The Best Knitting Books of 2023
Whether you’re new to knitting or an advanced knitter, there are so many good knitting books available. As we move into Christmastime and the season of cozy reading and crafting, here are my favorite knitting books that are in my collection.
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When I first learned to knit, I went to the library. I love the library! Seriously, as a mom of four, when I have some quiet time, I check out what knitting books are at my local library. I’ve even been known to travel to area libraries to check out their collection!
The problem I ran into early on in my knitting book journey is that there are just so many books about knitting. And I borrowed them all. I mean, to the point of being overwhelmed reading about brioche just 4 months into my knitting (and definitely not ready to tackle brioche).
Since then, I’ve learned to slow down and read books as I come to that particular skill or garment type. But as far as what I keep in my home, I’m even more choosy.
If you’re interesting in reading about knitting, I wrote this post about my favorite knitting cozy mysteries.
I like to check out knitting books as a kind of “first date” in that I’ve vetted each one to decide if I want to own it. Then I’ve slowly gotten them for gifts at birthdays and Christmases. Because books and yarn are always good gift ideas, and combined it’s even better!
>>Stocking stuffers for the littlest future knitters: My favorite picture books about knitting
What are the best knitting books of 2023? Well, here’s what’s in my knitting library.
The best knitting books in my library (as of 2023)
1. Slow Knitting
Slow Knitting came to me when I really needed to hear the message of slowing down and knowing why I was knitting. For so long, I was knitting to achieve something: a great business, compliments on my clothing and home. Sarah Theissen’s book took it further, and joined my home library because of how she walks through knowing and understanding the story of our fiber. I love opening this and being inspired by the photos, informed about the types of fibers and processes, and entertained by the calmness of slow knitting. I own the hardcover copy and it is a total coffee table book.
2. 52 Weeks of Socks
This is a beautiful book that will take you more than 52 weeks to finish, which makes it great for the home library. Every sock pattern in 52 Weeks of Socks (by Laine) is gorgeous, and gives you your fill of sock knitting for a long time. I haven’t run out of projects to try out of this book yet!
3. The Wild Dyer
I’ve been knitting my garden for a few years now, and this was the book that helped me first put the concept into action. Breaking down what you can forage or grow by each season, and then explaining how to dye it was so helpful for me. It was like taking all my ideas and categorizing them. In this book, Abigail Booth even breaks plants down by what colors will be produced and what time of year to look for them. It’s like when you find those fancy meal plans that people sell that also include grocery lists and recipes. Her lists of supplies are super, and the walk through instructions are really well written.
4. The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters
Another gorgeous book that feels like a book. This is a really great book for beginners about knitting sweaters. But as I understand it, a lot of advanced sweater knitters come back to this book over and over again as a reference. It grows with you, which I love. I’m still a beginner sweater knitter for sure, and this book really helps me understand the construction of sweaters at a basic level. There is also information in it about customizing sweaters to fit you specifically. Definitely one to own and look through as you work your way into sweaters.
5. Knitted Cable Sourcebook
Inspiration alone, this book about cable knitting is worth the buy. After checking it out over and over again, I finally got smart and put this book on my Christmas list. There are so many different cables, some basic, some very cool and unlike what I’ve seen in generic knitting books. Norah Gaughan does a phenomenal job explaining cable knitting and Jared Flood’s photography captures the stitches so well!
6. The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting
This is a paperback, but it’s full of so much info that really wanted to own it. I highly recommend it as someone learning to knit and doesn’t really know what questions to ask until you come across it, because everything seems so new! You don’t know what you don’t know, but with this book you’re in pretty good hands.
7. Knits for Girls and Young Juniors
This is honestly more than a just pattern book. I picked up this book when my girls were a baby and a toddler. The reason I wanted it and it stays in my collection is because I’ve found so many resources for baby knitting sizing, and obviously for women, too, but this book fills in the gap. Girls sizes 6-young adult are covered in here, and even if you make something that’s not in the book, I love this one as a reference to the different sizes for the tweens and teens. Plus, the patterns in the book are actually adorable and wearable. I would totally wear the poncho on the cover and the sweaters inside!
>Check out this post on how I organize all my knitting books and yarn
There are so many books out there for us knitters. These are my favorites, but what are yours?
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