Favorite Knitting Books
I love knitting books. They are a fabulous resource that you can refer to again and again. I’ll share my very favorite books below in a few different categories. The first list includes general reference books that any knitter might want on their shelves. Then you’ll find a list of my favorite stitch dictionaries (and I have quite a few!). If you understand the basics of various knitted garments and accessories it’s not hard to add in a favorite stitch pattern.
The final two lists include design-related books – the first is focused on plug-and-play style books that have charts divided by stitch gauge (which are great for dipping your toes into the world of custom design) and the final list is for those who are ready to jump into the design process with both feet. If you are the type of person who always makes changes to a knitting pattern to personalize it, then a few design books are a great addition as you learn how to customize and even create your own patterns.
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Favorite Knitting Reference Books
When I’m looking up a new technique or want to learn more about some knitting-related term, I always turn to my home library before I look at any other source. These books are on my most used bookshelf where I can quickly grab one when I need to check out a technique.
- Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (available on Amazon) – this is probably the first resource I turn to when I’m looking up a particular technique. I’m a visual learner and the illustrations are clear and presented in a coherent manner. While this book covers all the basics any knitter needs to know as well as touching on more in-depth techniques it isn’t a deep dive into any one topic (but it is a great book for a quick overview of a wide variety of topics).
- The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt (available on Amazon) – I consider this book the college course on knitting (it’s really a giant textbook). If you like in-depth books, this is the one for you. I don’t usually grab it first thing (since I prefer the pictures of Vogue Knitting), but when I’m ready to delve deeper into a particular topic, I always pull this book off the shelf.
- Reader’s Digest Knitter’s Handbook by Montse Stanley (available on Amazon) – this book is somewhere between Vogue Knitting and The Principles of Knitting for me. I grab Vogue first (for a quick overview) then I usually read this book for understanding the particular technique (and only grab Hiatt’s book if I’m ready to digest a lot of information). The pictures are dated but the information is solid and covers a wide variety of topics.
- The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman (available on Amazon) – a well-made garment is really in the details – the proper techniques and finishes can elevate a garment from ‘homemade’ to handmade. Most of the information in this book can be found in other books as well but I love her lists of benefits and drawbacks for each technique, which is helpful when you’re deciding between a few possibilities in your own designs (or when you’re just wondering if there’s a better option for a particular pattern you’re currently working on).
- The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe (available on Amazon) – for those interested in the many ways color can be used in knitting, you’ll want Radcliffe’s book. She presents plenty of information on all the major techniques (stranded, mosaic, intarsia) as well as touching on many other topics and techniques (with full-color photographs).
Favorite Stitch Dictionaries
I love a good stitch dictionary. Just grab some yarn and needles and try out a swatch of a pattern and you’re ready to turn your design into reality. Once you understand basic garment and accessory construction, it’s easy to add a stitch pattern and make a truly unique design.
General Stitch Dictionaries
These books cover a variety of stitches – from textured patterns to lace and cables. They are a great starting place for your design inspiration.
- A Treasure of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker (available on Amazon) – this is the first book in her 4-book series of stitch patterns. These books are classics in the knitting world and cover a wide variety of stitches and techniques include texture, lace, cables, slip stitch, mosaic, and more.
- Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida (available on Amazon) – I have a few Japanese stitch dictionaries but this is probably my favorite. If you love intricate patterns and twisted stitches, pick up a Japanese stitch dictionary (one note – they are always charted, you won’t find written instructions).
- The Knitting All Around Stitch Dictionary (available on Amazon) & Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard (available on Amazon) – these books also include some common and not-so-common stitch patterns (you’ll find some crossover between these and Barbara Walker’s books) but these books really shine because the patterns are all charted and written for top-down, bottom-up, flat, AND circular knitting.
Specialty Stitch Dictionaries
The stitch dictionaries listed below I would consider specialty books that are focused on just one area of knitting (while the stitch dictionaries above are more general, covering a wider variety of topics within one book). Usually, they include plenty of stitch patterns as well as the necessary technical information for that particular area.
- Knitted Cable Sourcebook by Norah Gaughan (available on Amazon) – if you only have one book about cables on your bookshelf it should be this one. She clearly explains the basics of cables but then delves deep into her design process and shows (with beautiful photographs) how she manipulates cables for all new creations. And the patterns are modern and interesting too.
