An updated and completely revised edition of one of the most popular Complete Idiot's Guidesever published! Now in the Illustrated format, with loads of photographs and helpful line drawings. All new patterns. Step-by-step directions help even beginners learn to knit and crochet more easily.

This guide provides an overview of various knitting and crocheting methods and techniques.

Knitting made easy - especially for beginners. In The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Knitting, Becca Smith takes aspiring knitters step-by-step through her "learn-as-you-go" teaching technique. Knitters are guided from purl stitch to finished scarf with hundreds of clear and easy-to-understand photos along the way. Readers will also learn to make hats, mittens, blankets, pillows, sweaters, socks, even kimonos-as well as their own patterns. With The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Knitting, anyone can go from picking up a needle to becoming a master knitter. ?A new "learn-as-you-go" way of teaching makes this book perfect for beginners ?Packed with hundreds of clear and easy-to-understand photos ?According to the Craft Yarn Council of America, 53 million American women knit or crochet ?Author is an expert knitter and owns her own knitting and yarn company

Creating an Amigurumi of one's own... Amigurumi, the traditional Japanese art of knitted or crocheted stuffed figures, is a craft that is sweeping the country. In The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Amigurumi crafters will learn the basic stitches of crochet, how to make basic shapes (heads, arms, legs, torsos), stuffing techniques, and embellishments such as hair, eyes, and tassels. They will also learn how to make flowers and vegetables, and will acquire the tools to be able to let their imaginations run wild and create their own unique and adorable Amigurumi. Easy-to-follow instructions and patterns for the absolute beginner. The only book that teaches readers how to make their own Amigurumi (not just follow patterns) Includes several complete patterns Author is a foremost expert on Amigurumi

Learn how to knit in just minutes! Knitting is one of the most popular crafts among people all ages, but if you've never picked up a set of needles before, it's hard to know where to begin. Geared toward the absolute beginner, Idiot's Guides: Knitting teaches the basics of knitting in a series of lessons using full-color, step-by-step photo-rich instructions that enable you to clearly see how each stitch, finger movement, and yarn movement is executed. Lessons are accompanied by practice projects, allowing you to try out your newly learned skill. As the lessons become more advanced, so do the projects, so you'll not only get instant gratification by knitting a project right away, you'll also become more proficient as you learn and have the motivation to keep going. In addition, the book includes over 20 fun and fresh projects along with galleries of stitch patterns for beginner and intermediate-level knitters. This completely illustrated guide is an essential tool for every new knitter. Features include: • Tailored to the absolute beginner who has never picked up a pair of needles before, with clear, easy-to-understand illustrated instructions. • Clear, comprehensive, color step-by-step instructions for all the basic techniques of knitting—casting on, binding off, knit and purl stitches, and so much more. • Stitch galleries with nearly two dozen patterns for decorative stitches such as cable, seed, and lace. • Practice projects throughout help the reader learn and practice techniques. • Handy guides to teach you how to decipher a chart, read a pattern, increase and decrease rows, buy the right yarn for your project, and more.

You're no idiot, of course. You can sew a button, tie a knot and even thread a needle in under 30 seconds. But when it comes to knitting and crocheting, you feel as prickly as a pin cushion. Don't unravel just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Knitting and Crocheting shows you how to create beautiful crafts worthy of becoming heirlooms.