How to love your knitting
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I taught myself to knit from an ancient Good Housekeeping Needlecrafts book and for several years slavishly followed patterns from library books, magazines and free leaflets. It's a worthy and satisfying activity to follow a good pattern, and my children had the sweaters, mittens and socks to prove it.
KNITTING WITHOUT TEARS, borrowed from the library as usual in those frugal times, was my first hint that you could really "own" your knitting. I had no idea of Elizabeth Zimmermann's stature in the knitting world, her amazing public television broadcasts, her legendary knitting camps. Her writing style is so down-to-earth, she could be sitting in the next rocking chair glancing over at your knitting and offering pithy, helpful commentary just to you.
The premise of this book is that you can find your gauge, plan your knitting, do the math, and come up with the garment you visualized. Don't like seams? No problem -- knit a tube and cut your openings. CUT your knitting? I was too inexperienced to feel the fear and cheerfully cut my first steeks with Elizabeth's words propped against the teapot in front of me.
I've long since bought this book, more than once in fact. It's not the sort of knitting book we're used to -- its appeal is in the concepts and the clarity of text, not in pictures or modular layout. Nor is it a how-to book for brand new knitters. If you can knit and purl, keep a steady gauge, and follow basic directions, why not "kick it up a notch" with the thinking knitter's approach?
It's fitting that Elizabeth Zimmermann is lovingly known as EZ. If you adopt her easy-going attitude, you'll find it "EZ" to love your knitting.
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Interesting but Ethnic
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I did enjoy reading this book, but I'd never make the sweaters - first because they look a bit old-fashioned and ethnic, and second because I'd never have the nerve to cut my knitting down the middle with a pair of sissors! She has a very strong individual voice, though, and it is worth a read.
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A revelation for many knitters
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What! One doesn't need a pattern to create a perfectly-fitted jumper? That's right. If you learn Mrs Zimmermann's method for diagramming knitting based on chest circumference and stitch gauge, you can knit nearly any style in any wool. This book diverges from many knitting instruction books in that it EMPOWERS the knitter to think and work out ways to knit on her or his own. However, if you are a follower of patterns, preferring to use a map rather than "suggestions", this is still valuable reading. All sorts of little hints and techniques are given. I have used this book countless times to give to friends who ask "teach me to knit better." It works.
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A wonderful reference and learning tool.
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This book finally gave me the courage to design my own sweater. I have been knitting for several years and never ventured into the untamed world of design...Elizabeth's wonderful instructions, comments, and faith gave me the okay to go ahead and have fun. I made a patterned yoke sweater that not only looks great, but fits as well. I can't say that happens too many times with patterns! If you are looking for a great reference and addition to your knitting shelf, this is it.
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For ANY knitter, beginner thru expert
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This book, with E.Z.'s (as the author is known to thousands around the world)simple philosophy, shares a hidden world of knitting with us. She touches on her own learnings, "unventions" as she calls them. She brought me back into the woolie fold of knitters many years ago and I haven't looked back since. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in learning to knit their own designs and creations. She also includes "pithy directions" for those of us who still feel we need line by line directions. Read this book with wool and needles in hand.
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