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Just Curious -- How many knitting and crocheting books do you own? Which ones are your favorite?

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Lilyan

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I have just spent part of my morning organizing my knitting and crocheting books, which basically means going around the house collecting them and putting them back into the bookshelves.

Since I felt rather ambitious, I decided to next make an alphabetic list of the books that I currently own. And I was rewarded with some very pleasant surprises since several of the books I had totally forgotten about.

I was also surprised to discovered that I currently have 48 books on knitting/crocheting patterns and stitches. This made me wonder...how many books on knitting & crocheting do you have? I would be curious to know which of your books are favorites.

Here is my book list:
Image


My current favorite is Folk Vests, 25 knit patterns by Cheryl Oberle.

Updated:
Oh my goodness, I just found a few more. I guess my list is a work in progress.
 
#3 ·
I’ve never made a list or counted them. But I’d guess about 25. My most recent, purchased only last month (crochet blocks). They tend to be stitch samplers, how to’s, a few pattern books and books about knitting/knitters/benefits of knitting. Actually, most are unnecessary. I have three books (two were gifts) on casting on and binding off but I use long tail cast on about 99% of the time. I’ll hang on to these since I never know what yarny niche my interests may fall into next. I’ve kept the number intentionally low as I have an extensive library of quilt books that are rarely used and I don’t want to do that again, especially at this stage of my life.
 
#5 ·
I have no idea how many knitting and crocheting books I have, and after a recent move, I probably couldn't reliably find all of them right now.

I also don't think I could choose just one as my favorite. I could choose one or more books for each category of knitting, though, so here we go.

For cables: I have and love Viking Patterns for Knitting.
There are a lot of stand-alone Celtic knots in this book, and things I've never seen done before with cables.

I also love Arans & Celtics.
This has a lot of innovative knitting using cables and other Celtic ideas. There are some Ganseys in here, too. Knitter's Magazine had a special Valentine's Day edition, and a lot of those designs wound up in this book, so you'll find a lot of hearts, plus X and O cables in here, as well as stand-alone Celtic knots, sometimes used as shaping.

I also really like Cables Untangled. It has a good selection of knits with cables, but it also has a cable knit dictionary in the back with lots of cables and stand-alone Celtic knots in the back half of the book.

For Cast-ons and Bind-offs: I love this one by Cap Sease.
This book has made a big difference in how professional and good my work looks. There are charts so you can find matching cast-ons and bind-offs, the most stretchy ones, the ones that will lend some stability because they don't stretch, and much more. I like it because it's got so many options. Another thing I like about it is, if you buy the book, but want to have it handy all the time and have a Kindle, you can get the Kindle version for an additional dollar.

For Beginner Knitters:
I love The Knitting Experience: The Knit Stitch.
This book has some innovative, fascinating knits that are all made using the knit stitch, so it's good for beginners. You couldn't get more simple than that. The following book in the series is The Purl Stitch, which adds purls to knits for more variety. Both books are perfect for beginning knitters.

For Stash Busting:
Sally Melville's Style is perfect for using up scraps and small amounts of yarn. She has some stunning designs in this book, plus techniques that can be applied to almost anything to use up your stash.
www.amazon.com

Sally Melville Styles: A Unique and Elegant Approach for Your Yarn Collection: Melville, Sally;Rowley, Elaine: 9780964639140: Amazon.com: Books

Sally Melville Styles: A Unique and Elegant Approach for Your Yarn Collection [Melville, Sally;Rowley, Elaine] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sally Melville Styles: A Unique and Elegant Approach for Your Yarn Collection
www.amazon.com
 
#6 · (Edited)
I've got about 18 books about crochet, a few of which are amigurumi pattern books, a couple of crochet blocks and squares books, stitch dictionaries, and a number of how-to and reference books (Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet, Tapestry Crochet, Edie Eckman's Crochet Answer Book, Dora Ohrenstein's Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop, and Tunisian Crochet Workshop by Michelle Robinson).

I'd have to say my favourites are the Crochet Answer Book and the Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop - only because I refer to them so often. Both of them are littered here, there and everywhere with sticky notes and slips of paper ... to supplement what's in them.

Truth be told - Google (and Knitting Paradise) are extremely helpful resources too.🌼

Thanks for asking. This is a very interesting topic! I'm going to check out "Everyday Crochet" by Doris Chan right now!
 
#8 ·
Some years ago I donated a bunch of my very nice hard cover knitting books to the local library. I was moving into a smaller place and didn't have room for them. I still have approximately 50 books/magazines. One of my favorites is a Vogue Knitting magazine from 1987. I still love many of the sweaters featured in it. I was much younger and more able to wear the pretty sleeveless things that now wouldn't be flattering. Your list is impressive.
 
