10 Best Knitting Books to Read in 2019 – Worth or Not?

Today, we will talk about the best knitting books to read! These are much more than simple guiding or instructional books when it comes to knitting.

Some of these are even considered bibles and essential in every household. Artists and handcrafters alike, find this type of texts necessary for their craft.

When it comes to knitting, there’s nothing better than a good mentor. And with these books, you will learn from the biggest names in the industry and the most knowledgeable experts out there.

So, if you desire to learn more about knitting – these books will quickly meet your demands and more.

Why Read Knitting Books? 

Even if you are an expert, there are things that you may not know how to do. You may know how to create circular weavings expertly, or to use color like a professional, or eventually create outstanding garments.

But surely, there is something you don’t know about the craft that could improve your set of skills exponentially.

Knitting books are there precisely for that. To give beginners guides on how to start knitting and learn like a pro. And help experts to learn whatever they have overlooked after months or years practicing.

If you desire to learn more about this amazing craft, then reading knitting books is what you should start doing now!

Our Best Knitting Book Picks

Knitting is an art, and as art, there's nothing better than to learn it from the masters. Luckily, you won't have to join a course or a cult to learn.

With the right books like the following ones, you can learn everything you need from as many experts as you want.

01. The Principles of Knitting – June Hemmons Hiatt

June Hiatt is a renowned teacher of all things’ knitting. As an expert, he has created some of the most understandable and easy-to-follow guides for knitting out there. Now, her book The Principles of Knitting is considered a bible in the knitting niche.

It comes with everything needed to start or to develop better knitting techniques. Excellent instructions, illustrations, and secrets not many people know about this art. With years of experience and millions of students, June has created an excellent guide for everyone.

Excellent for Any Knitter

Anyone can enjoy this book from beginning to end. Whether you are a beginner or an expert already, the secrets and overall ideas this book has can easily give you a new edge.

June presents all of her thoughts in the most straightforward way possible, so anyone can really grasp them and become better at knitting without problems.

New Techniques and New Solutions

When reading this book, you will realize that her primary purpose was not only to help people learn how to do things correctly.

June’s main idea was to refine people’s technique and at the same time help resolve most common knitting problems with creative solutions.

Final Verdict

This book is a challenging endeavor to anyone who wants to improve his knitting abilities. Why? Because it will give everything you need to learn, making it an instant responsibility you will want to finish.

From techniques to solutions to problems, this book has it all. You may eventually feel like some instructions are not to the point, but nothing out of the extraordinary or harmful.

02. Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book – Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine

A knitting magazine is always a fantastic source of ideas, and when they release a book – you know it’s going to be good.

The Vogue Knitting magazine is composed of more than 1600 color images and excellent ideas and techniques for new and experienced knitters. With several years of helping knitters learning the craft to perfection, this book was released to improve what the magazine showed for years.

Old but Gold

This book was first released in 1989, and since then it has captivated millions of knitters around the world. With the last 2002 version, this book was updated and given new focuses and better graphics.

Now, you can enjoy the same ideas that never get old, but with higher quality images and instructions.

Everything You Need and More

As soon as you start reading this book, you will realize how complete it is. It comes with designs and techniques of all kinds, from cast-on to entrelac, bind-offs, brioche, mosaic knitting and more.

You also get ideas on hats, socks, gloves, as well as chapters with info about lace, cabling, error-correction, embellishing and whatever you need.

Final Verdict

You can learn to stitch with style and learn new techniques, work with cables more confidently, and create the most beautiful laces at the same time. You also have innovative instructions for original ideas on knitting, and much more in this guide.

Whatever you want to learn, whether it is from scratch or specific parts of this art – this book is the one you need. Everyone can appreciate it, but expert knitters may feel like it covers too much of the basics before going into more specific details.

03. Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: 260 Exquisite Patterns – Hitomi Shida

Japanese knitting is far different from the traditional ways we learn in the West. It is more intricate but more beautiful. It can be slightly complicated, but there’s a way to determine this type of knitting fast and efficiently: with Hitomi Shida’s book.

