Book-Bingo: Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller
For my non-fiction slot - I am choosing 'Stitch'n'Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook' by Debbie Stoller
This is something of a cheat because I have had this book since just after Christmas, courtesy of BBH who has been generously indulgent of my fascination with all things yarn- and haberdashery-based. I got intrigued by knitting thanks to
vae who creates some of the most beautiful and fascinating works with needles and beautiful yarns.
I tried to learn how to knit when I was younger and I never really got the point of it because sewing and drawing was a lot more fun. Seeing some of things that could be made got me curious but I find video tutorials to be tedious and a little confusing and most of the time, if I'm online, I'm too busy to be fiddling around with needles and wool.
If that describes your concerns, allow me to heartily recommend S'nB. The author is a feminist who makes a case for the reclaiming of knitting and 'women's arts' as the third and fourth waves of feminism spread through culture. She doesn't argue for it as a moral crusade but as a fun, traditionally feminine, craft that has a lot going for it. The author wants everyone who reads this to take up knitting because knitting is fun and the thrill of creating something for yourself is just awesome.
This book assumes no prior knowledge and is littered with useful tips and little facts and triva to help you understand the depth and the breadth of the history. The tone is never condescending but there is a lot of useful description. For example, I'd spent the previous months trying and failing to learn the long tail cast on method. I had scoured the internets for this - read innumerable tutorials and squinted through a hundred videos. Know how I cracked it? Ten minutes in a London Starbucks with this book, a pair of needles and some acrylic yarn. Something just clicked in a way that the instructions were written.
Likewise, the book covers both the English and Continental styles of knitting although the author does admit to being solidly in the English school. Also included is a suggested list of accessories and tools. There is advice on different types of stitch and patterning, tricks to finishing off the project, 'The Stitch Doctor's Guide to Fixing mistakes', advice on more involved techniques like cable knitting, intarsia and Fair Isle knitting. All of these techniques are explained in a simple and matter-of-fact way that dispels the mystic and intimidation around them. Admittedly I haven't gotten to these techniques yet but I'm actually pretty confident that I'll be able to manage them when the time comes.
There is also advice on finding or founding your own Stitch'n'Bitch group on or offline and a whole lot of recommendations on books, computer programs and the like. There's even a guide to the slang used by online users of the Knitlist which seems to overlap with Ravelry slang. This bit is probably more useful for more socially inclined folks but it's still upfront and practical advice.
The last section is on patterns, how to read them, how to adapt them and a whole bunch of different things including (and I am so not kidding on this one) a knitted bikini with intarsia hearts for decoration. There's a wide range of projects for a diverse level of challenge and skill levels. There are full colour pictures of the completed projects, a brief bio for the pattern designers and everything you need to get started.
The downsides to this book really boil down to one big thing - this is probably not going to be worth the money for anyone with any serious experience of knitting. Honestly, I would recommend it as a gift - together with some yarn and needles - for anyone who is looking to get into knitting or if you have been thinking of learning knitting yourself and have some free time. I think it could be a perfect holiday book - letting you get the basics down at your own pace. If you want to learn how to knit, I would highly recommend this book.
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