- Knitting Fresh Brioche by Nancy Marchant (available on Amazon) – if brioche is your jam, you should have one (or all) of Marchant’s brioche books on your shelf. She covers all the basic techniques clearly and includes beautiful swatches, stitches, and patterns (with charts and written instructions).
- The Essential Edgings Collection by Nicky Epstein (available on Amazon) – I love the fun and innovative ideas in this book. If you’d like to move past the basic rib, Garter, and Seed Stitch edgings, dive into the imaginative edging ideas in this collection (with 500 different ideas).
Colorwork Stitch Dictionaries
If you love colorwork, this is the section for you. One thing to note – colorwork patterns in these books are always charted (you won’t find any written instructions).
- Alter Knit by Andrea Rangel (available on Amazon) – this is a fun, modern (think bats, aliens, paw prints, and squirrels along with other fun designs) colorwork stitch dictionary with 200 designs, a few patterns that can be modified with the included stitch patterns, and good information on working stranded colorwork.
- Mosaic Knitting by Barbara Walker (available on Amazon) – this book explains the process of working mosaic patterns very clearly but the real star is all the patterns – there are lots of them!
- 150 Scandinavian Motifs (available on Amazon) & 200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone (available on Amazon) – these books are a must-have resource for those who love to knit colorwork designs. The motifs are divided by row and stitch count and both books include information for designing and basic colorwork techniques.
Favorite Plug-and-Play Design Books
These books deserve their own category. They aren’t really full-on design books focused on designing a sweater from scratch but they are a great starting point. Instead, these books include charts organized by size and stitch gauge that you can use to knit (and customize) your own garments and accessories.
- Ultimate Sweater Book by Amy Herzog (available on Amazon) – you’ll find a variety of classic sweater shapes worked in different gauges in this book. The introductory section is fabulous with lots of information on proper measurement, fit, and swatching.
- 6000+ Pullover Possibilities by Melissa Leapman (available on Amazon) – if you like the plug-and-play method of designing a sweater (knit in pieces and seamed), this is a great choice with 8 sizes and 9 gauges. She covers all the basics and there are plenty of ways to create truly unique designs.
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd (available on Amazon) – Ann Budd’s books are a treasure for their basic patterns in different gauges. While the pictures are dated the information is solid. This volume covers a variety of basics: mittens, gloves, hats, tams, scarves, socks, vests, and sweaters.
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns (available on Amazon) & The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters by Ann Budd (available on Amazon) – like the book listed above, these books focus on classic sweater shapes with charts divided by stitch gauge. While the pictures and garment shapes are dated, the information is solid and is a great starting place for understanding how various sweaters are constructed.
- The Mitten Handbook by Mary Scott Huff (available on Amazon) – if you love mittens, this is a great book to have on your shelf. The author includes some adorable mitten patterns but the real treasure is how she breaks down mitten construction into its most basic parts and explains how to mix and match the various pieces for customized mittens.
Favorite Knitting Design Books
This list includes books that focus on design or garment construction. Some books also include patterns and other information but I generally refer to these books for their advice and details about the design and construction of various garments.
- Sweater 101 by Cheryl Brunette (available on Amazon) – I knit my very first sweater based on my own gauge swatch by following her methods (and it really works!). This book is filled with valuable information and all the tools you need for designing from swatch to sweater (she even explains the math so clearly).
- Knitting Pattern Essentials by Sally Melville (available on Amazon) – for those who are ready to design and want to understand all the math, this book is a great resource. Melville clearly breaks down each step in the process and shows you how to bring your design idea to life.
- Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie Righetti (available on Amazon) – this is a book that I refer to when I just want to sit and read a particular chapter. It’s more ‘chatty’ but with lots of great information about basic sweater construction.
- Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting (available on Amazon) – while this book includes stitch patterns, the main focus is on the design of Fair Isle garments and how pattern and color work together to create a unique garment. It includes some patterns but the real gold is the details about designing your own sweaters and hats.
- Sock Innovation by Cookie A (available on Amazon) – this book is a great resource for budding sock designers. While the author includes some beautiful sock patterns that are inspiring, I love the information about designing. You’ll learn about the different parts of socks and the many ways to work them (cuffs, heels, and toes) as well as adjusting stitch patterns and planning your design.