You will learn how to do more than two hundred patterns and designs you won’t find in any other place. For the most beautiful and elegant patterns, only Hitomi can teach you in the best way possible.

Japanese Knitting from the Base

If you want to learn the most stimulating designs and patterns from Japan, then you will have to learn from scratch.

This book comes with everything regarding cables, stitches (popcorn and twisted), edgings, and much more related to this type of weaving. It’s perfect for experts and professionals who want a new edge in their craft.

Straightforward and Effective

Even though the whole guide in this book to learn Japanese knitting explores everything you need to know, it also gives a direct way of learning.

With detailed yet succinct information, creating new things with this book will be really easy. New projects, patterns, designs and much more learned effortlessly.

Final Verdict

As said before, this is a book that will make any expert even better in his craft. It gives fantastic ideas and a new edge to the knitting process that it will feel like learning from scratch once again. And with an agreeable background, it will expand knowledge and notions exponentially.

This also means that novices won’t get the best out of this book. If you don’t know the basics of knitting, you may not get much out of this one.

04. 750 Knitting Stitches: The Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible – Pavilion Books

The author of this book is not a professional knitter or a magazine with years in the market. Despite that, this one delivers one of the most succinct and exciting ways to learn knitting from scratch.

Don’t get fooled by the title. It is not only a way to learn 750 patterns, but it is also more of a comprehensive all-in-one instruction list on how to knit like a pro. It’s perfect for beginners to learn from zero, and for experts to learn new innovative ideas for their art.

Complete and Straight

You will obtain a superb range of information that not many other books can offer. From ornate forms to rib, edging patterns, isles, intarsia, and more.

You will also learn how to use cables basically or with more complex approaches. And of course, all of this comes with info from the basis.

Ideas from Old Guides

The book is based on The Harmony Guides, a guidebook of all things handcrafted. It took various ideas from that and presented it with new images, graphics, and instructions.

Now, the 750 Knitting Stitches comes as a fantastic way to learn how to knit beautiful projects like an expert.

Final Verdict

Learning to weave like a professional is not an easy job, yet after reading this book, you learn faster and more efficiently. It covers everything from the basics to the most complex ideas, with images, graphics, and charts to help you even more.

The only problem is that navigating through it can be a tough job. As it has a slightly confusing design, it can be daunting to search for something in specific. After some time, however, you will get used to it.

05. Knitting Workshop - Elizabeth Zimmermann

If you are a beginner who already knows the basics but wants to take a step further into knitting, then this book is for you. The Knitting Workshop can help any starter to learn how a professional does it, succinctly but detailed.

Initially a PBS TV series, this book comes with all the most important lessons on how to knit like a pro. If you want to learn everything you need to get your knitting to another level, the entire content of this book is what you want to get along with.

FROM GARMENTS TO PATTERNS

Whatever you want to learn, this book has it without a doubt. It is designed to provide innovative knitting techniques to give life to any type of project. You will earn to make sweaters, fair isles, stitches, hats, and much more. Learn patterns and clothing items from scratch.

PROFESSIONALS AND BEGINNERS ALIKE

Even when it seems like a perfect choice for beginners to learn further about the craft, professionals may also find it useful. Actually, it is more geared towards offering new ideas than teaching how to learn from the basics.

If you are someone slightly skilled with knitting, then what you will learn from this book will take your performance to another level.

Final Verdict

Elizabeth Zimmermann created not only one of the most complete knitting books but also one of the most entertaining to read. Everyone can enjoy this book for its in-depth content as well as for how easy it is to read and understand.

However, it does not come with graphics like others. This does not affect how the book looks but slightly damages how the information is grasped.

06. Knitting Without Tears – Elizabeth Zimmermann

Another masterpiece from knitting genius Elizabeth Zimmerman, this basic-technique book fits any level of knitting experience. As the book says, it provides the necessary information to improve your knitting skillset, making it easier and much more effective in the long run.

You won’t ever pinch your fingers again. And of course, it will help you learn innovative patterns and designs to consider when knitting. Being shorter than other options, it is also the easiest to read out there.

