The Batsford Book of Hand and Machine Knitting by Tessa

How worthwhile is knitting, bearing in mind the time it takes, the ease or difficulty of doing it, the pleasure it gives, what you may save or earn? What tools and machines can you use, what can they do, and how easy is it to use them? What yarns are there, should they be natural or man~made, and who supplies them? How can one overcome that bugbear of knitting ~ getting the correct tension? These are some of the topics discussed in this book, which provides a survey of knitting from the simplest of handknitted stitches to the most sophisticated of domestic knitting machines.

The emphasis is on encouraging the reader to explore modern techniques, and to make individual and original clothes, furnishings and wall hangings by the simplest and quickest methods. There are hints on easy ways of making~up to achieve a pleasing and harmonious garment, even if mistakes were made in the knitting process. In fact, the reader is encouraged to turn mistakes to advantage. Simple patterns are provided, designed for use in making a large, range of garments as well as to give the new knitter a sound basis for more advanced work.

The text is illustrated with clear line drawings showing how to work stitches and make patterns, and with photographs of machines, tools, knitted samples and completed garments.