Category Archives: books

New Magazines & Books!


Knitscene Summer 2013  $9.97


Knitting Traditions Spring 2013 $15.99

Melville is a great knitter and educator. If you want to understand how to modify and design your own sweaters, this is the book for you. 

Gorgeous patterns for any home.

Interweave Craft Tree Booklets $14.97 each: Easy Knitted Accessories, Crocheted Baby Gifts, & Crocheted Afghans

Gifts for Knitters: The Bibles



This is a very handy and reliable little reference book for any knitter. It doesn’t have an answer for everything, but it’s the perfect bed-side reference for any knitter. The illustrations are excellent and the instructions are clear and succinct. It also comes with an instructional 2-disc DVD set. 


The Ultimate Knitting Book is an invaluable reference at any stage of a knitter’s career.  The instructions are clear, as are the photographs and illustrations. The subject matter is broad and covers just about everything you need to know. Before re-issue of The Principle of Knitting, this was the ‘bible’ and it’s still a wonderful, reliable reference all knitters will use in perpetuity. New knitters as well as people with more experience will appreiciate this book.




This book is THE definitive book of knitting techniques, now completely revised and updated. It is written in clear, direct language, and can answer any question in a comprehensive, reasoned, and informed manner. June Hemmons Hiatt includes instructions for all facets of knitting, from the most basic skills to the most advanced techniques, and offers suggestions for best practices as well as alternatives and innovations.  This book is not only the “bible”, it’s the text book. More experienced knitter will especially appreciate this tome.


See more gift ideas HERE


Gifts for Knitters: Zimmerman



One of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s dreams was to publish a book of her garter stitch designs. 
As we looked through Elizabeth’s designs, we found a wealth of material, much of it little known or unknown to knitters. Further, we were intrigued and excited by the unique construction of some of these “new” designs (equal to her classic baby surprise jacket). You will find sweaters, coats, jackets, and vests for adults and kids, baby garments, plus a wonderful array of small projects including sideways gloves and socks, several brimmed hats, an ingenius pattern for knitted clogsand more. Projects include Surplice Baby Jacket, Two Piece baby Jacket, and Chambered Nautilus Hat. Hardcover. See the pattern on Ravelry



From “Beginnings” and learning the basics of knitting (casting-on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing and casting-off) to “Master Classes” and delving into the more complicated techniques involved in Fair Isle, Aran, or Lace knitting, the Knitting Workshop is a wonderful compendium for circular knitting and an introduction to master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann. Instructions for hats, sweaters, shawls and EZ’s legendary Baby Surprise Jacket, as well as the Tomten Jacket and Pi Shawl. Hardcover. See the patterns on Ravelry.




Knitter’s Almanac presents the full scope of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s tireless imagination through a year’s worth of projects, fitted to the seasons, moods and needs of knitters who would like to design their own work. Projects include the February Baby Sweater,  Mitered Mittens and Pi Shawl. All lessons come with classic Elizabeth commentary on each project, its history, ancient and modern knitting customs, and her personal views on life and knitting. She works step-by-step with the reader through each garment, also suggesting alternative methods and ideas as she goes. This book will provide at the very least a year’s worth of knitting pleasure and at the very best will infect you with Elizabeth’s contagious passion for knitting. Softcover.  See the patterns on Ravelry.  




The best of Elizabeth Zimmermann is in this collection of her newsletters from 1958-1968. Full of Elizabeth originals like the Tomten Jacket, Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket and Baby Surprise Jacket, each newsletter is reprinted in its entirety for you to recreate with your individual tastes. You’ll be able to hear Elizabeth speaking in her frank manner when you read her journal entries. The letters from fans to Elizabeth’s family at the time of her death will bring tears to your eyes. An absolutely essential book.  See the patterns on Ravelry




In Elizabeth’s last book, she teaches you to be the boss of your knitting. Her liberating teachings have inspired generations of knitters and the classic patterns will keep you knitting for years. The book contains dozens of inventive designs, both Seamless and garter-stitch, plus her autobiographical Digressions. Projects include Seamless Yoke Pullover, Very Warm Hat and Mitered Mittens.   Hardcover. See the patterns on Ravelry.




Do you love to knit but hate to purl? Have you ever started a sweater without enough yarn from the same dye lot to finish it? When you cast on, do you end up with a tail of yarn that’s maddeningly too long or too short? Elizabeth Zimmermann comes to the rescue with clever solutions to frustrating problems and step-by-step instructions for brilliant, timeless designs. Projects include Seamless Hybrid, the Tomten Jacket, and the Seamless Yoke Pullover. Softcover. See the patterns on Ravelry.



