The Joy of Knitting: Texture, Color, Design, and the Global Knitting Circle

Rating:
Summary: Great for the advanced beginner, not bad for an old hand
Review: I bought this book on a whim (it cost just the amount I needed to qualify for free shipping) and then read the reviews. My heart sunk a little when one of the reviewers said the book was only for beginners. I've been knitting for over 30 years and teach advanced classes. Had I wasted my money? No.

I've been reading "The Joy of Knitting" a chapter at a time and really enjoying it. The book consists of twelve chapters. Each chapter has ten to fifteen pages of thoughtful prose followed by a project/pattern. The heart of the book is the prose. The topics include knitting how to sections about fiber, color, and texture. What sets this book apart from the others are the wonderful chapters on the greater essence of knitting -- the history of knitting; knitting groups; tricks on knitting gifts; knitting resources on the internet; computer design; the internationalization of knitting (i.e. the recent interest in Russian shawls, Latvian mittens, etc.) and a final chapter on knitting to improve the world.

The patterns include a simple mobius scarf,watch cap, socks, a palm pilot cover, Latvian mittens and seven others.

This isn't a book for novices but is a perfect book for the newly "hooked" knitter who wants to know more about the greater universe of this wonderful hobby. Even as a veteran, I learned more than enough to justify the cost of the book and will urge my local store owner to carry the book.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a joy
Review: Ms Myers has it right: knitting at this point in our history is more than the necessity it was for our ancestors; knitting is something we do to give pleasure to ourselves and others, and it's a way of connecting with our community and with our past. While this book isn't a total guide to knitting, that's not a drawback. There are plenty of other all-inclusive how-to books (Vogue's Guide to Knitting, Knitting Without Tears, and Knitting in Plain English are my three basic reference works)and there's always your friendly local knitting shop for hands-on assistance. Really, The Joy of Knitting fills another niche: it provides some basic instruction, a few simple projects to give you a push to get started, and quite of bit of information and encouragement. I've been knitting off and on for a number of years, but would classify myself as a beginner (more enthusiasm than skill). This book got me going again - it reminded me of why I began knitting in the first place and why I enjoy it. I knit for my own pleasure (for the joy of creating something); I knit for the pleasure of those I love (thinking of them while I'm working on the project and reveling in their amazement over the finished piece); I knit to feel a part of history (following in the footsteps of my mother and grandmothers); and I knit because I'm part of a larger community of (mostly) women around the world who knit for all these reasons and more. The Joy of Knitting brought this all home to me and rekindled my interest in this wonderful form of self-expression. Get a copy for yourself (and your child?) and see how easy and pleasurable knitting can be. Give a copy to someone you love. Who knows: your thanks just might be a hand-knitted Mobius scarf!

Rating:
Summary: Truly a joy
Review: Ms Myers has it right: knitting at this point in our history is more than the necessity it was for our ancestors; knitting is something we do to give pleasure to ourselves and others, and it's a way of connecting with our community and with our past. While this book isn't a total guide to knitting, that's not a drawback. There are plenty of other all-inclusive how-to books (Vogue's Guide to Knitting, Knitting Without Tears, and Knitting in Plain English are my three basic reference works)and there's always your friendly local knitting shop for hands-on assistance. Really, The Joy of Knitting fills another niche: it provides some basic instruction, a few simple projects to give you a push to get started, and quite of bit of information and encouragement. I've been knitting off and on for a number of years, but would classify myself as a beginner (more enthusiasm than skill). This book got me going again - it reminded me of why I began knitting in the first place and why I enjoy it. I knit for my own pleasure (for the joy of creating something); I knit for the pleasure of those I love (thinking of them while I'm working on the project and reveling in their amazement over the finished piece); I knit to feel a part of history (following in the footsteps of my mother and grandmothers); and I knit because I'm part of a larger community of (mostly) women around the world who knit for all these reasons and more. The Joy of Knitting brought this all home to me and rekindled my interest in this wonderful form of self-expression. Get a copy for yourself (and your child?) and see how easy and pleasurable knitting can be. Give a copy to someone you love. Who knows: your thanks just might be a hand-knitted Mobius scarf!

Rating:
Summary: A hip and contemporary successor to EZ
Review: Novice and experienced knitters alike should immediately add "The Joy of Knitting" to their bookshelves! "Joy" is not a pattern book, although it does contain patterns at the end of each chapter, but rather a compilation of observations (many humorous), anecdotes, advice and tips on nearly every subject that a knitter needs to know: different fibers, use of color in knitting, knitting gifts for others, how to begin designing your own patterns, a brief history of knitting, and more. Lisa Myers, in addition to being a savvy businesswoman (she owns Rosie's Yarn Cellar, a wonderful knitting shop in Philadelphia)is a darn good writer, too. Her explanation of the seductive qualities of yarn-buying will make anyone with a yarn stash chuckle knowingly, and the book is full of similarly pithy observations. Her excellent advice about the technical aspects of knitting, interspersed throughout, makes me wish I had read this book many years ago - I would have saved myself much ripping out and angst over various unsuccessful projects! It's a rare pleasure to read a book by someone who is as knowledgeable and enthusiastic about knitting, and who so intelligently and steadfastly demonstrates why knitting is both an art AND a craft.

Rating:
Summary: Best for Beginners
Review: The Joy of Knitting is well-written and interesting, but repetitive if you have read Elizabeth Zimmerman's books or The Social History of Knitting. Many of the techniques are clearly EZ's (i-cord, for example) but not as clearly credited to her.

For the beginning knitter, this would be one of the best possible books you could choose, providing a mix of history, technique, and inspiration.

If you have a shelf full of books, or have knitted for decades, this might not be your best choice.

Either way, I wish her lovely shop were in my neighborhood!

Rating:
Summary: Good resource
Review: This book is a great resource for those of us interested in the history of knitting, the feel of knitting, the type of fibers used, and much more information. But, don't think it'll teach you how to knit. I think there are much better books out there to "teach" knitting. This is a book letting you realize that you aren't alone in your love for knitting. It's a delightful quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Good resource
Review: This book is a great resource for those of us interested in the history of knitting, the feel of knitting, the type of fibers used, and much more information. But, don't think it'll teach you how to knit. I think there are much better books out there to "teach" knitting. This is a book letting you realize that you aren't alone in your love for knitting. It's a delightful quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Explore the diverse world of knitting
Review: This book serves as a map to the world of the handknitter. It isn't a travelogue -- you won't stay long in one location or learn too many of the details -- but you will get the bird's eye view. She deals with charity knitting, a big area for many knitters. She deals with specialty techniques such as instarsia in a simple cotton bag. She deals with knitting in the modern age with patterns for things such as a palm pilot cover and information on web sites and knitting mailing lists.

If you are a beginner or intermediate knitter, buy this book, read it to learn what you can this go round and put it aside. Take it out in a year or so and read it again. As you progress as a knitter, you will find more to learn and gleen from this book. You won't get tired of it any time soon.