Book Depository Link; Dublin City Public Libraries
Ladybird Book About Knitting.
Wow, a serious flashback in this one, I remember using this book when I was much younger and I think I tried to knit a few things, but even I knew that my dad wouldn't be that impressed with a knit tie!
This book was part of a series by Ladybird that were about practical projects and originally published in 1972. This is a facsimile edition of that one, so the needle size is in the old UK Imperial. Size 8, by the way would be 4mm.
The advice to get some brightly coloured double knitting wool didn't say it had to be actual wool.
The first page of text is some do's and don'ts for better knitting, including washing your hands.
Then a list of essential supplies. Needles, wool, scissors, sewing needle and bag.
How to create a slip knot is followed closely by an unnamed cast-on, the standard knitted-on cast-on considered pretty basic.
How to knit is followed by a small piece on Garter stitch and then how to cast-off.
The first project is a garter-stitch hair band that requires some help from "mother" to finish.
Purling comes next and an illustration of stocking stitch. How to sew something together using an overstitch is followed by a pattern for a pincushion for "mother"
How to decrease is followed by a simple pocket money or change purse.
How to increase and then the backstitch seaming method is followed by a ball for a baby using increases and decreases, knit in five pieces
Making holes is followed by how to knit egg-cozies. Then there's a blanket for a doll's pram, a pencil case, a bag and the aforementioned knit tie (which would appear to be at the end because it's knit using size 9 - 3.75mm needles and 4ply wool!)
It's funny, today there would be things like knitting in the round and probably brand-named yarns but this is simple and very basic and the illustrations are quite clear, wouldn't be a bad book to start someone off on
The libraries have got in a few copies. Worth looking at for at least entertainment value.
It was the original version of this book that started me knitting. There is no history of crafts in my family and this book was my starting point. Still have it and the crochet one. Happy memory.
ReplyDeleteI remember this book and could almost smell the original. I think later editions metricised it but the patterns in this were what I remember. Amusing to think they reprinted it. I don't recall the crochet one, possibly would if I saw the patterns.
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