Essential Resources

Charts Made Simple

Never again be confounded by a knitting chart!  That's not just a promise, but a guarantee when you have a copy of Charts Made Simple at your side. JC Briar clearly, simply and thoroughly teaches you how to read any chart fluently.  With JC as your guide, you will not only learn to read charts as easily as you are reading this sentence, but you will discover the almost magical simplicity and abundant advantages they offer knitters.  Slip a copy into your knitting bag and you'll sail into charted realms of knitting delights with a confident smile.

Charts Made Simple will teach you:

• to see that a chart is a picture of knitted fabric
• to make sense of the symbols in a chart without being tied to its key
• to use charts as guides for minimizing and recovering from mistakes
• to handle chart quirks - "no stitch" symbols, repeated stitches, changes in stitch count, and more -- with ease.

Seven Things That Can Make or Break A Sweater

Good knitting technique never goes out of style. Whether you knit trendy garments or classic sweaters, the same techniques will make the difference between a garment that looks well made and one that doesn't. In this book, you will learn seven basic knitting techniques that greatly affect the appearance of a hand knit sweater: the smooth or bumpy side of the cast on edge on the public side of the garment, the placement and type of increases used in ribbing, slanting decreases, invisible increases, blocking, picking up stitches for bands, and buttonholes.

Master the "how" of each technique, then learn the "when, where and why." The author's goal is to give knitters information so they thoroughly understand the techniques and can confidently make choices about using them. This book is for knitters who know the basics and want to hone their skills to produce beautifully hand knit projects. This book has two sections:

Seven Chapters

• Learn one technique per chapter with step-by-step instructions, clear illustrations, and detailed color photographs.
• Understand why each technique works and why it looks good.
• Receive lots of useful tips and hints for producing good results.
• Know the choices and options associated with the techniques.

Seven Sweater Patterns

• A "tutorial project" (baby sweater) pattern is divided into sections that correspond to each chapter. The reader will be able to practice the lessons of each chapter on this real, but small, sweater.
• Six stylish adult sweater patterns provide plenty of opportunities to practice the techniques.
• All patterns have clear, row-by-row instructions.
• Information on sweater seaming is included in the appendix.

This is a skill-building, confidence-boosting book which shows knitters how to make even the simplest sweater look marvelous.

Sweater 101 - How to Plan Sweaters that Fit

Let's see . . . if I were to be stranded on a desert island will all the yarn I might want (in my fantasy, I'd have sent the yarn ahead so it would be there waiting for me when the ship went down), what knitting books would I take with me? (Isn't that a fun question?)

In my case, there are so many possibilities that I could spend days just musing about it. But through the haze of beloved books shines a couple very clear rays of light: I would take everything by Elizabeth Zimmermann, and I would absolutely take a copy of Sweater 101 . [I would also take much more, enough probably to send me to Davy Jones locker along with my fantasy ship, but that is beside the point here.]

Sweaters 101 is one of the most practical, clearly written guides to the art of knitting. It is also one of the easiest to learn from as well as being one of those books that will so empower you that your knitting life will take on creative dimensions in ways that will surprise and delight you as they enrich every stitch you make. Following her clear and sensible advice will yield sweater after sweater that fits perfectly. Add your own design elements whenever and where ever you wish - even if you are now a novice, Cheryl's pointers make it so simple to know what to do next that once you try them out, you'll never look back.

In other words, Sweater 101 will set you free. It is a must-have for your knitting techniques bookshelf. Don't leave home without it (even if your destination is not a desert island!).

The Natural Knitter

The Natural Knitter is a true labor of love, each page alive with enthusiasm, bearing the author's invitation to share in her delight and wonder at nature's gifts and the knitter's craft. Barbara Albright, who passed on in 2006, was an avid knitter and knitting writer who was passionate about the value of natural fibers for knitting and for the world.

