It's funny how certain hobbies seem to live on, never relegated to oblivion. One example would be a hobby that we identify our grandmothers with. But knitting is not a "grandma thing" anymore. Even teenagers and would-be teenagers find knitting a fascinating art. It is also an exhilarating pastime. Yes exhilarating ? especially when the finished product is dancing before your eyes, the yarn colors perfectly matching, the stitches sure and confident, and the edges and turns showing clever manipulation and dexterity - just like they appear on the glossy pages of a knitting book.



Avid knitters know that knitting is more than a fireside or patio hobby. It's a form of therapy, the kind that allows you to concentrate and daydream at the same time. And that's not a contradiction in terms, because knitting allows you to do both, without serious consequences. If you make an error, you just undo the yarn and start all over again. A knitting book will guide you, through illustrated steps you can follow easily.

We all learn knitting from someone - and from something. Like a course. Or from tips we find online. Or else from a knitting book, given to us as a gift.

So what makes a knitting book a good read; more importantly, what makes a knitting book an excellent reference?

You know that familiar phrase ? a picture is worth a thousand words. A good knitting book must be accompanied by pictures. Without pictures, a knitting book will look like it's standing on only one leg, giving readers and learners only half the pleasure. Seeing is believing, they say, and without pictures and magnified photos of a particular stitch or stroke, a knitting book is like yarn sitting on a basket, undefended and unloved because there are no knitting needles.

To write a knitting book that will be popular for all ages is to know the primary concerns of both novices and advanced learners. We stumbled upon a knitting book that spoke of the history of knitting and how it gained momentum during the industrialized period when product innovation was going at a feverish pace. A bit of history will make the book an attractive one for knitters who also love history.

Of course, knitting patterns have to be allocated a section or two in a knitting book. Let's not forget knitting ideas or projects in a separate section, divided according to beginners' level to advanced knitting levels.

Your local library will have one knitting book that you'll want to have beside you at all times. Maybe three or even twelve knitting books! You can also purchase a highly recommended knitting book online, where retailers assure delivery and secure payment for your purchase.

Let's not forget to mention one important detail: a useful knitting book should have a distinct chapter on conversion tables. Knitting book collectors live in all four corners of the world, where measurements do not necessarily come in a universal language. British and American conversion tables would be ideal.

Oh yes, a knitting book ? for it to be considered truly informative ? should include a chapter on types of yarns and needles, a listing of manufacturers and their product lines, and how certain knitting fashion projects would be given justice with a particular kind of needle or texture of yarn. Tiny details, yes, but they do carry weight in a knitting book.

Not all readers are the same, remember? Each is looking for a particular piece of information in a knitting book.