Alison -
Great list Alison! I've noticed that you use many patterns from Rebecca and Phildar. Do you subscribe to these magazines? I speak German, (but it's pretty rusty) so I could probably get by on the Rebecca patterns (also, my LYS owner is German, so she could help with the translations), but I wouldn't be able to knit a stitch of the Phildar patterns! Are there translations available?
Jen

Your list is great!! I also like Knitting in Plain English (Maggie Righetti); between her book and EZ, I can usually muddle through whatever technique I'm trying to learn. And Sally Melville, of course -- I love the photos and illustrations in her books.

Great list. 1000 sweaters has become my newest favorite. Three I'd add - Viking Patterns for Knitting by Elsebeth Lavold (awesome cables!), Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick and Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein.

thought i'd list my "least faves" that i purchased as a new knitter...and not so new knitter...i'm a sucker for a pretty book cover. knitting book swap anyone?

hollywood knits, hip to knit, minnowknits, simple knits, simple knits with a twist.

also, as a side note alison: is it possible to change the settings on your blog so that when you click on an "external link" a new window pops up?

Great list! I second the vote for Nancy Wiseman's finishing techniques book. When I first looked at it in the store, I didn't think that there was much in there, but I constantly refer to it. It's packed with helpful gems!

I also like the Vogue Knitting book. I taught myself how to knit using it. It has some very clear photos and fairly good instructions.

Whoops! I had a few bad links in there and in fixing them messed up the post for a few minutes. Sorry if it looked freaky for a bit. All better now.

And Lisa, they all open in new windows now. I'll try to think of that when I link to stuff in the future! :0) (Generally though you can force things to open in a new window by holding down the shift key when you click on the link. I don't mean to make everyone do that all the time. I'm just not a lots-of-open-windows gal myself, so I prefer to keep things in the same window. But I can totally understand that in a list like this it gets annoying.)

Thanks for all the other suggestions. Great books, all!

Jen, there are english translations for Rebecca magazines. You'll get the translation insert if you buy them in America at a knitting shop (check the Muench website for stores near you) or online (The Knitting Garden has them for example). You can also find english translations of most current Phildar magazines. Knit n Tyme in Canada has them and Threadbear Fiber Arts Studio has also just started to stock them. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is a subscription service offered for either of the magazines.

The Vogue Knitting book was my first knitting book I owned. I still use it a lot. They make use of a ton of pictures, which I prefer to text.

BTW, I have been meaning to ask, why is blue for knitting? :o)

Well, definately Melanie Falick's "Weekend Knitting" which is full of such fun and creative patterns from a wide range of people...I agree with Lisa about Hollywood Knits, it sucks! (It was a gift) For baby patterns Debbie Bliss' "The Baby Knits Book" is my most fav! Oh & for any felting needs definately pick up Bev Galeskas "Felted Knits."

Thanks for letting me peek into your book shelf. I'm always wondering what people are reading (non-knitter too). I like most of these books that you mentioned. Thanks for the source for Phildar magazines. Where have you ordered your Philar yarn from? I'm dying to find a pattern to use for Phildar Onde (so I have an excuse to buy some).

I just started knitting in December and then took a 3 month break due to bad morning sickness but I also purchased Hip to Knit and found it useful for getting started. Stitch 'n Bitch was the first book I purchased though and I still refer to it for when I need help remembering a stitch or seam technique.

Not technically a knitting book but Deb Menz Color Works is fantastic! I love the Vogue Knitting book & have referred to it constantly since I bought it. I've got some gift cards leftover from my birthday for Barnes & Noble and Borders that I intend to use next week on some new knitting books!

Thanks a lot for all the great tips. I only have one of your books yet, the "Baby Knits from Dale of Norway", but mine is in Norwegian of course.

It was fun to se many of our Norwegian/Scandinavian knitting books on the link you posted. I have the Norwegian versions of "Knitting in the Nordic Tradition", "Norsk Strikkedesign", "Everyday Knitting:
Treasures from a ragpile", "Setesdal Sweaters", "Poetry in Stitches", "Viking Patterns for Knitting" and Lise Kolstad and Tone Takle's books. They're all good, but I especially can recomend "Setesdal Sweaters" if you are interested in textile history, and "Poetry in Stiches" for all the breathtaking patterns, all inspired by old Norwegian textile tradition. I have several of the patterns from this book on my wish list!

Enough advertizing for Norwegian knitting!

If you are wondering how miss Muffin is doing, she's still waiting at the bottom of my knitting basket, poor thing. :)

Hi Alison,
I finished my bowl for the tea party along, and posted the pattern on my blog. :-)
Your books sound great- another pattern book I love is "A Yorkshire Fable" by Rowan, gorgeous designs.

I have to put in another vote for Vogue Knitting. I've been using it as a reference forever. I would like to get the Knitter's Handbook by Montse Stanley too. It doesn't have photos, just drawings, but it's overflowing with great information.

I finished my tea set!

Yet another vote for Vogue. I love that book. It's been so helpful. I'm still learning and I just love looking at all the things that I will (hopefully) be able to make one day.

Despite her odd sizing, Debbie Bliss "Knitting workshop" is awesome, and I'm a big fan of "Sandra" magazine...though sometimes I wonder if that's in english.

I envy your magazines.

I can't wait to have a job that will let me afford this hobby.

I'm looking at getting 1000 sweaters soon. Let us know what you think about it.

I love "Knitting for Baby" by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nichols. I think it does a good job of introducing new skills (knitting in the round, cables, intarsia, etc.) and then gives you a small (baby-sized) project to try them out on. And even though I don't have a kid to knit for, I've made plenty of baby gifts from it!