Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes

I purchased this book through Amazon without ever having seen the book or leafed through it in-person. When it arrived at my door, I eagerly opened the cover and flipped through the pages with giddy anticipation. I am a passionate knitter, I've knit since before I could read, but this was my first time owning a book by the famed and revered Elizabeth Zimmermann. But my initial response? Sadly disappointed! Afterall, where were the bright glossy photos and the fun, bold typesetting found in the garden-variety of knitting books today? What I found was pages and pages of continuous text. Well, it is a book afterall. My curiousity got the best of me, later that night I found myself curled up in bed reading the book. My initial response of disappointment could not have been further from the truth! After immersing myself into just a few pages, I felt like I had sat down to knit with an old friend. Zimmermann's candid and frank writing style brought me a smile and more than a knowing laugh or two as she shares her knitting wisdom. Yet, there is a sophistication to her writing that leaves the reader drawn into the pages, finding each new tip or bit of advice as something to savor. Even the rudimentary skills of knitting come into new light within her chatty, and sometimes unabashedly opinionated, pages. I loved and applauded her stern lecture on the importance of gauge. (Yes, an entire chapter all its own, and rightly so!) Gauge is the golden key to the door of knitting design. Yet it is something so often overlooked by new or impatient knitters, and often with ghastly, disappointing results. Step by step in a narrative, familiar style, she covers the tools of the knitting trade, needles, yarns, skills, and of course, her passion for knitting. All given with tidbits of enlightment even for the experienced knitter. Then gently, she takes the reader to a new path of creativity with clear guidance and instructions to explore nearly endless options of pattern and design. She does this by laying a simply, methodical ground work for the form and shape of any sweater. You can then take that skeletal form and emboss it to your heart's content with your own stitches, designs, color work, originality, and style. I have fallen even more in love with circular after reading this book, and I find the seamless, ease of style, even more liberating. The focus is on sweater design, but really, you can take these skills to any facet of your knitting. She even covers a sampling of other projects, hats, mittens, afghans, even skirts! I found the details of what makes a sweater into a coat interesting. The section entitled "A Few Remarks on Socks" makes the book worth its price alone! The photos and details of just different knitted heel types were fascinating and most helpful. The "few remarks" are actually a few pages of detailed, fool-proof instruction which I fould both instructional and inspiring for sock knitting. What can I say, I LOVED the book. I found it a necessary jewel for any knitter's library. I'd suggest that very new beginners to knitting will want to learn to cast on, knit and purl comfortably before digging into this treasure of a find. Once you have those basics down, however, do dive into this book with glee! As stated by the author herself, "Really, all you need to become a good knitter is common sense...of course superior intelligence, such as yours and mine, is an advantage." And that is Elizabeth Zimmermann for you!

Knitting Without Tears (KWT) was published in 1971, has 128 pages, and was written by Elizabeth Zimmerman (EZ). Like 3 other books penned by her: TOK ([Please read my review https://www.amazon.com/Opinionated-Knitter-Elizabeth-Zimmermann/dp/0942018265/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 The Opinionated Knitter ]; KW ([Please read my review https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Zimmermanns-Knitting-Zimmermann-1981-12-01/dp/B017MYPOCA/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann (1981-12-01) ]; and KA ([Please read my review https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Zimmermanns-Knitters-Almanac-Knitting/dp/0486241785/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Zimmermanns-Knitters-Almanac-Knitting/dp/0486241785/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 ], KWT is written in a charming and witty personal narrative style, just begging you to listen to her and do what she suggests – as if she were in the same room with you! It is a highly-endearing style for an author to use, but it makes you want to personally befriend her and learn from her at the same time. Notice that the first chapter title head is the same as the title of one of her most popular later hard-cover books (TOK), which was published after her death. Chapter 2 (and onward are titled as follows): Gauge: Required Reading; 3. Ski Sweaters in Color Patterns; 4. Seamless Sweaters; 5. Other knitted Garments; and 6. The Washing of Sweaters. Following these 6 chapters is the Bibliography and then the Index. (Note that many of the chapter heads in this book are discussed in more detail in later books because they have fomented discussion and problem solving from its readers in THIS book. For example, WHO DOESN’T WORRY ABOUT knitting GAUGE problems? Also, all of EZ’s books could be read according to their publication dates because these were the most important topics to her to write about at those times. [She already knew about American knitter’s problems because she used to publish her patterns in Vogue Knitting, McCalls, and other US magazines before she started writing her books and holding her annual HK conference on her farm in WI.] TOK was co-written after her death by her daughter Meg and some other people to celebrate EZ’s life but to also showcase some of the main HK topics that people wanted to know about. Conversely, TOK could be the perfect book for EZ followers to commence their HK journeys because it is, in many ways, a grand re-cap of EZ’s teaching and life philosophy – and the color photos and many black and white stitch and pattern graphic help keep readers’ attention.) One of EZ’S bons mots AND pragmatics in KWT is: “A well-made sweater, knitted and with Good Will and Good Wool, is beyond price; why try to solve a dollar on the material?” One of her remedies of ALMOST perfect dye lots or colors is absolutely stellar: Read the book to find out what she says and how to do it. Continuing, EZ gives ways to use up different remnants of yarn – a problem from which all knitters suffer. Read this book to find this out. Read the book to understand EZ’s discussion of needles: what materials they are made of; their sizes (both US and Continental); gauge; her love of circular needles and teaching her US audience how to use them (and what sizes she uses to make everything) instead of the US ‘2-stick’ needles; and how she begins a round. Afterwards, she discusses tools, fabric and texture, problems with curling edges and how to solve this problem. Read the book to find out about these, too. After the 6 chapters is the Index. Much of the book deals with creating items and while doing so, solving problems that crop up, including: creating and following specific color patterns; knitting seamless, patterned yoke sweaters; knitting hooded garter-stitch jackets for babies, and more. Here is another EZ bon mot on knitting: “Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit, either.” In sum, KWT is a wonderful addition to EZ’s other books: TOK, KW, and KA. All of them should be part of a serious HKer’s library for reference, for inspiration, for problem-solving, and for learning how to HK from a guru.