As a basic resource, The Natural Knitter is overflowing with information about each fiber Albright covers ("Alpaca to Yak" is a pretty good description). The abundance of tips on spinning, knitting, caring for these fibers, each in its own way is a marvel -- I have turned to it multiple times since our copies arrived and each time learned not only what I was seeking to know, but also much, much more of interest and of use.* If you've ever wondered about the differences of wool and camel or angora and alpaca, or would like to understand which fibers are best suited to different types of knitting and different applications, The Natural Knitter knows all and tells all. It is a treasure chest of knowledge and love for the animals and fibers.

As a palette of knitting design and creativity, you just can't do better than The Natural Knitter. Albright called together some of the most exciting natural fiber artists and designers around and clearly infused them with her vision for this book: their contributions are exhilarating, and form an array of creative and beautiful ideas ranging from felted meditation mats to masterpiece sweaters -- and everything in between. There are garments for every member of the family, some breathtaking, others wonderful in their simplicity.

Invisible Threads in Knitting

Annemor Sundbø's "rag pile" discoveries, which she recorded so beautifully in Everyday Knitting, have led her far beyond the rag pile, this time into the heart and soul of folk knitting and the people whose lives were poured into the crafts their hands produced. Invisible Threads in Knitting is simply a splendid book - I have never read a crafts history that told me as much about how those who came before us, and who created the pathways we now walk in modern knitting, thought, lived and created. Sundbø has managed to carry into each an every passage a quality of warmth, of kindness even, as she decribes with a depth of understanding that is sometimes startling the lives of those whose hands created our knitted heritage.

Her section titles will give you a glimpse of the breadth of her discoveries and reflections:

• Strands of Thought and Memory Spinning
• Spirit and Symbol
• Creativity and Striking Power

 Delightfully, Sundbø has also slipped little patterns of some of the more charming and useful items she has encountered in her travels throughout the world of knitting. There are slippers, hats, mittens, coffeepot cozies. edgings and more -- all of them charming and inviting. My prediction is that you will often find yourself setting your reading aside in favor of participating in Annemor's discoveries with needles and yarn.

This is a book that already has an honored place on my bookshelf and in my life - it is a book that I have loved deeply from the moment I first saw it. Sharing it with you is truly a privilege.

A Knitting Glossary - DVD

Tradition meets modern technology in the best possible way with this new DVD edition of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Glossary. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I've had (and how much help I've received!) thinking of a technique, surfing through the menu and then "click," finding Elizabeth and/or Meg showing me exactly how to do it. Plus, in addition to the original 100 techniques that Elizabeth demonstrated, Meg has added another 30!!! If you have put off buying the old VHS version because of price (it was $30 more expensive) or just because futzing with VHS tape is not your cup of tea, I can guarantee that you will love this DVD. Sleek, simple, and packed, just packed with knitting knowledge - from 13 ways to Cast-On to Steeks to Grafting to 15 I-Cord variations to 7 ways to Cast-Off, it's all here!

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop - Book

Elizabeth's Knitting Workshop book provides the basic material of her PBS Series in written form. Great by itself or as a way to reinforce what Elizabeth just showed you - this book is not just a classic, it is perhaps the most comprehensive, easy-to-follow knitting how-to ever written. Go from beginner to master in a little under 200 pages!

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop - DVD

The television show that launched a million knitters! It's hard to imagine it, but until Elizabeth Zimmermann came along, knitting was actually on the verge of extinction. Few people did it, almost no one could sit down and design their own sweater, and the idea that knitting was a creative endeavor, well, there was a thought few entertained for long. Knitting had become something that people who enjoyed and were skilled at reading line-by-line directions did -- the rest of the world found other ways to occupy their time.

Elizabeth changed all of that, and we are still reaping the fruits of the seeds she sowed. By 1981 her books were already pretty well known, but with the broadcast of this video, suddenly it seemed like worlds opened up that stretched into corners her books had not yet gone. Yarn stores stopped languishing and expanded, people began to see knitting as something that allowed them to create what they wanted, the way they wanted it, and a whole new day dawned on the world of fiber arts. In fact, it was this series that inspired the original Knitters magazine - which used to be not just a good magazine, but a truly great one (those first 20-30 issues are like walking into a room of knitting geniuses, all of whom want to sit down and teach you something wonderful).

