Ann Budd

This is a lovely book. The patterns are well chosen and well-photographed. The book is punctuated by essays on sustainability which I intend to read (they look interesting). I doubt I'll seek out any of the yarns specially; I've used and appreciate Cascade Eco Wool but for the rest, probably not. I have a somewhat different approach to earth-friendly knitting: I attempt to keep fibre out of the waste stream by turning t-shirts and jersey sheets (once so popular for waterbeds) into hand-cut show more yarn, by unravelling ageing sweaters and reusing the yarn of which they are made, by buying used knitwear and mending the knitwear my family owns, and by buying yarn from thrift stores. Buying new yarn is not my first, or second, resort. (Buying new books is not my first resort either. This is a book that someone else bought at a library sale and I picked up at a thrift store!) There is a good essay on the value judgements involved in buying new yarn, but to me that rather begs the question, ie. assumes as a first principle that if one wants yarn one *should* buy new yarn. (There's one project in the book made from jute rope. Probably a killer on the hands, but absolutely fits my idea of alternate yarn! And a scarf made from ... a silk garment cut into strips!) However! It's a good essay. And a book worth reading even if the intention is to pass it along without making any of the patterns it contains.

I was intending to make the vest (out of that lovely Eco Wool) and maybe someday the bike basket (rope) but my intentions weren't firm enough. I passed the book along with the vest still in my Ravelry queue. show less

I used this book when knitting my first pair of socks (and each subsequent pair). Ann Budd's clear explanations and the photographs took the mystery out of sock knitting, which scared the crap out of me before I did it. Budd starts out with the most basic of socks, arranged according to your gauge (ex., 6 stitches per inch), and walking through all of the steps necessary. The book then continues with more decorative patterns, but all have clear instructions. Her instructions for the show more Kitchener stitch are perhaps the clearest I've yet encountered.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to get started knitting socks, but is scared off by the fancy stuff in other books. show less

I always feel that Ann Budd doesn't let me down. Her latest volume of "Handy Books," the Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters presents the same common sense, no nonsense, easy-to-understand reference classic as Handy Sweater Patterns and Handy Patterns. figure out your gauge, pick your sweater style and go with it. Follow the instructions to the letter to get a basic, classic sweater, or, in this book, beautiful sweaters have been designed by knitting notables to give you everything you need to show more create lovely garments that will be worn and treasured. I'm so grateful that my niece knew just what I'd want for this Christmas- and just what she'd like for next Christmas. show less

This book is fantastic. I've been wanting to learn to knit socks for a long time, but everything I read made it seem so difficult. Budd has put together a gem here, with clear instructions accompanied by generously-sized images. The first chapters cover selecting your yarn and needles and demonstrate all of the techniques necessary to make a simple sock. The remaining sections provide basic patterns, starting with a simple crew sock and progressing to more complex socks using cables and lace show more designs. The book is definitely geared towards sock beginners, and experienced sock knitters looking for complex designs and patterns will find the book lacking in that regard, but I would recommend this book in a heartbeat for every library knitting collection and any one looking for a first or second sock book. show less