Frustration-Free Advice

Maybe the fastest read from all Elizabeth’s book, the quality of the advice she gives her is unmatched. She will help you learn times designs and superb knitting techniques that will take the weight out of the craft. Start as a beginner and finish with the knowledge of a professional.

Solutions and Techniques

The primary focus of this book is to help people find a new edge to their knitting process. Even though it teaches how to create sweaters, hoodies, and even slippers, mittens, socks and much more, it focuses on reducing problems. Anyone who wants to learn this art will do it effortlessly with this book.

Final Verdict

Admittedly, this book can take your knitting abilities to another level as you start reading it. Talking about reducing problems while practicing the craft and learning new ideas and techniques, it helps to grow a beginner to a professional.

The only problem is that anyone who wants to learn from scratch won’t find it useful. It talks about things in-depth but does not touch the basics.

07. The Knitter's Book of Wool – Clara Parkes

Among the many yarns out there, wool is maybe the most popular but also the most complex to knit with. Here, Clara Parkes explains how this yarn can be used to create the most beautiful pieces, but at the same time shows more about such fantastic material.

If you want to start learning how to knit with wool, then this book is indispensable. Helps to understand how professionals like her can use yarn to finish fantastic projects without much effort. And of course, it gives you an idea of the value of knitting as a whole.

Learn More About Wool

Clara will guide about the most comprehensive and in-depth guide about wool and knitting. How the history put both together and how we learned to create gorgeous things at the same time.

She goes through wool sources, how it is made, how it is taken, and how it gets to the stores and more.

The Real Use of Wool

After teaching how wool is produced, she then shows you how to use it. But she does it in a manner that no other knitter does.

You will learn the most creative designs and patterns, and how to reach perfection by using the right type of wool. She also helps you find the best yarn for your projects.

Final Verdict

Going through all the history and beauty behind wool, Clara gives an excellent guide on how to use it for knitting like a pro. As soon as you finish reading this book, you will want to head to the store and pick the best wool to start weaving.

You won’t find images in this book, but thanks to the quality of writing – it won’t matter at all.

08. The Knowledgeable Knitter – Margaret Radcliffe

Margaret Radcliffe has written some of the most innovative books on the knitting niche, and with this one, she made her first step into knitting history. She goes through all the basics and essential lessons of knitting as a professional.

She also touches things that no other expert touches, as well as giving advice on how to understand patterns and charts when reading from instructions. Whatever your purpose is when reading this book, you will find it a great read without a doubt.

Learn Effective Techniques

Learn effective cast-on, borders, bind offs, professional-style finishes, swatching, yarning, and more. Go into the mistake-fixing techniques Margaret teaches here, and learn how to become an expert.

She will help anyone to think like a professional knitter, with creativity, originality, and a cutting-edge set of skills and expert judgment.

Gain the Confidence to Knit like a Pro

As you read through the book, you realize this is a lot more than a simple guidebook. It is almost like a philosophy book that gives a new touch to the craft.

From all the lessons Radcliffe talks about, you will learn how to reflect everything to your own style and become a pro.

Final Verdict

Described as a treasure by thousands of readers, this book is a reference in the industry for beginners and professionals alike. It provides tricks, ideas, tips and excellent advice to learn how to be an expert.

You won’t see how to knit a mitten or a sock, but it will help you with the techniques used to do each and more. With the right scope, writing style and images, you obtain almost a perfect guide entirely.

09. Circular Knitting Workshop – Margaret Radcliffe

Circular knitting is maybe the most daunting yet thought-provoking weaving method in the industry. Margaret Radcliffe, an expert in the matter, helps everyone to grasp how to do it to perfection.

She goes through difficult techniques to make them more accessible and natural methods to make them even better.

Whatever your idea of circular knitting is, she takes it to another level without problems. More comfortable to learn, much more straightforward, and completely understandable – this book is. The patterns, techniques, and ideas she goes through in this book are just unbeatable.

Make Circular Knitting a Friend

Covering all aspects of circular knitting as a professional craft, Margaret helps people to learn it in a hassle-free way.