This newly-produced DVD is just as wonderful and useful today as it was back in the 80s. You can begin at the beginning with Elizabeth showing you what has to be the very best way to wind a ball of yarn, move through casting-on and the basic stitches. And then, the real fun begins as you discover with her the magic of circular knitting, knit your own hat based on your own yarn and gauge, and dive head-long into sweater design. It is no exageration to say that by the time you finish, you will be a master at the honorable, creative, artistic craft of knitting. And have a pile of sweaters and hats to show for it, too.

Inside, you will find:

• Part 1 : Beginnings. Follow along as Elizabeth winds a center-pull ball of wool to begin your first project: a hat knit in the round.
• Part 2 : Intermediate. After completing the hat, you have learned enough basic technique to knit a seamless yoke sweater - discover how EPS (Elizabeth's Percentage System) can free you from patterns forever; then go on to make a color-patterned dropped-shoulder pullover.
• Part 3 : Master Classes. Elizabeth discusses and shows examples of traditional Fair Isle and Guernsey knitting as well as garter-stitch and lace; seven seamless shoulder shapings!
• As a special feature, Part 3 also has a new interview with Meg Swansen about making this series with Elizabeth

Learn from the master, with the master. What could be better?

A Knitter's Journal - Monarch

I have looked for a knitting journal I'd want to offer for a long, long time. Despite about two years of "test driving" a variety of journals, none of them really spoke to me as being what I was really looking for. Until now, that is.

Meg Swansen has designed an beautifully useful knitter's journal - with lined pages, blank pages and graphs of different sizes. None of which makes A Knitter's Journal much different from any of the other available journals. What makes it a stand-out, hands-down winner is that in addition to all the pages for you to use for your notes and designs, there are shining pearls of information tucked throughout the book that offer the knitter all sorts of help, support and inspiration. Here's a bit of what you'll find:

• a page filled will common abbreviations and symbols
• EPS (Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage Sytem) schematics for both yoke and drop-shoulder sweaters
• clear drawings for many, many essential techniques
• short gems of insight and inspiration by Elizabeth Zimmermann
• the full instructions for Elizabeth's "Wearable Art Socks"

Regardless of which cover photos you choose, the inner contents are the same. The book itself is an invitation to create and delight in your knitting. And it is the journal I have been waiting for.

A Treasury of Knitting Patterns

A Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Vol. 1
Contents:

500 different patterns, including

• Knit-Purl Combinations
• Ribbings
• Color-Change Patterns
• Slip-Stitch Patterns
• Twist Stitch Patterns
• Fancy Texture Patterns
• Yarn-Over Stitch Patterns
• Eyelet Patterns
• Lace
• Cables
• Cable-Stitch Patterns

A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns

A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Vol. 2

Contents :

700 different patterns, including:

• Knit-Purl combinations
• Slip-Stitch Texture and Color Patterns
• Mosaic Patterns
• Fancy Texture and Color Patterns
• Twist Stitch Patterns
• Cables and Cable-Stitch Patterns
• Yarn-Over Patterns
• Eyelets
• Lace
• Lace Panels and Insertions
• Borders and Edgings

Charted Knitting Design

Charted Knitting Designs - Vol. 3

Contents:

350 different charted designs, including:

• How to Read Charts
• Textured Fabrics
• Twist Stitch Patterns
• Cables
• Closed-Ring Cables
• Cable-Stitch Patterns
• Lace
• Lace Panels
• Mosaic Patterns
• Color Patterns
• Uncharted Miscellany

A 4th Treasury of Knitting Patterns

A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Vol. 4

Contents:

100 Charts and the complete text from Barbara Walker's book Sampler Knitting plus 82 new, hertofore unpublished designs and a brief autobiography.