See more gift ideas HERE


Knit Your Own Cat (save on vet bills)




Cat lovers and spinsters rejoice! It’s the highly anticipated follow-up book to Knit Your Own Dog. With easy-to-follow instructions for 16 distinct felines, Knit Your Own Cat is the irresistible guide to knitting the pet you’ve always wanted. Knit Your Own Cat is packed with knitting patterns for 16 different fanciful felines, from a pretty Persian to a sleek Siamese, from a cuddly kitten to a traditional tabby. The cats are surprisingly easy to make: With a few evenings of work, you can have a covetable companion for life. Each cat includes clear, step-by-step instructions for both knitting and assembling the parts. The cats can be knit into various positions such as standing, sitting, crouching, and curled up for a nap. You can add details like collars, bells, and bows. Photographs throughout show the finished cat from various angles, and each cat is accompanied by a description of its real-life temperament and physical characteristics. 

Cats include: Abyssinian, Bengal, Black Cat, Black White, British Shorthair, Burmese, Devon Rex, Kitten, Maine Coon, Orange, Persian, Ragdoll, Siamese, Tabby, Tortoiseshell, and Turkish Van.  

See a slideshow HERE

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

New Books

Methods and techniques of hand knitting. The Bible is back in print! This may be the most thorough reference book on knitting published (712 pages).  It has been completely revised and updated (apparently the publisher lost the original documents and June had to hand type the whole thing out from scratch). Read a review HERE. The illustrations are in two colours, but the pictures are in black and white – I imagine that with a tome this size the cost of colour photos would jack the retail price way up. My only criticism is that physically the book resembles a first year anthropology textbook, but it’s ok is it’s low on sizzle because it’s most definitely100% steak.


23 contemporary designs using classic cable patterns, by Martin Storey (Rowan yarns). These projects are so beautiful, it’s a real shame the publisher hasn’t bothered top upload the pictures to Ravelry. Martin Storey has been designing for Rowan Yarn for decades, and his style is generally classic, elegant and wearable. Projects include hats, gloves, socks, vests, shrugs, scarves, a bag, and of course several sweaters. The patterns are generally for women, but there are a few for men included too.  Beautiful.


22 vintage designs from Jennie Atkinson (Romantic Style, Rowan Magazine. Sooo pretty!  If you like lace, you are going to be very pleased. Projects are varied, and range from small to larger projects: gloves, stockings, sachets, shrug, camisole, bag, coin purse, scarf, dress, shirts, and sweaters.


30 project for science fiction, comic books, fantasy. You don’t have to be a nerd to enjoy these patterns. I LOVE the princess Leia getup (note, with THREE hair style options)! Some of my favourites include Hobbit Feet, Horrible Gloves (who doesn’t love Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog?! Check it out on Netflix or iTunes), Star Trek Mini-Dress (it’s actually a great, simple dress or tunic), Robot (I think it was supposed to be a Cyberman from Dr. Who, but it’s much cuter), and Raj’s Sweater Vest from The Big Bang Theory.


As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

New Books from Ysolda Teague & Westknits!

New Crop of Fall Books!



Wendy Knits Lace ~ $25.99
With 20 original patterns for gorgeous lace shawls, sweaters, hats, gloves and of course socks, popular blogger and author Wendy D. Johnson provides thorough instruction on the best lace techniques for aspiring, experienced and advanced knitters. Many knitters are intimidated by lace, but with a little guidance anyone can create beautiful pieces. As she did for the toe-up sock technique, Wendy demystifies lace knitting by thoroughly explaining the basics and offering the best techniques to create the most intricate-looking patterns. She shares a wealth of tips that will help new lace knitters avoid any frustration. Twenty projects for beginners through to advanced knitters include scarves, shawls, afghans, accessories and sweaters. Ranging from a lightweight seashell camisole for summer to a thick cowl for winter, Wendy presents projects that are surprisingly easy and fun to create and great to wear year-round.

Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi ~ $22.99
Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi features more than 40 patterns for itty-bitty knitted toys to make, to share, and even to wear! From Tiny Monkeys to Tiny Computer and Tiny Forest, most of these projects take about an hour to make and are perfect for using up yarn scraps. Recommended for intermediate knitters.

