely row endings, and not one single diagram on how to do them. To say this book is not for beginners is a understatement and a half.

I wound up with two copies of this book, one I sold on eBay and the other I outright gave away.

If you want a complete book of knitting that will explain every single fascet of knitting, get Montose Stanley's Reader's Digest Knitter's Handbook. Of my twenty-odd books (up to and including my Elizabeth Zimmerman's) it is the single book I refer to the most. It is essitial if you are a Patternless Wonder, as it demonstrates techniques one by one in ascending order of complication. It is also invaulable for knitting lore, covering such obscure and various techniques as used in Peru, parts of rural Egypt and Scotland.

Rating:
Summary: not quite MY ultimate reference--but close!
Review: In my search for the ultimate knitting reference I bought this book. It includes good techniques beyond the basics (i.e. short rows, intarsia, various pocket and buttonhole techniques, various collars and necklines, various castings-on, selvedges, and castings-off). These are very useful for creating your own classic sweater designs or for adjusting patterns. The pictures are very clear (and all in color), although sometimes the translation from the German is a bit too clumsy to follow easily, and sometimes it has a hilariously know-it-all tone, as if your very stern and formal grandmother were teaching you to knit as a child. It has a small stitch dictionary (charts only) with nice designs I haven't seen elsewhere. Why do I have reservations about this book? I am not entirely sure. For one thing, I design sweaters to be as seamless as possible, and this book definitely sticks to the approach of making separate flat pieces and sewing them together. The project patterns (sweaters and a pair of socks) are not inspiring. For whatever reason, I just don't use it much. Maybe when the new edition of Vogue comes out. . .

Rating:
Summary: a genius
Review: Katharina Buss is a genius. I thought the instructions for the turn on the sock were wrong, as I had never seen such instructions before, where you turn the work before you finish the row. They were correct - and the turn turned out <g> beautifully. It has lost nothing in the translation from the German. A wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Reference in Knitterese
Review: Now that so many knitting books are written in plain English, books that are written in the traditional vocabulary of knitting seem hard to read. But if you are able to understand sentences like "On WS, work all stitches as they lie," you will find this an invaluable resource.
Most knitting books show only one or two ways to cast on, finish a pocket, or rib. This book shows many different ways to do each of these tasks, so that you can fine-tune your approach to the particular needs of a garment, a fiber, or your personal knitting comfort. And it is amazingly complete: I can't think of any finishing task or detail that isn't covered in this book.
There are a number of stich patterns, and basic patterns for sock, mitten, glove, and a few simple sweaters. But the chapter title "Perfect Details" really says it all.
If you own a few patterns that you enjoy making, this book will help you to make variations in them that will make them more versatile. If you get your patterns online for free, this book will explain the things you need to know which are not explained or included in those patterns. And if you want to improve your skills, this is an excellent book to have.
As for being able to read it, the truth is that "plain English only" knitters are limited in what patterns they can use. It is worth learning the specialized vocabulary of knitting, and this book can help you do so.