Elizabeth Zimmermann’s The Knitter’s Almanac

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s The Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Crafts Collection – Upper Level – 746.43 Z

I am writing this just in case there is a knitter who hasn’t heard of Elizabeth Zimmermann. Elizabeth Zimmermann’s books take homey, personality-filled writing applied to quite revolutionary ideas about making knitting just challenging enough but as easy as possible. Of course you can design your own sweater. Of course you’ll enjoy making a shawl, and you’ll naturally come up with some embellishments to make it pretty and less boring to knit along the way… that kind of thing. The Knitter’s Almanac features her thoughts and activities for each month of the year, with a selection of projects. Each is talked through in detail in the main body of the chapter, and followed with “pithy” short directions at the end of the chapter. There are some famous patterns in this book, including the Pi shawl and February’s baby sweater. The library has just purchased the new commemorative edition, which features a lovely introduction by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) and an adult-sized version of the famous baby sweater, February Lady. Never mind that at my current rate of knitting it would take me twelve years rather than twelve months to get through all the projects here – this is a book that every self-respecting knitter should read.