Interweave Knits 2012 Wall Calendar ~ $14.95
Explore sweater constructions, fabrics, and details with the editors of Interweave Knits in this beautiful 12-month wall calendar. Inspirational photos, expert advice, how-to diagrams and sketches, and collages of our favorite designs in the last four years encourage you to make a modification, try out a new technique, or discover a new to you shape—all year long. This calendar is a visual feast for any knitter!
Vogue Knitting Knitopedia: The Ultimate A to Z for Knitters ~ $41.95
The most comprehensive knitting reference book ever published, Knitopedia is organized as an A to Z encyclopedia with numerous cross-references that make it easy to find information. This remarkable resource contains over 400 individual articles and is lavishly illustrated and beautifully designed, with hundreds of color photos, technical illustrations, charts and maps. Knitopedia will be a joy for all knitters to give or receive. Here’s a small sampling of the contents: • explanations of all commonly used abbreviations
• explanations and illustrations of all important knitting techniques, such as casting on, binding off, shaping and picking up stitches
• historical and cultural background information on all ethnic knitting traditions
• articles on the design process, fit and ease and other design-related topics
• overviews of today’s knitting world (the Internet, blogs, magazines, podcasts)
• over 100 basic stitch patterns, with photos and charts
My Grandmother’s Knitting  ~ $25.50
When most people think of their grandmother’s knitting, they might not immediately see the connection to a modern knitter’s life. But in My Grandmother’s Knitting, Larissa Brown shows us that nothing could be further from the truth. Many of today’s hippest and most popular knitters found their passion for knitting under the tutelage of their grandmother or another revered family member, and in this book, they share stories and patterns inspired by their memories and their gratitude. Among the 26 contributors to My Grandmother’s Knitting are STC Craft authors Wendy Bernard (Custom Knits series), Teva Durham (Loop-d-Loop series), Norah Gaughan (Knitting Nature), Joan McGowan-Michael (Knitting Lingerie Style), and Leigh Radford (AlterKnits series and One More Skein) as well as many other popular designers such as Jared Flood, Cookie A., Ysolda Teague, Anne Hanson, Kay Gardiner, and Meg Swansen.
Loop-d-Loop Lace ~ $35.95
Loop-d-Loop Lace is the third volume in the groundbreaking Loop-d-Loop series by Teva Durham. In this installment, Durham shatters the idea that lace is old-fashioned by presenting more than 30 cutting-edge knitting designs that are as up-to-the-minute style-wise as they are thoroughly steeped in lace tradition. The projects cover a wide spectrum, from classic shawls and camisoles that utilize traditional laceweight yarns and revered stitch patterns, to ultramodern pullovers and accessories in bold colors and chunky yarns that showcase lace at a larger scale. Projects range from easy to advanced. Detailed swatch photos throughout illuminate the stitchwork, while color fashion photos show off the finished garments with the series’ signature modern, romantic appeal.

60 Quick Baby Knits


What a great idea!  This book compiles 60 great patterns for babies using the same versatile, soft, affordable, and washable yarn – Cascade 220 Superwash. The yarn comes with PLENTY of yardage (200m fpr 100g) and costs a very reasonable $10. And as for the patterns, there’s lots to choose from: sweaters, blankets, hats, slippers, leg warmers, dresses, jumpers, mittens, and socks. The skill levels are varied, as are the aesthetics, so there’s something there for everyone. 





As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!


New Books!

New Book – Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques


The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques – $36.95
by Margaret Radcliffe

Wawa-wee-wa! This is a serious technical tome and backs up it’s title with quality content. It’s almost purely technical, and for the most part isn’t about patterns (although there are a few). There something for everyone in the book, even the artsy will be happy with the chapters on playing around with stripes and multi-coloured yarns, which is pretty good for helping you visualize how they might knit up in different ways. The bulk of the book is focused on instructing you how to do the fussier techniques like intarsia, stranded knitting, illusion knitting, twined knitting, double knitting, modular knitting, entrelac, tips & tricks to achieve a beautiful finish, and designing. It also provides a series of pattern stitches that are accompanied by instructions that walk you through their accompanying techniques.  The instructions are clear and easy to follow, as are the pictures. In conclusion, this is an excellent reference book to keep on your shelf – you’ll use it over and over for years to come. 

P.S.
Radcliffe’s other book, The Knitting Answer Book, is also an excellent resource, which is available in store ($18.95). 


As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com