#9 ·
Ellebelle said:
I've got about 18 books about crochet,
Thanks for asking. This is a very interesting topic! I'm going to check out "Everyday Crochet" by Doris Chan right now!
Click to expand...
That shrug on the front cover makes a great full sweater since it is worked top down with raglan shaping. I have made many cardigans by just extending that shrug. Just ignore that incredibly skinny unhealthy looking model in it. A normal person can wear it too!
 
#10 ·
Lilyan said:
I have just spent part of my morning organizing my knitting and crocheting books, which basically means going around the house collecting them and putting them back into the bookshelves.

Since I felt rather ambitious, I decided to next make an alphabetic list of the books that I currently own. And I was rewarded with some very pleasant surprises since several of the books I had totally forgotten about.

I was also surprised to discovered that I currently have 48 books on knitting/crocheting patterns and stitches. This made me wonder...how many books on knitting & crocheting do you have? I would be curious to know which of your books are favorites.

Here is my book list:
View attachment 1287417

My current favorite is Folk Vests, 25 knit patterns by Cheryl Oberle.

Updated:
Oh my goodness, I just found a few more. I guess my list is a work in progress.
Click to expand...
dunnville89 said:
Some years ago I donated a bunch of my very nice hard cover knitting books to the local library. I was moving into a smaller place and didn't have room for them. I still have approximately 50 books/magazines. One of my favorites is a Vogue Knitting magazine from 1987. I still love many of the sweaters featured in it. I was much younger and more able to wear the pretty sleeveless things that now wouldn't be flattering. Your list is impressive.
Click to expand...
I live in an RV, so internet, friends, and a few Leisure Arts magazines are my resources- and the patterns I’ve made up or revamped to fit my own style, which are on my computer.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I've never counted how many I have, but I have a couple of bookcases just stuffed with books and pamphlets and things downloaded/printed from the internet.

Some of my books are well over 50 years old, some printed patterns are fairly new.

I have a few favorite patterns, one is for a top down sweater, one is for a sweater that you have to put together, one is a favorite afghan. All are something I copied from some book I have or had at some time. Don't remember where or when.
 
#13 ·
I don't have near as many as I had 2 years ago, as I gave a lot away before we moved, but I still have a 2 shelf bookcase full. Favorite? I guess my Elizabeth Zimmerman books. I have hardly looked at any books for over 2 years, so I probably don't need any of them.
 
#15 ·
I have quite a lot of pattern books (I haven’t counted them) but the ones I cherish are 3 small Patons softcover books that belonged to my Mum. She knitted many baby clothes from those pattern books while pregnant with me…over 75 years ago. A few years back I had a clean out and a tidy up of the patterns that were in leaflet form or those torn from magazines. I put my favourites in plastic-sleeved folders and tossed the rest. I also kept a few macrame books and a couple of old crochet books with longline sleeveless vest patterns that I made for myself back in the 1960s. Don’t get me going on the patchwork and quilting books that I own….. Jen.
 
#16 ·
I have a small 2 shelf bookcase with about 25 books ( I donated about 10-15 books to a Senior group who knits for charity)....I use a lot of my books for patterns, baby items, shawls, scarves, socks etc....I have most of the One Skein Wonders & 60 Quick Knits series & 2 knitting help books. Plus 2 crochet help books.
I might go through them again...maybe!
 
#18 ·
I have about six that I can remember off the top of my head. I got the first one as a Christmas gift from my husband in 1982. It was a book called Readers Digest Complete Book of Sewing. Then there is a large book called The Complete Book of Knitting Crocheting and Embroidery, another Christmas gift from my husband in 1986, plus I have two embroidery books, a couple of sock knitting books, and a children's toy book, and a baby book, which is more like a pamphlet. If I took a photo of the bookcase you would see more but they are basically small books of mixed stuff. I still enjoy looking at them all from time to time.
 
#19 ·
Lilyan said:
I have just spent part of my morning organizing my knitting and crocheting books, which basically means going around the house collecting them and putting them back into the bookshelves.

Since I felt rather ambitious, I decided to next make an alphabetic list of the books that I currently own. And I was rewarded with some very pleasant surprises since several of the books I had totally forgotten about.

I was also surprised to discovered that I currently have 48 books on knitting/crocheting patterns and stitches. This made me wonder...how many books on knitting & crocheting do you have? I would be curious to know which of your books are favorites.

Here is my book list:
View attachment 1287417

My current favorite is Folk Vests, 25 knit patterns by Cheryl Oberle.

Updated:
Oh my goodness, I just found a few more. I guess my list is a work in progress.
Click to expand...
All I know is I have several files full, in Mens, Children, Babies, cardigans, jackets, toys, gifts accessories, gloves etc and all bursting. All from years back and mostly Patons, some very exquisite and delightful patterns I have knitted many and a dress, a mohair pleated skirt, coats and capes, twin sets popular then, mostly 3 or 4 ply some 2 ply very fine baby jackets,
 
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