  

Knitting Gems 1 - DVD

Contents:

Applied Edges

• Knitting-up stitches using a dpn
• Applying an I-cord edge
• Comparison of methods
• Going around an exterior bend
• Going around an interior bend
• Applying a Garter edge (A)
• Knitting from right needle to left
• Applying a Garter edge (B)

 Buttonhole Essentials

• Regular v. one-row holes
• One-row self-reinforcing
• Eyelet
• Enlarged eyelet
• For a 2 x 2 rib (purl side)
• For a 2 x 2 rib (knit side)

 I-Cord Basics

• Slipping or sliding?
• Why is I-cord circular?
• Range of sizes (2 - 5 stitch)
• Laddering-up larger tubes
• I-cord perfect graft

 More Cords, Braids and Bobbles

• Tube stitch
• Screw-thread I-cord
• Ribbed I-cord
• Purl I-cord (with beads)
• I-cord edged Garter stitch
• Twisted cord
• Bi-coloured I-cord
• Bi-coloured braid
• Balanced bobble: the increase
• Working right to left
• Bobble: balanced decrease
• Purl-faced bobble

 Presenting the Picot Family

• Picot cast-on
• Varying picot lengths
• At the beginning of rows
• Mid-row (Lambstails)
• Bind-off

 Twists, Kinks and Bias

• Winding a skein
• Reconditioning wool: Steam
• Reconditioning wool: Spritz
• Reconditioning wool: Washing
• Knitting kinky!
• Releasing twist
• Balanced / unbalanced yarns
• S and Z twists

Knitting Gems 2 - DVD

Contents :

Becoming Ambidextrous!

• Knitting with the right hand
• Knitting with the left hand
• Purling with the right hand
• Purling with the left hand
• One yarn in each hand
• Above and Below yarns
• Stranding
• Weaving-in right hand yarn
• Weaving-in left hand yarn and colour dominance
• Diagram of weaving
• Weaving frequencies
• Both yarns in the right hand
• Both yarns in the left hand

Steeks, Shapings, Scissors

• Steeks in shaped fabric
• Building a neck/arm bridge
• Binding off around the top
• Cutting the steeks
• Joining the shoulders

The Mysterious Gully

• The two-row gully
• Alternative purling, right hand
• Knitting alternative stitches
• Purling with the left hand, alternative and regular
• Rethinking your decreases
• Testing for unbalanced yarn
• Biasing in a one-ply yarn
• Kinky needles
• Turbo needles
• Felting a bag

Short Row Techniques

• Regular (right edge)
• Neatening wraps on RS
• Regular (left edge)
• Neatening wraps on WS
• Neatening forgotten wraps
• Smoothing shoulders
• Japanese method (set up)
• Neatening on RS, Japanese Neatening on WS, Japanese
• In Garter stitch
• Yarn-over method
• Comparison diagrams
• Planning your short rows
• In the round

Knitting Gems 3 - DVD

Contents:

Beading Techniques

• Inserting a bead with a hook
• Threading beads onto yarn
• Slip stitch and strand in front
• Stitch head beading (knit row)
• Stitch head beading (purl row)
• Placing beads between stitches
• Beading Garter alternate rows
• Making beaded dangles
• Multiple beads between stitches
• Spacing beaded rows
• Pre-threaded, bead on stitch
• Dip stitches
• Auxiliary thread for small beads
• Beads on a yarn-over
• Purl I-cord with beads

 Cable Talk

• What is a cable?
• Right cross with cable needle
• Left-cross without cable needle
• Counting cables
• Cable fixes

 Lace Basics

• What is lace?
• Overs between knit stitches
• Make one increase
• Decrease and yarn-over pairs
• Looking at charts
• Double yarn-overs
• Multiple yarn-overs
• K1-O-k1 increase
• Yarn Handling Tricks
• Introducing new yarn with loop
• Creating triple thickness yarn
• Two strands, staggering joins
• Blending two colours
• Two hands to separate colours

Yarn Handling Tricks

• Introducing new yarn with loop
• Creating triple thickness yarn
• Two strands, staggering joins
• Blending two colours
• Two hands to separate colours

Knitting Gems 4 - DVD

Contents:

Cool Cast-Ons

• Long-tail: What, no slip-knot?
• German twisted
• Tubular (reg needle) 2 colours
• Tubular (regular needle)
• Tubular (large needle)
• Converting 1 x 1 rib to 2 x 2
• Giant demo of tubular edge
• Bi-coloured chain
• Scallop
• Picot
• Picot calculation diagram

Fancy Bind-Off Methods

• Bi-colour chain
• Picot
• Modified conventional (kw/pw)
• Suspended

Even More Increases

• Knit into front and back
• Knit and purl
• Split Yarn-overs
• K1-O-K1 make 3sts out of one

Daring Rescue Techniques

• Knitting down (no temp. edge)
• Hills and valley stitches
• Multiple-stitch laddering
• Lace fixes
• Cable fixes
• Duplicate stitch
• Surgical replacement
• Multi-row surgical replacement

Odds and Ends

• Slipping sts, kw, pw, en mass
• Working into the stitch below
• Selvage for garter stitch
• Knitting-up new stitches
• Purling-up new stitches
• Knitting-up along garter
• Recapturing live stitches
• The weavers knot

Knitting Essentials 1 - DVD

I've been knitting flat out for thirty-four years, and I learned something during the first four minutes of Knitting Essentials . Chock full of reassuring common sense and intelligent short cuts, A Knitters Companion is what every knitter has always wanted: Lucy Neatby, warm, intelligent and funny, now forced to live in your living room. Go put on a pot of tea. Lucy's coming over and she's bringing her knitting.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, The Yarn Harlot

And, I've been knitting for over 40 years and also learned something in the first four minutes. And in the next 4 minutes. In fact, it didn't matter what I watched, Lucy taught me something new. Sometimes, it was an energy saving discovery; other times it was more life saving, like how to absolutely prevent some of the most common knitting gaffs I have been know to make. And then, there's the demonstration of her mattress stitch finishing technique -- in my opinion, worth the price of admission in and of itself.

I also love that she tells you about some of the things in knitting for which there are no absolutely certain formulas: take picking up stitches for a cardigan button placket, for instance. There are general principles about this, and she shares them with you, but absolutely rules? She tells you to look at your knitting and see for yourself whether or not it works as you've done it. To me, this is liberation. See her demonstration and explanation set me free to experiment, another step toward letting my knitting speak to me directly.

Here's a short list of the contents - with the note that behind each thing listed are about ten I don't have room to mention:

• Bind-off methods - about seven
• Cast-on methods - for every eventuality - about ten
• Decreases - what they are, when to use which ones
• Finishing Basics - not so very basic in that these are the foundations to a beautifully constructed garment
• Gauge - she right, it matters
• Increases - more about this than I thought possible
• Miscellaneous good advice
• Odds and Ends - what to do with them
• Resuce Remedies (whew!)
• Secrets of a Contented Stitch
• Garment Gallery (WOW!)

Anyway, Lucy's DVDs are the most essential knitting resource you could have, right after yarn and knitting needles. As the cover says, "take Lucy home!" You'll be ever so happy with her as your constant knitting friend.

Knitting Essentials 2 - DVD

As you would expect, in Knitting Essentials 2 Lucy takes us deeper and farther with our knitting. Here the focus is on more advanced techniques.

• You'll learn a modified conventional bind off that has enormous time-saving and stress-saving potential;
• the ins and outs of provisional cast-on;
• Lucy shows you how to take charge of your circular knitting and how to defuse an accidental twist;
• train both your hands to do your bidding with yarn and needles;
• what to do if you cut your knitting by accident - and how to cut it on purpose ;
• over fourteen more finishing techniques;
• grafting every which way you may wish;
• and more, much, much more.

In short, Lucy has served up a feast of knitting know-how - and is warm and funny as she does it. Another must-have for any knitter's library!

