A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns

Rating:
Summary: Belongs on every knitter's bookshelf
Review: Barbara Walker outdid her own classic reference book in the "Second Treasury". It's cram-jammed, chock-a-block with patterns that make your fingers itch to get hold of some yarn and let your creativity run wild. Unlike the reader in Arlington, WA, I would never categorize this book as a "professional reference"; it's a must for anyone who likes to knit, from novice to expert. The genius of Barbara Walker's knitting books is her crystal-clear instructions and explanations; she makes it easy for anyone to follow. Many of the designs in the "Second Treasury" are quite simple and any beginner could do them with no trouble; once you develop more skill and experience, you can move on to some of the harder patterns. There are enough designs in this book to satisfy the rankest novice or the most experienced pro. I also found the black/white photographs very helpful in showing the design details much more clearly than color photos would. (In fact, some knitters make the mistake of combining too many pattern stitches with too many colors in one garment, and ruining the effect.) Like the first "Treasury", the "Second Treasury" is very well organized into different pattern groups, and includes some new groups such as mosaic patterns, which are really quite simple but the color effect is stunning. Both "Treasury" books are invaluable references that will provide enough inspiration for a lifetime of enjoying this craft.

Rating:
Summary: Belongs on every knitter's bookshelf
Review: Barbara Walker outdid her own classic reference book in the "Second Treasury". It's cram-jammed, chock-a-block with patterns that make your fingers itch to get hold of some yarn and let your creativity run wild. Unlike the reader in Arlington, WA, I would never categorize this book as a "professional reference"; it's a must for anyone who likes to knit, from novice to expert. The genius of Barbara Walker's knitting books is her crystal-clear instructions and explanations; she makes it easy for anyone to follow. Many of the designs in the "Second Treasury" are quite simple and any beginner could do them with no trouble; once you develop more skill and experience, you can move on to some of the harder patterns. There are enough designs in this book to satisfy the rankest novice or the most experienced pro. I also found the black/white photographs very helpful in showing the design details much more clearly than color photos would. (In fact, some knitters make the mistake of combining too many pattern stitches with too many colors in one garment, and ruining the effect.) Like the first "Treasury", the "Second Treasury" is very well organized into different pattern groups, and includes some new groups such as mosaic patterns, which are really quite simple but the color effect is stunning. Both "Treasury" books are invaluable references that will provide enough inspiration for a lifetime of enjoying this craft.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful reference for knitters!
Review: I am only a novice knitter, but Walker's book is so clear and friendly that it has improved my work noticeably.

Stitch patterns are arranged and described well, and it is easy to use the book to find patterns to use in a project. Walker gives interesting information and suggestions for use for many of the stitches, and notes many that are especially easy, difficult, or pretty.

Walker has a glossary of common knitting terms with instructions that are clear and useful, explaining both how to do a technique and why it would be used, so that the knitter can make changes to printed patterns intelligently. Even without charts, this book is a treasure and well worth the cost.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring for your own knitting ideas
Review: I have these knitting stitch treasuries, and the Walker books are the best of any of the stitch dictionaries I've used.

The Second Treasury is especially nice for cable work. If you like to knit your own socks, you know that a basic sock pattern can be dressed up with one or two cables and made into something very special. If you like Aran or Fisherman style knitting, these cables can add a unique touch to your own design as you combine them into a fantastic textured work.

Taking basic patterns and adding stitch designs is one of the easiest ways to personalize what you knit and make a few patterns endlessly useful to you. I recommend the Walker treasuries for the great, clear black and white photos that show the stitch texture, and Walker's comments on where such stitches are useful. In addition, she has more Mosaic patterns (color work in garter) than any other designer. If you are into this type of colorwork, this is an essential book for your library.

Rating:
Summary: professional reference manual
Review: I was influenced to buy Barbara Walker's first and second "Treasury of Knitting Patterns" by the high praise they received in the customer reviews. I am not sorry I bought the books, but I am moved to make these remarks for other potential buyers. These books, while containing a truly astounding number of knitting patterns, should be considered as professional references, and are best be borrowed from the libray if you are a beginner. While it is true that some of the patterns could be worked by a determined beginner, the sheer number of patterns and the complexity of many patterns, in my opinion would overwhelm a beginner. I agree that many beginner knitting patterns are dull, all in stockinette stitch and could be improved with a more interesting textured pattern, but there is no need to own these books unless you are truly a professional. Borrow them from the library for inspiration; ask a more advanced knitter to help you choose some of the simpler patterns and copy those pages only. I gave the books four stars because they are very scholarly encyclopedias of knitting patterns that should not be lost and no professional knitter's library would be complete without them. However, the books ARE dated; the photographs of the swatches are in black and white only and are very small. The black and white photographs do not show the two- or three-color patterns well at all. (See "Knitting with Novelty Yarns" for examples of how modern photographic technique can display knitted swatches.)

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful fun - and educational!
Review: My mom taught me to knit when I was 8 years old. Lucky for me, she owned Barbara Walker's "Treasury of Knitting Patterns" as well as this second volume. I remember many a happy hour spent knitting swatches of interesting patterns. How many times did I knit the Gingerbread Castle? Too many to count. And besides enjoying myself, I was learning skills that would serve me well all my knitting life.

By encouraging variety and exploration in texture and color patterns, this book is invaluable to any creative knitter.

My only complaints involve the photography, specifically of the color patterns. Showing a color pattern in black-and-white is not the best arrangement; unfortunately, the few color photos in my hardback version depict dated color combinations that induce nausea and make it difficult to see the merits of the patterns that produced the swatches.

Fortunately, black-and-white photos are perfectly adequate to demonstrate the texture patterns that I love best, and I love the fact that in many cases (specifically in the cable patterns) more than one pattern is shown in the same swatch, demonstrating how they can combine.

Rating:
Summary: For all knitters
Review: The Second Treasury is, if anything, even better than the First. Barbara Walker's directions are clear, she gives many helpful hints, and there are photographs of each knitted swatch. The stitch patterns range from simple (but lovely) knit and purl variations to designs that will challenge the most expert.

If you have gone beyond following the directions in knitting magazines, and would like to start designing your own sweaters, this is a book you should definitely own.

The section on cables is particularly stunning--if you are looking for ideas for Arans, this is a worthwhile investment.