Discussing famous and secretive ways of getting circular knitting into life, she eventually creates a go-to reference for any expert or beginner interested in this art. She makes a problematic method the easiest in the market.

Best Book Design & Structure

Circular knitting is undoubtedly complicated. Not everyone, even after years of practice can learn to do it like an expert. But Radcliffe manages to develop a new way of teaching this method with a magnificent book structure and writing style that defies history.

Learning circular knitting is hugely easier with this book than doing it any other way.

Final Verdict

Learning circular knitting is hard. Especially if you are starting to knit well enough, you may feel like it can be impossible in a way. But this book gets all those doubts and fears off your body and helps you learn circular knitting like a pro.

You may not understand certain things if you are not aware of knitting fundamentals. But overall, it will help you enormously on this type of weaving.

10. The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques – Margaret Radcliffe

Reaching expert-level knitting means you know how to create beautiful garments effortlessly. And this demands not only superior knitting skills but also how to work with colors like a pro.

Margaret Radcliffe, once again, gives essential knowledge on one of the most overlooked factors in knitting.

She will tell you everything she knows about color knitting and enough to give her own ideas eventually. Whatever you want to know about knitting and color, you will find it in this book.

For Experts and Beginners Alike

With all the theory behind color use and methods, techniques and ideas on how to use color as a professional – Radcliffe teaches both experienced knitters and starters the same way. Easy, straightforward, and understandable secrets to knit like an expert using colors as a genius.

Use Color Like an Expert

The best way to start knitting like an expert is to learn from one. Here, Margaret gives the most exciting set of ideas that will help you gain confidence when knitting.

Especially when using colors, she teaches the most straightforward yet useful tricks to create higher-quality weavings rainbow-like.

Final Verdict

There’s practically nothing wrong with this book. It is a long yet incredibly easy-to-read and exciting guide on how to use color as a professional when knitting.

If you are someone who wants to engage in this art at the highest levels, then this book is an essential must-have.

How To Select The Perfect Book For You? 

We all know how daunting knitting can be. But even more intimidating it is when you don’t have the right guide for your needs.

Even if you choose a surprising and compelling book, you may not know how to tackle the ideas given in it. That’s why you have to learn how to pick one correctly.

Luckily, the following set of features will help you pick your next knitting book correctly.

Purpose & Ideas

Every book focuses on delivering a specific set of ideas or techniques for knitters. Whether it is how to learn knitting from scratch or making expert-like patterns and even using color and so on, you need to pick the one that fits your needs at that time.

If you want to start learning how to create mittens, go for a knitting book on gloves. It is almost an obvious part of choosing a book, but indeed, most people don’t know about it.

There are knitting books about practically everything, so choose accordingly. General textbooks are for starters, and if you aren’t one, you may feel like going for something specific instead.

Your Downsides

Another part of choosing a book is going towards something you don’t know or that you don’t yet manage like an expert. As these books are all written by big names in the industry that have years of experience, learning something you don’t know about them can be very useful.

If you don’t have something in specific you want to learn, you might want to make a list of your downsides. Anything you don’t know or feel that you could improve, write it down and then order it by importance.

Finally, choose the point you want to learn or improve the most at and look for books about that.

Level of Expertise

If you are a beginner, a book to create circular knitting projects won’t be your best choice. The same happens if you an expert and pick a book about the basics or fundamentals.

Also, books that are written for beginners usually are easier to read and much more understandable than others. Instead, books for experts may give some ideas or techniques that a novice won’t understand at all.

Choose a book that goes according to your level of expertise. This way you can avoid wasting your time.

Final Verdict –Learn with the Best Knitting Book!

Learning with the best knitting books is a total piece of cake as long as you’ve chosen the right one.

You don’t have to choose one only, but if you don’t elect right, you may eventually end up wasting your time completely.

The best way to pick knitting books is to start from your level of expertise and end up in things you want to learn in specific. Go through each book with care and get the best of each and every one.

Don’t forget that a book is a written set of experience-driven tips from professionals. If you learn this way, the easier it will be for you to become one.