A few months ago I decided that it was high time that I pick-up an Elizabeth Zimmermann book. Zimmermann, the Julia Child of the knitting world, was a pioneer decades ago in how she approached knitting. Her books have stood the test of time and even today can provide guidance and inspiration to knitters. The Knitter's Almanac provides projects for each month of the year.
The Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann is a book that I would classify as an oldy, but a goody. Written in 1974 and updated in 1981, the book has an old fashioned style. Unlike today's knitting books, it lacks the beautiful color photos that we are so used to seeing these days. The book provides a black and white photo for each project and the pattern charts are hand-written by Elizabeth. As I was reading the book, I felt like I was in Elizabeth's living room watching her knit and work. She is inviting, engaging and cuts to the chase.
While the patterns are not ones that I would probably find myself knitting, I still enjoyed the Knitter's Almanac and think that it is a welcome addition to my knitting book library. With every pattern Elizabeth provides tips and recommendations on how to adjust the pattern to suit your needs. I think that this is Elizabeth's most significant contribution to the knitting world; her ability to teach us how to feel comfortable enough to change knitting patterns and designs without being scared.
The knitting patterns in the book include a little bit of everything; whether you fancy Aran Knitting, socks, baby clothes, shawls or Fair Isle knitting. And if the pattern isn't quite modern enough for you, I think that it can still be used as the foundation for designing your own sweater.
At only $7.99 I feel like the Knitter's Almanac is a bargain and a great book to have on hand as a resource.
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