Two thumbs up for this one.

• Fun, very "gifty" projects are organized by the amount of time they take to knit
• Quickest gifts include angora baby booties, a kerchief scarf, and potholders
• Then come leg warmers, hats, and scarves
• Then sweaters, knit toys, and a felted yoga bag
• Then even more.
• Wonderful pictures
• Clear directions

A permanent sample copy of Last-Minute Gifts is available for your perusal at the store.

Useful, lovely projects that just use one skein of yarn!

• Patterns include adorable Petal Bib, Stash Handbag, baby sweaters, handbags (some felted, some not), mittens, cabled scarves, wrist warmers, and a tank top made with lace weight yarn
• Easy-to-follow and error-free patterns
• Great pictures!

A permanent sample copy of One Skein is available for your perusal at the store.

Did you know:

• that rayon and Tencel start their lives as plant material, which is why you can make yarn out of milk without making string cheese?
• why it's sometimes called "virgin wool"?
• why knitters should be grateful to mulberry leaves?
• the difference between worsted weight yarn and worsted spun?

But my favorite thing about the book is that after it talks about the particular properties of a yarn, it offers a pattern or two that exploits that property -- and what fabulous patterns, too! I recommend this for beginning and advanced knitters alike. A real gem.

A permanent sample copy of Knitter's Book of Yarn is available for your perusal at the store.

See Julia's Endpaper Shawl

What can you say about the best of the best? Patterns include:

• Man's Brioche Best
• Cambridge Jacket Pearl
• Buck Swing Coat
• Forest path stole
• Icarus shawl lotus
• And Many More!

A permanent sample copy of The Best of Interweave Knits is available for your perusal at the store.

Excellent selection of patterns:

• The patterns are solidly designed and by pattern makers you may already know from Knitty and other places
• The sizing covers a wide range (to a 52" bust for the sweaters).
• Thrummed mittens, beautiful cables
• Highly detailed information about linen, silk, bamboo, hemp, cotton, rayon, polyester, etc.
• Section about how to substitute non-wool fiber in patterns written with wool in mind

A permanent sample copy of No Sheep for You is available for your perusal at the store.

Don't be put off by the title -- this isn't just a cute book, it's a highly useful one with nicely conservative patterns for men.

• Strong, colorful, and masculine designs that will appeal to men of all ages...plus companion items for their four-legged friends.
• Informative, supportive, and humorous writing
• Great photos
• Geared toward knitters of all levels—but with an emphasis on intermediate and advanced techniques
• Wide range of sizes to fit a variety of male and doggie body types
• Tips and anecdotes from more than a dozen male knitters.

This one has several of the gift-oriented knitting projects our customers ask for -- a real gem.

• 30+ projects, each tailored for a specific recipient and organized by complexity.
• Special hand knits for mothers, knitted sweaters for men, to accessories such as scarves and hats,
• Home décor items, including pillows and blankets and a mobile for baby.
• Options are provided for creating last-minute gifts
• Tips and tricks for quick fixes

A permanent sample copy of Closely Knit is available for your perusal at the store.

Julia likes this one in particular, as she's made two kimonos so far. Here's one made of lavender OnLine Linie Clip.

• 18 different kimonos
• Lots of knitting, but very little sewing (whee!)
• Vest, robes, and jackets in kimono style

A permanent sample copy of Knit Kimono is available for your perusal at the store.

Knit bold, chunky yarn into feminine designs.

• 31 projects
• A mohair shrug embellished with ribbon and braids, a wrap vest, seed-stitch hoodie, the cropped Best Friend Cardigan, the Shopping Tunic.
• Full-color photographs and clear instructions
• Advice on techniques, choosing yarns, and choosing materials

We also recommend Twinkle's Weekend Knits: 20 Fast Designs for Fun Getaways  

A permanent sample copy of Twinkle's Weekend Knits is available for your perusal at the store.

There are some fun and quirky ideas in here, but we really like this one for the presentation:

• Beautiful pictures
• Clear instructions
• Large variety of projects

A permanent sample copy of Alterknits is available for your perusal at the store.

This is one of those "artistic" knitting books, but it's remarkably clear and understandable, probably because the concept itself is very clear: nature has its favorite shapes, and Norah Gaughan works them into stunning knitting patterns.

• 39 fabulous designs inspired by patterns in nature
• Gaughan first explains where in nature the pattern can be found, such as the spiral in a ram's horn or seashell, then with step-by-step instructions she shows how she rendered that pattern in a skirt or tunic or coat

A permanent sample copy of Knitting Nature is available for your perusal at the store.

Felted and non-felted flowers in both realistic and abstract designs can be the perfect way to finish off a variety of projects.

• Gorgeous pictures
• Clear and detailed instructions
• Large variety of projects go from ruffled roses to lazy daisies, from single blooms to complete bouquets, from layered petal varieties to scalloped and corkscrew styles

A permanent sample copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers is available for your perusal at the store.

True beauty from your knitting needles!

• Classic romance a la Lauren by Ralph Lauren & Laura Ashley.
• Realistic sizes with bust measurements from XS to 2X-3X
• Yarn choices from #10 crochet cotton sleeve trims to super bulky wool
• Silks, alpacas, cotton blends and more

A permanent sample copy of Inspired to Knit is available for your perusal at the store.

A wonderful and useful guide to yarn with wearable clothes patterns!

• Guide to yarn, needles and knitting notions
• Guide to "playing with color" by drawing inspiration from everyday items
• Projects both big and small, from a graphic afghan to arm warmers and washcloths
• Stash-buster projects
• Reference information

A permanent sample copy of Yarnplay is available for your perusal at the store.

For lovers of lace and sport-weight yarn.

• Savor the stitch, the hand of the yarn and that time is required to create something beautiful
• Wonderful selection of patterns in sport-weight and lace yarn with 6 U.S. needles and smaller
• Wraps and dresses and warmers and hats
• Smooth, professional knitting in silk, alpaca, merino, and more

A permanent sample copy of Knit so Fine is available for your perusal at the store.

This small book travels easily, but it full of great stuff.

• 20 projects include evening and driver gloves; fair isle and fingerless gloves; plus flip mittens and muffs
• Finish many of these projects over a weekend
• Clear directions
• Great pictures

A permanent sample copy of Stitch Style Mittens is available for your perusal at the store.

All the "[Something] Style" books are great, and this one offers a variety of projects.

• Tribal Baby Carrier that has a Kilim pattern, color block scarves that look like abstract paintings, a Moroccan cap with big bright retro flowers, many more
• Also has folk background information and embellishment techniques

A permanent sample copy of Folk Style is available for your perusal at the store.

In the series, we also recommend:

A permanent sample copy of Scarf Style is available for your perusal at the store.

It's always nice to see knitting books from yarn stores. We're working on one ourselves. But the real reason to get this one is the number of quality patterns.

• Particularly good for knitters who are still "beginners," at least in their own estimation
• Many patterns with worsted & bulky yarns. Not many with cotton.
• Easy to follow

Learn to do more than slavishly follow patterns.

• Learn to fit your work to your model
• Easy-to-understand instructions with guides at each point
• Well organized and laid out
• Challenge your creativity!

A permanent sample copy of Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters is available for your perusal at the store.