I have a lot of books. I can’t seem to resist buying these packages filled with possibilities. Craft, interior design books and knitting books are special temptations. If a book has any possibility of being useful to my design process, it’s even harder to resist.
My work library ranges from books on indigenous crafts, origami, fashion history, art history to actual knitting books. I love having books filled with knitting techniques, ideas I can go to and learn from whenever I’m stuck on designing a new knitting project, need a different twist on something or just plain want to learn something new.
Here are 10 of my favorite go-to work books. Some are knitting books, some are design books. Many of these volumes have been around for quite a while and still there is so much for me to learn from them:
- Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman
- A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker
- The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt
- Mary Thomas Knitting book by Mary Thomas
- Pattern Design by Lewis F. Day
- Pattern Design by Archibald H. Christie
- Designing Tessellations: The Secrets of Interlocking Patterns by Jinny Beyer
- Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi
- Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century (Collection from the Kyoto Costume Institute) [Hardcover]
- Dress in Detail from Around the World by Rosemary Crill
What other books should I get my hands on? I’d love you hear your book suggestions!
Thanks for sharing, Norah. What about Drape Drape by Hisako Soto? It’s been on my wish list but haven’t snapped yet!
Yes! I love Drape Drape as well.
Ok, I plucked Pattern Magic 2 from the library just the other day. Nakamichi, what a genius!
An unusual choice for a go-to workbook, but I like Debbie New’s “Unexpected Knitting” for solving problems (like filling in an irregular gap or for novel shaping solutions).
Thanks, that’s a book I don’t own, but have admired. Maybe its time to add it to my library.
No Alice Starmore? Thanks for posting, I am going to love exploring these titles you’ve given!
I ALMOST mentioned an Alice Starmore book, but I hardly ever do Fairisle knitting, so it’s not among my very most used books. I definitely own a few of her volumes.
I love Knit Knit. I wish I had been able to get one of the original zines. For knitting inspiration I always go to Hitomi Shida’s “Couture Knits”. She has so many lovely and creative stitch patterns.
Priscilla Gibson Smith
Do you happen to mean Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts?
Knitting Masterpieces, by Ruth Herring and Karen Manners
How To Make Sewing Patterns, by Donald H. McCunn
Cast On, Cast Off, by Cap Sease
Finishing School, by Deborah Newton
Continous Cables, by Melissa Leapman
Knitting in the Old Way, by Gibson-Roberts and Robson
PopKnitting, by Britt-Marie Christofferson
Knitting Scandinavian Slippers and Socks, by Laura Farson
Sweater Design in Plain English, by Maggie Righetti with Terry Shaw
How to Use, Adapt and Design Knitting Patterns, by Sam Elliot and Sidney Bryan
Thanks for some great additions to my list. I have a signed copy of Deborah’s book!
Your copy of Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns looks about as used and creased as mine! This reminds me, I need to replace my missing copy of the first Treasury.
Take a look at Alice Starmore’s Fisherman Sweaters (one of her earlier books, recently reissued. It includes a variety of styles, inspired by fisherman sweater traditions from Britain, mainland Europe, and North America. There are lots of patterns with textured knitting, little color-pattern or Fair Isle specifically.
Thanks, I don’t think I have that one. I’ll search it out.
I had a pattern that said s2kp and I couldn’t find what it meant until I found your website that not only told me but showed me. I’ve bookmarked your site. I’ll be back.
Good to hear! I’ll pass the compliment on to Amanda.