Sock Techniques 1 DVD

Everyone we know has been barely able to contain themselves for impatience to see this DVD - sight unseen, we all knew it would be great (what else could it be with Lucy at the helm?). Now, having seen them, I can state unequivocally that Sock Techniques 1 & 2 ARE great! In fact, I have never seen so many techniques so beautifully demonstrated before. It's my own opinion that if there is a sock making technique that is not on Sock Techniques 1 , then it can be found on Sock Techniques 2 . If it isn't on either of them, it's probably because no one knows it. That's just how complete and astonishing these DVDs are!

To show you what I mean, I'm printing the detailed chapter lists for each DVD here - they say more than anything I can write. Just look at this:

(NOTE: Page references relate to Lucy's book Cool Socks Warm Feet )

Introduction

• Choosing Yarn for Socks (p.87)
• Choosing Needles for Socks (p.80)
• Sock Anatomy and Fitting
• Common turned heel
• Tubular sock with an inserted heel
• Comparison of common and inserted heels

Bind-Off Methods

• Picot (p.33)
• Modified Conventional knitwise Modified Conventional purlwise and in rib (p.120)
• The last stitch, joining the gap
• Expanded rib (p.33)
• Three Needle (p.119)

Cast-On Methods

• Long-Tail / Continental (with two hands) (p.105 - 107)
• Adjusting the width of your cast-on edge (p.105 - 107)
• Adjusting the tension of your cast-on stitches (p.105 - 107)
• Looking after your tail yarn (p.105 - 107)
• Long-Tail / Continental (one-hand)
• Long-Tail variation for an extra strong elastic edge (ideal for socks) (p.105 - 107)
• Picot (p.75)
• Provisional Crochet (p.110)
• Setting up working in the round with a provisional edge
• Working in the round down from a provisional edge

Cuffs and Edgings for Top-Down Socks

• Latvian Twist (p.105)
• Ruffled Turn-Over (simulating round knitting) and a purlwise double decrease (p.38)
• Scalloped Turn-Over (p.38)
• Wavy Edge (K2, O, k2, k2t) (p.54)

Cuffs and Edgings for Toe-Up Socks

• Expanding a 2 x 2 Rib with a m1 increase and "working as set"™ (p.33)
• Binding off an Expanded 2 x 2 edge (p.33)
• Double Layer Rib facing with double turning round (p.77)
• Garter stitch in the round

Finishing Techniques

• Duplicate Stitch (Swiss Darning) (p.115)
• Circular Sutures, the Boggle and naturally occurring holes (p.115)
• Phoney duplicate stitching
• Joining the gap in a cast-on edge, and neatening yarn tails
• Joining the gap in a bound-off edge
• Darning ends from toes
• Grafting the Toe (Kitchener Stitch)
• Make the sock Toe Chimney (p.117)
• Using the sock Toe Chimney (p.117)

Common Heel

• Dividing for the heel flap
• Working the Heel Flap in Alternative Heel Stitch (p.16)
• Checking the length of the heel flap
• Areas of Adjustment in the Heel flap (p.72)
• Turning the heel and using a reinforcing yarn
• Areas of Adjustment in turning the heel
• Knitting up the stitches around the heel and resuming working in the round (p.16)
• Stitch distribution and the first round
• Areas of Adjustment after turning the heel

Toes - Common Wedge

• Shapings for the Common wedge (p.18)

Working in the Round with Double Pointed Needles

• Casting on and dividing the stitches (p.100)
• Joining the round and setting up the needles
• Circulating stitches, starting with a knit or a purl?
• Transporting your work
• Running yarn markers (p.113)
• Three needles when working with few stitches

Working in the Round with One Long Circular Needle

• Casting on and joining the round
• Working on one long circular needle

Working in the Round with Two Circular Needles

• Casting on and joining the round (p.102)
• Working on two circular needles

Tips for Great Socks (p.7)

Garment Gallery

• A brief look at a selection of garments incorporating many of the techniques covered

The Small Print

• A printable text section covering:
  • Definitions
  • Filming considerations
  • Copyright issues
  • About Lucy
  • Product information
  • Acknowledgments

Sock Techniques 2 DVD

The fun and the learning continue! Check this out - it's hard to believe how much is packed into this one DVD:

