New Pathways for Sock Knitters, book one
by Cat Bordhi
Passing Paws Press
$28.95

This book is a brain-expanding, mind-blowing accessible work of genius. Cat Bordhi, whose work could force me to use up my monthly allotment of superlatives, has taken what we think we know about socks and mixed it way up. Her New Pathways socks fit feet beautifully, but they're not built like any sock you've ever knit. Cat discovered that, as long as you build the expanding part of the sock [the gusset, we could call it, except it's nothing as rigidly shaped as a gusset] according to a specific rate of increase, you could put it anywhere on the sock. And that's just the beginning. The socks are really, really cool.

I cannot recommend it highly enough: this is an astounding book that should not be missed.

AS

Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs That Flatter Your Figure
by Annie Modesitt
Potter Craft
$27.50, hardcover
SR= 28-58" bust, 33-55" hip

This is a swoony sort of book. The picture on the cover of this book says it all: curvy, flirty, do me in my romantic knits. All of the knits in this book are inspired by famous romantic movies, and shot in a gorgeous country estate setting. The knits run the romantic gamut, from curve hugging to gently draping. There are tees, tanks and long-sleeved tops, jackets with lots of lace and swishy elements, a beautiful selection of skirts, a handful of accessories and a great section on millinery and a couple of gorgeous lace hat patterns.

What really sets this book apart is Annie. Her designs are truly original, and she absolutely loves the female form and takes great effort to showcase it at its best – in all sizes.

JM

Bag Style: Innovative to Traditional, 20 Inspirational Handbags, Totes, and Carry-alls to Knit and Crochet
by Pam Allen and Ann Budd
Interweave Press
$21.95

It’s getting to be time to think about starting holiday knitting gifts. If you have already started, we do not want to hear about it [really, that’s just too organized]. Personally, I’ve done hats, scarves, and socks a lot, with hit-and-miss fitting success. So this year it’s going to be bags...from this book.

They are unique, functional, and as all things from the world of Interweave interesting to knit. The patterns here are not just "round and round and done!", but they are teaching patterns. They allow you to experiment with types of knitting that may be new to you or at least a new approach, adding to your personal knitting skills with the benefit of smaller commitment and a cool finished object when all is said and done.

JM

Folk Style: Innovative Designs to Knit, Including Sweaters, Hats, Scarves, Gloves and More
by Mags Kandis
Interweave Press
$24.95

Okay, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that all of the patterns in this book were not by Mags Kandis because I love her world encompassing design sensibility, (she does have two designs in the book), but I was happily surprised to find patterns that included and surpassed a similar design sensibility.

The designers in this book gathered their inspiration from the handcrafts of the world and translated them to knitting. Standouts are Gale Bunn’s Felted Appliqué Skirt, Tara Manning’s Annie Oakley Jacket, Gina Wilde’s Appalachian Gathering Basket, and Annie Modesitt’s Shanghai Surplice. Anyone for a chorus of We Are the World?

JM

The Secret Language of Knitters
by Mary Beth Temple
Andrews McMeel
$9.95

When we congregate, us knitters, we speak in code. And we're fine with that, because the code is universal. But for new knitters, our friends or families, it can be a bit isolating to have to guess the meaning of words like "frog", or understand how you can have "S.E.X." in a public place and brag about it!

It also provides amusement for knitters who know what the words mean, like my favorite:
"TELEVISION noun: Background noise for knitters..."

This is a compact knitting-bag-sized book, so affordably priced that Amazon doesn't even discount it [that's saying something!]. Keep a copy handy and pass it quietly to those who need it so they don't feel left out.

AS

The Knitting Man(ual): 20+ Projects for Guys
by Kristin Spurkland
Ten Speed Press
$24.95, hardcover
SR=40-58"

Finally a book that gets the fact that most men we knit for like plain knits. Not plain, boring, could-have-bought-it-at-any-mall-or-big-box-store, but plain, no cutie pie or over the top cool elements that are dangling, slashy, 1980s asymmetrical, fluffy, fuzzy, or seem to be unraveling.

These are good, basic designs with a twist or two in design element or color choice, that make the garments, socks and accessories more interesting, and won’t cause the man you knit for to say, "I like it, except for that part."

JM

Available at Knit Picks

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters:
A Knit-to-Fit Workshop
by Lynne Vogel
Interweave Press
$24.95
SR= your size

IMHO, the very best knitting books are the ones that actually teach you something.

How many knitting books do you have that are just paint by numbers patterns? You might get a pretty sweater out of one of those books, but do they make you stand up and shout “ I’m a knitter, hear me roar?”.

If you want to feel the power and the glory of knitting, go buy and use Lynne Vogel’s new book. Using the ingenious Knitter Fitter System, which is just two parts --  The Fitter List and Sweater Map -- you can design and/or alter size and gauge on bottom up, top down and side-to-side sweaters. There are 10 follow-along patterns that use and demonstrate the flow of the Knitter Fitter System, and a whole lot of discussion and teaching about necklines, edges, sleeves, yarns, and color.

