BOOK REVIEWS
Our favourite knitting books
KNITTER’S ALMANAC by Elizabeth Zimmermann
THE WRITINGS of Elizabeth Zimmermann (1910-1999) have been hugely influential on generations of knitters and designers. This self-styled ‘opinionated knitter’ was always happy to challenge perceived knitting wisdom, and she wanted to show every knitter that they were capable of creating their own unique knits.
One of Elizabeth’s classic books is
Knitter’s Almanac - the humble 1974 paperback that many knitters have found hugely useful. It’s a collection of 12 projects (one for each month of the year), but it’s much more than just a pattern book. Her distinctive voice flows through the book; she chats to the reader about her life in the Wisconsin woods, and offers entertaining success stories and failures from her own knitting explorations.
Fundamentally, though, Elizabeth set out to show the knitter not just how to do something, but also why that method or technique should be used, to give people a better understanding of how knitted fabric and finished items can be created.
The book begins with an example of this - January’s ‘Aran Sweater’ project, in which she demonstrates how to use a gauge swatch to calculate stitch counts for your own perfect-fitting sweater. Her approach is so friendly and easy to follow, that you barely realise that you’re working through an actual knitting lesson!
Zimmermann uses this approach for a range of other essential family garments: the textured ‘Chain Mail Sweater’; a collared raglan pullover; accessories including socks, hats and mittens; and the ‘Wishbone’ sweater in the December chapter, which she promises you can cast on at the start of the month and have ready as a Christmas gift.
The Almanac contains the formula to create Elizabeth’s circular Pi shawl - a formula which is still widely used today. Another of her innovations is the sweater percentage system, which allows knitters to design their own well fitting seamless sweaters using a simple ratio system.
It’s demonstrated here with the classic ‘Baby Sweater on Two Needles’ pattern.
The book also shows how to design a custom-fit pair of knitted leggings, using your gauge and body measurements.
Other knitting projects to try include a set of baby essentials, a blanket formed from squares worked from the centre out, moccasin socks, and Christmas tree decorations. There’s so much to knit in this book - and it makes entertaining bedtime reading, too.