NOTE: Page References relate to Lucy's book Cool Socks Warm Feet

Introduction

Bind-Off Methods

• Preparation for Sewn Tubular Bind -Off and simulated round knitting (p.121)
• Sewing the Tubular Bound-off edge
• Looking at the tubular edge
• Conversion of 2 x 2 to 1 x 1 rib

Cast-On Methods

• Channel Island (p.108)
• Channel Island and Long Tail Diagrams
• Provisional Crochet Cast-On Removing the Provisional edge (p.110)
• Giant stitch demonstration of the tubular edge
• The finished Tubular edge
• Tubular 1 x 1 rib with waste yarn (p.110)
• Tubular 2 x 2 rib with waste yarn (p.110)
• Conversion of 1 x 1 to 2 x 2

Cuffs and Edgings for Top-Down Socks

• Sideways Garter St explanation (p.51)
• Sideways Garter St, preparing the cuff (p.51)
• Sideways Garter St, joining the cuff (p.51)

Inserted Heels

• Description of Garter Stitch Short-Row and Turkish
• Calculating the placement of inserted heels (for Garter Stitch Short-Row or Turkish)
• Garter Stitch Short Row Heel Decrease section (includes weaving in the tail of the heel yarn, garter stitch short rows, use of parking needles) (p.25)
• Increase section
• The final heel row
• Close-up of finished heel
• Turkish Heel (aka Peasant or Afterthought Heel)
• Setting in the Waste Yarnn (p.34)
• Picking up stitches and opening the heel gap
• Knitting the Turkish Heel

Miscellaneous But Useful

• Circular Suture (p.115)
• Phoney Duplicate stitch (p.115)
• Neatening the Cast-On joggle
• Wraps per inch (W.P.I.) (p.10)
• Running Yarn Marker (p.113)
• Right-slanting increase (raised increase)
• Hills and valleys

Toe-Up Toes : Bosnian

• Bosnian Toe Square - giant yarn demonstration (p.29)
• Creating the toe square (p.29)
• Working the foot

Toe-Up Toes : Garter Stitch Short Row

• Decrease section (p.44)
• Increase section
• Setting up into the round

Toe-Up Toes : Stocking Stitch Short Row

• Decrease section (p.65)
• Smoothing rows
• Increase section

Turning and Facing Rounds

• Planning your Facing (p.33)
• Picot Turning round (p.34)
• Fusing the facing to the sock
• Rib with double turning round

Garment Gallery

• A brief look at a selection of garments incorporating many of the techniques covered

The Small Print

• A printable text section covering:
  • Definitions
  • Filming considerations
  • Copyright issues
  • About Lucy
  • Product information
  • Acknowledgment

Double Knitting Delights - DVD

Contents

What is Double Knitting?
How we create two layers

Knitting Tubes on Straight Needles With a Single Yarn

• Even-number stocking stitch
• Identifying the two layers
• Diagram of single yarn tube
• Even-number reverse St.st
• The slipurl!
• Mixing knits and purls
• Opening the tube
• Odd stitch numbers
• Fixing snags, dividing layers
• Single back to double fabric
• Comparison of gauge
• What is going on?
• Casting on an open tube

 DK Cast-On Methods

• Tubular with two colours
• Tubular with one yarn (beginning with a knit)
• Tubular with one yarn (beginning with a purl)
• Long-tail

 DK Bind-Off Methods

• Condensed
• Tubular
• Completing an open fabric

 Shapings

• Increases in a single yarn tube
• Increases in a two yarn fabric
• Decs in a single yarn tube
• Decs in a two yarn fabric

 Circles Within Circles

• One yarn, connected circles
• Two yarns, unconnected
• Two yarns and stripes
• Circular double-knitting

 DK & Ribbing are Cousins!

• Ribbing across to seal
• Using rib to set up DK

 From Single to Double Fabric

• Slip raised inc. (F ahead of N)
• Slip then inc (N ahead of F)
• Using two hands for SRI
• Knit and purl increase

 From Double to Single

• Near ahead of Far (ssk)
• Reorganizing your stitches
• Far ahead of Near (k2tog)

 Pockets and Patches

• Establishing a straight pocket
• Pocket Row 1
• Pocket Row 2
• Pocket Row 3
• Pocket Row 4
• Continuing the pocket
• Completing the pocket
• Pocket row sequence
• Pocket in the round

 Two Yarns, Sides, Hands!

