This is an excellent book for a beginning designer. Why? Because although we tend to get excited about the stitch patterns, the draping, and the shaping, we tend to forget the amount of MATH involved! That's where this book comes in handy. Have a swatch? Match your swatch up to Ann's handy charts and you'll have a rough estimate of where the increases and decreases will fall. Need to know how much yarn you're going to need for your Uncle's massive 50-inch chest? The estimate is right here. Not sure how to evenly decrease for a hat or tam/beret? The numbers are right here. Need some basic design advice? It's in this book. There is advice for socks, hats, tams/berets, basic sweaters, vests, gloves and mittens in this book.

I also like the fact that Interweave really thought about the needs of knitters when designing this book. It's Spiral bound within a hardback spine so it will lie flat, but can be propped up and opened if necessary. It also has a handy piece of elastic in the back of the book, suitable for holding a swatch and a pair of needles in necessary.

An excellent purchase for any knitter. ( )

An essential bookshelf staple for the knitter. Got a yarn but no pattern to suit? Just knit a swatch, refer to this book and you will be able to create your own pattern. Very easy to use, well-written and clear, and an excellent techniques section. If you particularly want sweater design, you may wish to look at the Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which offers a wider variety of sweater shapes and constructions. ( )

This is one of the first knitting books that I have invested my own money in. I've made gloves, mittens, and a sweater from it. Using these versatile patterns, you can customize the designs to make almost anything you want. ( )

This is one of my most often used knitting books. Paired with a good set of stitch guides, you can use this book to create hundreds of unique garments. Patterns include mittens, gloves, hats, tams, vests, sweaters, and socks. Instructions for basic variations such as different edge types and finishing techniques are also included. ( )

Even when I'm not sure exactly what I want to knit, this book helps me out. The directions are written clearly and the patterns are easily adapted to your needs. ( )