Knitting from the Top

Knitting from the Top

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26  ·  rating details  ·  199 ratings  ·  14 reviews
Paperback, 128 pages
Published February 1st 1996 by Schoolhouse Press (first published 1972)
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penny
Barbara Walker writes with a clarity and humor that had me turning pages and feeling that she was sitting across from me and teaching me to knit as I wish my mother had been able to (mom can crochet, not knit). The lessons are sensible and practical and as Walker has said it best "There is a purpose behind this... the purpose is to teach you not just what to do, but why to do it".

Personally I don't always like knitting from patterns that tell me exactly what yarn and needles to use, which of th...more
Lil' Grogan
Great reference for general principles of top-down knitting. Her slight snark is pretty funny. Greatly appreciated for discussion of knitting instead of the usual book filled with patterns I will never knit and a couple pages of discussing technique.
Amberjean
Good, clearly written, non-cookbook stuff. Really, though, all the stars? Those are because there is a clear formula for set in circular sleeves from the top down--which means I never have to sew in another sleeve. That's worth a few stars!

Marie
Oct 24, 2009 Marie marked it as to-read
Shelves: knitting, wish-list
This is the technical resource for knitting garments from the top down. It's not glitzy or pretty but it will walk you through the math to make pretty much anything you want from the top down.
A good reference book to own.
Castiron
The top-down construction information is extremely handy, though the tip I've used the most is her version of the provisional cast-on.
Sandy
I used to make lots of sweaters from the top down. Loved them. Good book but haven't tried any of the patterns yet.
Diana
All the sweaters I knit are from the top. Gives me a much more flexible sweater that doesn't bind in any place :D
Patti
good directions on knitting from the top down
yoli
Another book I would like to own. She is a knot advocate, which makes me distinctly uncomfortable, but I like how she's grouped the patterns by basic construction and than variations at the end. I'm going to try the top down sleeve construction on my purple jacket because the sheer amount of math required to figure out all of the sleeve cap decreases makes me want to cry. I've got all the other decreases figured out and I can just read my notes backwards substituting increases for decreases. Cro...more
Martha
Jul 15, 2010 Martha added it
"need to own" if you knit sweaters
Chavah
May 22, 2007 Chavah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: knitters, textile geeks
Shelves: textiles
i'm not a fan of Ms. Walker's projects per se (her color choices and patterns seem to not be my own style) but her methodology is genius...

the techniques she teaches make much sense with regards to ease of construction, repair of the used-garments, and also saving money and wasted yarn..

a must-have for a full-time knitter...
Ann Johnson Davis
The definative book on top down knitting. Classic. No "patterns" but is a how to do whatever you want. Teaches you skills and theory, and sets you free to do your own thing. Every bit as good as her stitch dictionaries. There's a reason she's revered as a knitting guru.
Miss Mouse
OK book. There are SO many knitting books out there. Some good instruction, and some OK patterns. Get it from the library before buying it.
Suzanne
Great techniques in knitting from the top down.
Joanie
Apr 26, 2013 Joanie marked it as to-read
Shelves: knitting
Theresa Acie
Apr 14, 2013 Theresa Acie marked it as to-read
Kirstin
Apr 05, 2013 Kirstin marked it as to-read
Shelves: knitting
Jenny Tabrum
Mar 29, 2013 Jenny Tabrum marked it as knitting
M2t2
Mar 13, 2013 M2t2 marked it as to-read
Onlinegem
Mar 11, 2013 Onlinegem added it
Shelves: knitting
Hilary
Mar 09, 2013 Hilary marked it as to-read
Kat Rose
Mar 08, 2013 Kat Rose marked it as to-read
Julie
Mar 08, 2013 Julie added it
Lissaleo
Mar 01, 2013 Lissaleo marked it as to-read
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Knitting from the Top (Hardcover)
Knitting from the Top (Paperback)
Knitting from the Top (Hardcover)
Barbara Walker studied journalism at the University of Pennsylvania and then took a reporting job at the Washington Star in DC. During her work as a reporter, she became increasingly interested in feminism and women's issues.

Her writing career has been split between knitting instruction books, produced in the late 1960s through the mid-80s; and women's studies and mythology books, produced from t...more
More about Barbara G. Walker...
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets A Treasury of Knitting Patterns A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects Charted Knitting Designs

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