• A different colour on each side
• Straight or dpns?
• Both yarns in the right hand
• Connecting the sides
• One yarn in each hand
• Both yarns in the left hand

 Edges & Ends

• Edge stitch tweaks!
• Dealing with ends
• Fixing errors

 Colour Patterning and Quilting

• Negative-positive patterning
• Diagram of yarn paths
• Connecting layers without changing the colour
• Patterned fabric structure
• Quilting - Near ahead of Far
• Quilting - Far ahead of Near
• Getting stuffed

Vogue Knitting

Owning a copy of Vogue Knitting is like having a knitting encyclopedia at your disposal -- it really does have it all, and it is all presented clearly, completely and beautifully. It pretty much goes without saying that any knitting technique you can think of can be found here, simply described and fully illustrated with color photographs and line drawings. But there is more, much more to this treasure chest of knitting.

For instance, there's the chapter on the "History of Knitting" which features some of the same museum pieces that Mary Thomas included, but now they are reproduced in full color, for all of us to marvel at.

Then there are the chapters on Correcting Errors, a fully illustrated chapter on Blocking, Assembling and Finishing, even a Stitch Dictionary!

As if that weren't enough, the chapter on Designing will lead you through the steps of garment design and (this is wonderful!) includes a reproducable Worksheet that will keep your project organized and leave you with a complete record of what you have done and how you got there.

As a Grand Finale, there are the Modular Knitting Patterns and Traditional Knitting Patterns chapters. In the former, all you need do is decide what sort of sweater you want to make, find the size of the wearer, buy your yarn, determine your gauge and off you go! In the latter, Vogue has called upon some of the worlds top designers to leave you with a bouquet of garments and complete instructions.

For a one-book knitting resource, Vogue Knitting tops the list!

Mary Thomas' Book of Knitting

I consider Mary Thomas's Knitting Book to offer best knitting-information-for-dollar, hands-down. Iin terms of completeness, usability and, what is most important in my estimation, in terms of learning value, you will get a huge return on a modest investment.

What is so outstanding about Thomas's work is not just that it has endured and proven itself useful for nearly 70 years; but that rather than just rattle off the over 250 techniques that she covers and illustrates so well, Thomas has placed every single technique fully within the context of when and where to use it.

Thomas begins with a history of the craft and then presents the basics -- how to hold the needles, wind the yarn, control tension, gauge stitches, etc. Following chapters explain every operation in common knitting, from basic knit and purl, casting on and off, shaping and more. The remainder of the book is devoted to more advanced techniques both of knitting and garment construction. She ends with instructions and patterns for everything from shawls to gloves, socks, sweaters and skirts.

This is a classic for good reason, one I still turn to when I want a refresher on a techique, the only knitting guide I owned for years - a true knitter's essential.

Mary Thomas' Knitting Patterns

While I truly believe that you can never have too many knitting pattern books, if you have to have only one (or, better, if you are looking for a place to start), this is the one to get. As with her Knitting Book, Thomas has not only thoroughly researched, described and illustrated these patterns, she has placed them all in context -- giving wonderful explanations of the patterns origins, where, how and why to use them, as well as the properties unique to each. This will enable even beginners to unite practicality with aesthetics in their choice of patterns.

An inexhaustible encyclopedia of patterns, methods and suggestions.

A Knitter's Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements

Yarn yardage requirements for basic mittens, gloves, scarves, socks, hats, tams, vests, and sweaters at multiple sizes and multiple gauges.

Slip this laminated leaflet into your purse to have handy the next time you find a yarn you love but aren't sure how much to buy. The yardages given here are for sizes ranging from baby or toddler to large adult, and for gauges appropriate for fine to bulky yarn. A simple, great resource!