The New Edition of Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book

Wow!

I got my hands on the new edition of Vogue Knitting and "Wow" is pretty much my summation.

When I first started knitting (again) in 2002 or so, I picked up the earlier edition because I'm one of those people who will find a hobby and really delve into it, so I guess I just felt like I needed it. I learned a lot from it and as I began to design a few years later, it was my go-to for almost everything knitting except for stitch dictionaries, which you can never have too many of.

After my first thumb-through I knew this edition was special. Some of the graphics--actually many--are recycled here, but there is so much expanded and new information, it doesn't really matter. There are definitely new graphics and photos; don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that if you have the earlier edition, you'll see some familiar pictures.

This book's layout is handy. The table of contents is color-coded so you can find the section you're looking for easily. In each section, there are also Tip and Technique boxes that give tips to improve your knitting. 

One thing that is nice, is this edition has an expanded section on charts and chart-reading (the first edition as very little of that) and as with the previous edition, the new one has a section on designing sweaters. And although some of the graphics are re-used, the information is totally expanded and updated. This section even gives in-depth explanations for and about circular yokes, circular/seamless design, top down sweaters, and it includes information on my very favorite construction: top-down, short-row, set-in sleeve sweaters!

The section on neckbands and collars will look familiar, but there is a lot of added information and new material. There's a section on designing shawls--but there's way more info on different types of shawls rather than the usual triangle shawls. You'll find instructions for Faroese, ruanas, crescent and short-row shaped shawls. And, not to sound too schmaltzy, there's more! (Round and some others are covered as well.)

As far as the stitch patterns in the book are concerned, there is still a basic stitch pattern reference section that includes the usual, including lace and cables and there's a lot of fresh material.

If you're on the fence about acquiring a copy and you like reference books or are a novice or experienced designer, then I'd say go for it. There is enough expanded and new information in this book that you most likely won't regret the purchase.

BTW: No, I haven't died. The last few months I've been wrapping up my sixth book. This one is also a stitch pattern book, but this time, I took Japanese stitch patterns and translated them for you (charted and written line by line) and re-engineered them so you can knit them in as many directions as possible and in the round. For a sneak peak, check out this link to Martha Stewart's site to see a tease and the book cover! Whoop whoop!

 

Comments

[Jo]

Congratulations on your new book! You are the second blogger to extol the virtues of the new Vogue Knitting Book— guess I’ll have to check it out.

[Rebecca (A Raging Purlwind)]

Thank you for sharing this review! I am an aspiring designer and I am so excited about all I can learn from this book. Also I’m a recent reader of your blog and I am loving it! You mentioned using a stitch dictionary for your patterns and I wanted to know how that works with copyright? I want to expand from using the more standard patterns and only haven’t for fear of violating copyright. Do you know what to do in this case when designing your own patterns? Any advice would be so appreciated!

[Wendy]

Rebecca, as a general rule, you can use stitch patterns from stitch dictionaries without attribution. They are in the public sphere. You don't have to make up your own. Feel free to use any stitch pattern from my stitch dictionaries! (Or anyone else's!) I hope this helps.

[Rebecca (A Raging Purlwind)]

Thanks for your help, Wendy! I just bought the latest edition of Vogue Knitting because of your review and now I’m saving up for a stitch dictionary! ☺️

[Katie Jo]

Ooh, your new book sounds exciting! Congratulations!