List: My Favorite Knitting Books

I have shared a lot here about how much I love (and need) knitting.  Some of the books that have helped me to grow in my knitting adventure are classics and others are newer.  I thought I would share some of them with whoever happens to actually read this drivel I write.

• Knitting Rules, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.  I mentioned this one yesterday in my post.  I like this because while it doesn't have actually patterns it has recipes for different items:  hats, scarves, shawls and a great sock recipe. She follows the idea that there are not knitting police, and you are master of what you knit.
• Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Actually anything by this great lady...Knitting Workshop, Knitting Around, and Knitter's Almanac.  But this book was the first that I read when I returned to knitting after many years.   EZ (as she is known by her fans) is another person who knit by formulas and not hard core patterns.  While her pithy directions may leave you wondering, they also give you lots of leeway for creativity.
• Victorian Lace Today byJane Sowerby.  This has actual patterns, but mostly I use this book for inspiration.  I did some commissioned knitting out of this book though and loved it. The patterns are beautiful.  And all the lace is charted.  I can't knit lace without a chart. 
• The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns and The Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd.  I have made several sweaters using these books.  Again they are recipe or formula type books.   I also have her The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.  Just have to make me a swatch and I can knit anything.
• A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker.  What list is complete without these?  Not a regular knitting pattern but many many stitch patterns: lace, cables, knit/purl.  Any simple pattern can be stepped up with the addition of these stitch patterns.  Any new project from Ann Budds book also involves a stroll through these books.
•  Cast On Bind Off by Leslie Ann Bestor. Ironically two books came out at nearly the same time with this name.  This is the version with 54 methods, although I have both books.  I find the one with over 100 methods too overwhelming, and not that much difference between some of them.  This smaller book has come in very handy, when I was looking for provisional cast ons and stretchy ones.  There were several choice to go over and I could pick the one I liked best. 

While there are many other books that I have and love, these are some I wouldn't want to do without.  And I think any knitter could go far with just these.
What are some of your favorites?

A Slow Boat From Somewhere

A while back, in early July,  I was moaning because Ann Budd's new book "The Knitter's Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters" was not available when originally stated.  According to Knit-Picks it wouldn't be in until after the latest book sale was over.
Drat.
But, just in case, I kept checking their website.  And before the sale ended, it was there!I hardly need to tell you I pounced.
Of course, even on sale I had to get the free shipping.  So I also got these other two books:Cast On Bind Off, with 54 methods, and The Principles of Knitting.
Now if you will excuse me.  I have some reading to do.

Ok, I'm Bummed

After waiting with bated breath for the arrival of Ann Budd's latest book, The Knitters Handy Book of Top Down Sweater Patterns, on the Knit-Picks website, It's on backorder.  And it isn't expected until after their current booksale is ended.
Dart. 
Not that I was ready to cast on a top Down sweater immediately.  But still! 
I guess I need to hold my breath a while longer.

Lost in Austen

I have been a little slow  in the knitting department this last half week.  Of course Wednesday evening was when I was sick.  I didn't want to infect the yarn you know.  Thursday I didn't work, but still felt sketchy. (Sandy and I decided to cut back our hours some at the history center, since we still aren't bring paid.)
Anyway, I had started re-reading Pride and Prejudice on my Nook.  I was so "in the mood" that I dived into one of the many P & P alternatives I had purchased when they were on sale.  I read one variation where Elizabeth and Darcy marry after the first proposal (Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - the Last Man in the World). And now I am buried in "Mr. Darcy's Diary". 
I am indeed lost in Austen.
And loving it.

A Wonderful Book

A week or so ago I shared a picture of a pile of books that somehow arrived at my door.  (I still plea the Fifth.)
All of these books are great, and for different reasons.  I recommend them all.
But my surprising favorite is Coastal Knits by Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig.
I hadn't seen (to my knowledge) any of Alana's designs, but I have been a fan of Hannah's for some time.  My Duchess of Cambridge WIP sweater is her Featherweight design.  It's growing slowly, as other projects jump ahead, but at good traveling stage.
But back to the book.  I consider a book a good buy if there are one or two sweaters that fit me and some I want to make.  In Coastal Knits I love them all!  And would make them.  Plus they would be the right size!  I showed the book around at Knit Nite this week.  Everyone loved the tam.
I still don't know how it came here (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!), but I am very glad it did.
(In the picture below, Coastal Knits is on the top left.)

Channeling Steve Urkel

"Did I do that?"
Oh, I guess I did.
Chalk it up to stress from losing 2 jobs the same day, crossed with trying to get a new one off the ground, then toss in some people to delight in driving a person crazy.
All I know was that one minute I noticed Knit Picks was having 40% off books sale.
And today these came.
Can I plead temporary insanity?

Woo Hoo!

Hey! Look what I just found!
Took a night's sleep, plus some digging around whenever Hubby left the house (it is easier to hunt without his "help".) I finally sat down on the floor in front of the book shelf and checked book by book.  I thought it was an oversized book on top shelf.  Nope, regulation size on bottom shelf.

It's Driving Me Crazy

Now I know that I have a copy of Sock Knitting Master Class.  But where?
Some of my books were stacked near my knitting chair.  I was confident that Master Class was in the stack.  It wasn't.
Drat.
Nor was it on the bookcase of knitting books.  Or in the stack on the wool room floor; the books that wouldn't fit in the bookcase.  Not in any of my knitting bags.
Nowhere.
You know, it has even kept me from doing much knitting tonight, fretting about it.
It is going to drive me crazy.