Any nice new books out? Or current favourites? General knitting ramble

[MoaningMinnieWhingesAgain]

Ok so I have a massive pile of books I haven't really read yet. But I fancy another one, preferably knitting and preferably a bargain

I got this Needlecraft Book from The Works last week for £9.99 and a pack of 12 bells (like to put in a toy) for 99p which I thought was a bargain too.

I have just knitted a lovely little alpaca cardigan from Erika Knights Natural Nursery Knits which came out well - it is knitted in one piece with stitch holders etc and I was a bit scared (am still an enthusiastic amateur) but it worked (and I got the Rowan baby alpaca DK on clearance so not too dear to make)

Also made some little hats with half price Sublime from Black Sheep which came out very cute...

Oh I've got that needlecraft book. Gorgeous isn't it?!

I haven't bought any knitting books recently as I have been concentrating on patchwork and quilting but I have had cause to dip into this recently which is rather lovely - I would love to do one of each of the squares one day.

This one isn't new or cheap but it is just lovely to look at and stroke.

If it were near my birthday (it isn't) I quite fancy this one on colour. It looks quite hard though - definitely a challenge. I have done a bit of fair isle but don't currently have time to get embroiled in the challenge of making complicated things.

Don't buy this one if you want pretty pictures. This book on the face of it looks quite old fashioned but it is a great book because it gives you the basic patterns and shapes for jumpers and cardigans and then gives you the tools to adapt it to the yarn, pattern and size you want. I have had this sitting at home for a while waiting until I am brave enough to actually put it into practice. It looks good though!

I have that first book of knitted blocks and used it for my Mumsnet blanket squares

I had this colourwork book from the library a while ago and it is lovely, bit too advanced for me though I am frightened of fair isle and only recently knitted something with 2 colours/stripes

I am learning more about what I like though - I hate sewing up and would rather pick up stitches than sew a button band on. And I love posh yarn

I have had some bargains from searchpress.com if you go to 'browse books', then choose 'hurt books', they have loads of stuff with slightly damaged covers for half price and free delivery. Stock varies a bit but worth checking occasionally, various crafts not just knitting.

I love checking The Book People and The Works for bargain books as well

Off to have a look at that Ann Budd book - looks interesting

Yes, I used it for my MN square too and every time I get it out I think I would like to make myself a blanket. Unfortunately I have several projects already on the go so to start another one would be a bit naughty. I have to finish something first.

I like doing little blankets for in the pushchair/carseat but got bored when I made a bigger one - it was a feather and fan pattern and I just got fed up of doing the same thing for ages

I got this for my birthday last year from one of my friends

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Knitters-Year-Debbie-Bliss/dp/1844008428/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333297227&sr=1-5

It is nice to look at and I have actually made a few things out of it for presents, I am still pretty much a beginner but have found the patterns in it to be nice and simple.

I've just bought this one - warning: not a bargain! But my mum loved it, it has the original patterns from the 30s, 40s and 50s along with equivalents knitted in modern yarns and sized for today.

I have the knitters year already I buy much more than I knit. I fancy the bunny egg cosies for Easter actually...

The stitch in time - wow that is spendy. I looked at it once before after some sort of promotional article in a knitting mag, it looks interesting but may have to be a library job

Me again. Bumping for any yarn finds and general knitting chat I have been testing the Ravelry forums lately - wow they are very direct speakers on there - they move your thread to a better fitting topic and are very no nonsense. Very helpful though.

I had a shop recommended to me on Ravelry - Jannettes Rare Yarns. They have lots of bargains on nice wools and they have the Artesano Hummingbird Alpaca (the multicoloured ones in a 150g hank) for 5.76 each with free delivery. I accidentally ordered some I think they have been discontinued but haven't seen it before for less than £12 anywhere before.

Got Knits to Give by Debbie Bliss out from the library at the moment, it's a bit meh , glad I didn't buy it. Had another look at The Knitted Home by Sian somebody, it has some lovely cabled stuff in it.

I like the 'Twenty to Make' series, they are cheap (about 4.99 I think) and great for little gifts, and they just use generic wool rather than expensive brands. I got this one for myself, to make gifts for a charity stall, and I got this one for my DDIL, because she likes decorating hats, bags etc.

There are lots of titles in the series for all sorts of different things.

If you like knitting flowers I have got this which is a gorgeous book, although the patterns are a little more tricky for beginners, and its more expensive than the 'Twenty to Make' one. Lesley Stanfield has also done another one on Birds and Butterflies, which is on my wish list

I have the knitted flowers and the birds and butterflies ones. Lots of patterns need crochet though

20 to make- I have the christmas one, mug hugs one and egg cozies. Book people often have a cheap set of those, but lots are other crafts rather than knitting

MoaningMinnie is absolutely right - the knitted flowers does have quite a bit of crochet in it - sorry I should have mentioned that It is a lovely book though if you can crochet as well

I am sort of working on it That book of flowers was why I wanted to learn though! Lots of gorgeous ones.

So excited! I did a bit of crochet practice last night and it worked

Not perfectly, but much better than my last try. Finally understood that I am only hooking one bit of yarn through at a time and it is started to make a bit of sense. Been using Crochet unravelled to help me. It is only a booklet really but very basic, very clear. I made a little flower with 2 colours.

Next time I am going to actually try to follow the pattern.

Well done Minnie - I think once you get the hang of it, crochet is actually simpler than knitting (it's certainly faster!) That book looks good - it's worth looking for tutorials on YouTube if you have problems with a specific stitch or procedure - sometimes its easier to see it demonstrated.