The Knitting Stitches Bible

A complete beginner's guide to knitting, with 100 inspiring swatches to choose from and a stunning patchwork blanket project to pull all your skills together. Fully illustrated and packed with inspiration, this comprehensive guide is suitable whether you're looking to learn the basics, build your skills, or complete a satisfying knitting project. Starting with a thorough user guide, you'll learn essential techniques, from casting on and 10 basic stitches (knit, purl, garter, stocking, moss) to understanding charts, tension, abbreviations, and even how to rescue a dropped stitch. The book then dives into a curated collection of 90 knitted swatch patterns (33 to get you started and another 57 to take it further); from cables and colorwork to adding delicate embroidered details. The blanket project is knitted swatch-by-swatch, making it an ideal on-the-move project, perfect for busting your yarn stash. Also discover key finishing techniques, including joining squares, creating a professional-looking selvedge and caring for your finished knitwear. With indexes for stitches, techniques and square patterns, you'll quickly find exactly what you need. Beginners will appreciate the clear, step-by-step instructions and photographs, while more experienced knitters will find inspiration in the diverse stitch patterns and the challenge of combining them into a cohesive project. A translation from the French edition by the 'Marabout collectif' of craft authors.