Hi All,

I'm pretty new to knitting and I've just bought a book i've found really useful and easy to follow, so I thought i'd share for any other newbies :)

It's called Maran's Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting, it's full of easy to understand steps and good colour pictures, starting out with the very basics (different yarn types, needles etc) and goes on to show you how to do all the different stitches, and breaks down how to make different patterns with stitches very easily.

I even feel like I can have a go at cable and *shudder* using circular needles after having a look in here.

I was finding it hard to look at a pattern for a garment and understand it as it all looks a bit much - but with this book because it breaks it all down i'm finding it much easier.

I bought it in WH Smiths for £15.99 but amazon has it Here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1894182146/sr=8-1/qid=1155126971/ref=sr_1_1/202-9655065-4984648?ie=UTF8&s=gateway) for £10.55

It's quite a chunky book (like the Dummys Guide size) and i've not even started to look at the crocheting part, but i'm pretty certain it will help me alot with that (I find crocheting is work of the devil at the moment lol)

I hope this helps :)

Hi beansforyou

I've been knitting for nearly 2 years now. I taught myself but I have to admit I always shy away from anything that involves the slightest bit of cabling. Not that I think it will be too hard, but because I haven't read anything that I feel explains it in a way I understand.

I decided I needed to learn to crochet a couple of weeks ago, as a lot of patterns call for it to finish off a garment, and I think it is such a useful skill to have to add lots of pretty finishing touches. I gave it a go and ohmygod, I soooo agree with you, it's the work of the devil! I don't understand! I try to make chains and it turns into a big lumpy mess! Let me know if you get on well with the crochet part of it...if it's any good at explaining it I may give it a try.