There is a gallery of gorgeousness that IS the Twisted Sisters – unbelievable hand dyed, hand spun, one of kind garments: the type of sweater knitting that is now within your reach thanks to this book. Amen, sisters.

JM

Available at Amazon

Knitting Classic Style: 35 Modern Designs Inspired by Fashion's Archives
by Véronik Avery
Stewart Tabori & Chang
$27.50 hardcover
SR= 33-52.75" [a few start smaller or go larger]

We at Knitty have been waiting for this book for a long time. Véronik was one of our earliest contributors, and her patterns in Interweave Knits have never failed to inspire us.

So finally, the book is here, and dammit, it's beautiful. Each piece is richly detailed [but never unnecessarily so], shaping is impeccable, styling is nearly timeless yet each piece is unmistakably modern. The soft pink Woolen Cashmere Twinset could very well work for you, your daughter and your grandaughter -- I can't see it ever going out of style.

This book was worth the wait.

AS

Available at Amazon

The Best of Interweave Knits: Our Favorite Designs from the First Ten Years
edited by Ann Budd
Interweave Press
$24.95
SR= 32-53"

Flipping through the 25 patterns and designers (and a handful of Beyond the Basics articles) from the first ten years of Interweave Knits magazine, is a fun memory game – oh I remember that, didn’t I start/buy yarn for/ think about doing that? The designs in this collection have really held their appeal, but what else would you expect from a magazine that defines Modern Classic Knitting?

JM

Available at Scout's Swag

Knitting Gems 1:
Applied edges • Buttonhole Essentials •
I-Cord Basics • Cords, Braids and Bobbles • Presenting the Picot Family •
Twists, Kinks and Bias

Knitting Gems 2:
Becoming Ambidextrous • Steeks, Shapings and Scissors • Little Mysteries • Short Row Techniques

Knitting Gems 3:
Beading Techniques • Cable Talk •
Lace Basics • Yarn Handling Tricks

Knitting Gems 4:
Cool Cast-Ons • Even More Increases •
Daring Rescues • Odds and Ends •
Fancy Bind-Offs


Available at Tradewind Knitwear

Knitting New Scarves: 27 Distinctly Modern Designs
by Lynne Barr and Tyllie Barbosa
Stewart, Tabori and Chang
$21.95

Being a self avowed scarf luster -- hands down it’s my favorite thing to knit -- I was equally excited and afraid when this book landed on my desk. What could be new in the land of scarves? In the hands of Lynne Barr, I’m happy to report, plenty.

There is not one scarf in this book I would suggest for a beginner to knit and that makes me giddy. That and the fact there is not one stitch of novelty yarn in the whole book.  Most of these scarves are architectural; some you knit in pieces and assemble; there are short rows; some use multiple needles to achieve these effects; there are pleats and cocoons.

When I flipped through first, I kept thinking, "Oh, I know how she did that!" Then I would read the pattern with a huge smile growing on my face because really I had NO idea how she did that. How often does that happen in knitting these days?

JM

Getting Started Knitting Socks
by Ann Budd
Interweave Press
$18.95, hardcover

The best beginning sock book that has been published so far. That is all. Go buy it.

Every aspect of sock knitting is broken down with close up pictures, and it’s not the usual cursory, "Here’s How You Knit (you idiot)" that takes up 2-4 pages at the beginning of some sock books: this explanation takes up almost half of the book. The rest of the book is sock patterns – sock patterns that are actually sized (thank you very much, Ann!) from kid to adult. First there are follow-the-leader patterns listed by gauge, then there are plug-and-play patterns for adding your choice of color and texture.

JM

Available at tinkknit.com

Pink Denise Knitting Needle Kit
by Denise Interchangeable Needles
$54.95 [$5 goes to support breast cancer research]

There's a lot of fundraising pink in this world and not all of it may do the good we hope it will. In the case of the new Pink Denise needle kit, the company offers proof: They donate $5 from every pink Denise kit sold to breast cancer research [the S D Ireland fund specifically]. As of Sept 1, 2007, they've donated a total of $51,567. That's pretty remarkable and something worth getting behind.

Knitty has been a fan of the Denise needle system since we began writing reviews. Here's the reason behind the new pink kit, from Linda Krag of the Denise company.

"What's unique about the S D Ireland fund is that 100% of all money donated goes directly to the research lab with no administrative fees taken out. The lab has hired research assistants based on this donation who are now working on projects to qualify for grant funding. Since research grant dollars have been cut dramatically, there is huge competition for funding, and research basically has to be completed before the application can be made. This means that without independent funding, new ideas can't be tested for viability.

The S D Ireland research lab has already produced some techniques that have made surgery less invasive for certain types of breast cancer. We all have great hope that a cure will be found soon so that the next generation of women (and men) will no longer have to think about this disease that now affects 1 out of 7 women. There is more info on our website about the fund."

AS

Available at Amazon

Available at Amazon

Available at Amazon

Available at Jennie the Potter

Crochet Me:
Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution
by Kim Werker
Interweave Press
$21.95

Available at Amazon