Lee P. (copiousreader) reviewed The Knitting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask on
Helpful Score: 1
I was looking for something to throw in my knitting bag. The "Knitting Answer Book" fits the bill. It has a Q & A formatting, a bit unusual, but some of the questions are straight out of my own mouth. The book is divided into the following 13 chapters: Casting On, The Basics, Binding Off, Tools, Yarn, Reading Patterns, Pattern Stitches, Circular Knitting, Color, Shaping, Fitting, Finishing, and Embellishments. I was mostly interested in the Finishing chapter; it has helpful hints on blocking and sewing, which are my problem areas.
Although a seasoned knitter might feel like this book is somewhat of a review, there are some tricks I did not know about. For example: it explains and diagrams how to pick up a dropped stitch in the cast on row whether you use long tail or cable cast on. I always thought I had to start all over. If you're knitting with 200 or 300 stitches, it saves a lot of time. Highly recommended.
The only down side I noticed was: Sometimes I've tried to look something up in the index I either haven't found it or, after sheer guessing, have found it hidden under some other entry. For example, if you are new to knitting and your pattern calls for you to knit into front and back, how are you to know that looking for that topic in the index is NOT "K for Knit" but "I for Increase" instead? Sigh... Cross-referencing would help you find it faster.
Although a seasoned knitter might feel like this book is somewhat of a review, there are some tricks I did not know about. For example: it explains and diagrams how to pick up a dropped stitch in the cast on row whether you use long tail or cable cast on. I always thought I had to start all over. If you're knitting with 200 or 300 stitches, it saves a lot of time. Highly recommended.
The only down side I noticed was: Sometimes I've tried to look something up in the index I either haven't found it or, after sheer guessing, have found it hidden under some other entry. For example, if you are new to knitting and your pattern calls for you to knit into front and back, how are you to know that looking for that topic in the index is NOT "K for Knit" but "I for Increase" instead? Sigh... Cross-referencing would help you find it faster.
