Favorite Knitting and Crochet Books

Do you have favorite knitting and crochet books? I have been collecting these books for years, and can certainly recommend the best knitting and crochet books in the bunch. These are my “must have” knitting books and essential crochet books that get pulled from my shelf time and again.

I learned how to knit and crochet as a child, but I only recall a few rudimentary projects. Fast forward to 2005, when I was expecting our first child. The knitting bug hit me hard! I guess it was the nesting instinct kicking in. I knitted my first baby blanket and learned two big lessons: 1) knitting takes a while, and 2) it is critical to use yarn from the same dye lot. Ha!

Over the years I have collected quite a few knitting and crochet books. Let me share with you my favorites…

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Knitting Books

What are the best knitting books for beginners?

How to Knit Guide Books:

My go-to guide for knitting instructions has always been VOGUE KNITTING – THE ULTIMATE KNITTING BOOK. It’s got everything you’ll ever need to learn knitting stitches and techniques. I love how it is organized in color-coded pages. My edition is from 2002, but this newer edition came out in 2018 and the updates look terrific. I consider this book a knitting ‘Bible’.

Another favorite book for beginner knitting is TEACH YOURSELF VISUALLY KNITTING. I appreciate the ‘visual’ aspect of this book, as it has wonderful photo tutorials and is organized perfectly for beginners. The book begins with the basics such as casting on, knit & purl stitches, and binding off. Next it leads the reader through basic patterns, reading patterns, and fixing mistakes (they will happen!).

I would also recommend that beginner knitters grab a knitting stitch guide book. This type of book will provide you with an encyclopedia of knitting stitches, grouping them by categories such as knit/purl patterns, cable stitches, lace and eyelet stitches, and colorwork stitches. I own 750 KNITTING STITCHES book, which I am always referencing.

I also have some simple patterns for beginners here on the blog: check out my KNITTING PATTERNS and CROCHET PATTERNS. You can also find ad-free pdf files of my patterns in the ETSY SHOP.

What are the best books for Chunky Knitting?

I don’t know what it is about chunky knits, but I adore the visual appeal of these creations. I also greatly appreciate how they take less time to knit! This blog is all about keeping things SIMPLE, so I love to focus on books with easy patterns that knit up quickly. Just grab some bulky yarn and find an afternoon…

Here are two of my favorite chunky knitting books:

The Twinkle books are also wonderful for chunky knitting, but some of the patterns are not as easy for a beginner and you may need to look up some errata online (corrections to the published patterns). However, I love the photos and the knit styles!

What are the best books for Motif Knitting?

It’s always fun to add special little touches to your knit stitches, and these knitting books provide pretty motif patterns for knit stitches. I am a huge fan of anything Scandinavian so the SCANDINAVIAN MOTIFS book is a favorite of mine. The FAIR ISLE MOTIFS book would also provide endless inspiration for sweaters.

Best Books for Arm Knitting

Have you tried knitting with your arms as needles? It’s fun! I’ve enjoyed making super quick cowls using this method, and these books have amazing patterns and great instructions. Knitting Without Needles is my fave!

Here are some photos I took of pages from my Knitting Without Needles book:

Crochet Books

What are the Best Crochet Books for Beginners?

How to Crochet Guide Books:

When you are just learning to crochet, it helps to have a beginner friendly crochet guide book. These books are very useful when learning how to crochet:

CROCHET 101 is a terrific crochet book for visual learners who want to learn crochet one step at a time. It begins by going over the basics, then gradually providing projects to learn as you go. I really appreciate the real-life photos of the stitches (as opposed to drawings) and the sections on troubleshooting mistakes that are bound to occur.

CROCHET WORKSHOP is another recommended guide book, and this thorough book will even lead the beginner into more intermediate concepts.

It’s a great idea to grab a CROCHET STITCH BIBLE for reference, too. It will open up a world of stitches to you!

Here are a couple more beginner friendly crochet books with pretty projects (click on the photos to see the book):

Best Books for Crochet Patterns

You can find the loveliest crochet patterns in these stylish books. From stylish, to textured, to modern…they have gorgeous patterns! (click on the photos to see the book)

And don’t forget about grabbing knitting or crochet magazines at the grocery store! They often have beautiful patterns to try. I found this amazing chunky crochet blanket pattern in the Interweave “Crochet Scene” special edition magazine from 2017. I modified the pattern to make my blanket smaller, saving money on yarn.

What are the best books for Chunky Crochet Patterns?

Sometimes it is quicker to crochet with chunky or super bulky yarns. Check out the patterns in these crochet books that cater to bigger yarns:

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite resources for knitting and crochet patterns – the Ravelry website! Many of the patterns are free, and you can find a world of variety there. Visit MY RAVELRY PAGE if you find yourself there.

Let me know if you give knitting or crochet a try for the first time, or if you’re a long-time needle worker with favorite books of your own. I’d love to hear about your adventures!

(And if you also enjoy sewing, check out these wonderful sewing craft books that you simply must not miss.)

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