Some reviewers misunderstand the purpose of this book. It is a reference guide so you can design your project. MATH SKILLS ARE NEEDED. It has been a few years since I bought my first a copy of this book. (Lost in the move, bought another.) I bought after trying many times to knit garments from traditional patterns and failing miserably. I was ready to give up on knitting, then I read this book. It took a little while to get my head wrapped around the concept, but it encouraged me to keep trying. I learned what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. Knitting is now my friend. I also suggest looking into Barbara Walker's "Knitting From the Top". The only issue I have: the pages are thinner and shorter. The font is also a little smaller.

I bought this book at the same time as EZ's earlier ones, knitting around, and a knitters almanac. The earlier books had more of her thinking and stories of knitting than this one which i enjoyed. I feel this has been written for the modern market, glossy photo's, and a clear designed layout. As a result iI found this book less enjoyable and meaty than the others, plus it contains a rework of her earlier methods, and missed some of my favorites, but still fantastic for those seeking to break away from patterns, wanting to learn to knit in the round, and who understand that knitting is fun, and only consists of knitting, sometimes purling (altough elizabeth strongly discourages that - a necessary evil when ribbing), measuring and counting, thats it, simple, strongly recommend, and if you are a reader go on to her other earlier books.

This book belongs in every knitter’s library both for its advice and explanations and for its charming conversational style. I read this book as a teenager, lost that copy long ago, and was delighted to find it here on Amazon, exactly as I remembered it.

I really not sure if I gave this book an appropriate rating--I really don't know how to rate it because I think I over-rated my knitting skills! I am a hat, scarf, ear warmer, dish cloth knitter. I am not a sweater knitter. I do not cable knit. Seeing directions that call for a double pointed needle give me the chills. I guess what I am saying is, this book is not for the likes of me. This book is at least for an intermediate knitter. I purchased this book for 1 pattern--that is the garter stitch 2 needle slipper with cuff. I found myself "you-tubing" to help me understand what I needed to do such as "pick-up and knit". Also, I was a bit into the pattern before I realized I was to make an increase on each row and conversely a decrease on each row. Maybe more experienced knitters would have known that--I just did not. A brief sentence stating so would have been helpful to me. Also, I have the piece finished but am totally clueless as to how I am to put it together. A diagram would have been helpful to me.--as to what goes where. Again, after reading these rave reviews--I believe it is my lack of abilities because others seem to find this book helpful. I just did not.

I am a serious knitter, but I am not an advanced knitter. Besides my lack of skill and experience, I am extremely ADD. So, this book is better than I expected, it is insightful and funny. It shows diagrams and written instructions for most practical stitches such as the different kinds of cast on stitches. So, if you are like me and can just knit and purl and have at least average intelligence or less-like me, this book is the answer to all the problems that arise in knitting. Some have said she lectures about gauge, but do you really want to knit a sweater and find it too big or worse, too small? I cannot wait to purchase all her other books, I feel that I will enjoy them as much and look forward to designing my own sweaters, with EZ's guidance. This is the best knitting book that I have seen, and I whole heartedly recommend it. I want to say this to all the people who gave this book less than five stars-patience-it is a virtue and necessary for knitting more than a scarf!

Whether you're just learning to knit, or have been stitching away for quite some time, this book is GREAT! It's like having a wise and encouraging teacher sitting right there with tips, techniques and encouraging words. In a day when "political correctness" seems to characterize conversations in all realms of life, it's refreshing to read the essays of a woman who is passionate, opinionated, and not ashamed to be so. One is not required to agree with all the opinions expressed, but even in disagreement, there is humor and encouragement. For example, I don't share Mrs. Zimmerman's "horror" of purling.... and yet, I enjoy her musings about ways to avoid "the dreaded purl". The garment and accessory designs presented are for classic items, in style for every era, with common sense tips on fitting and specific techniques for knitting them. The technique descriptions and drawings are pretty clear and easy to follow, if one has yarn and needles in hand. Weaknesses of the book are that all photos are black and white, and the standard paperback or hardback binding tends to flop shut while in use. I wish it were available spiral bound to lay flat when open. Most of all, this book is worth its price because of the basic message: you are not a slave to published designs/patterns-- you are the "boss of your knitting." For that repeated encouragement (and its practical applications) alone, this book is well worth its price.

This book is clear and straight forward. Easy read and clear instructions. Great to be able to learn to knit without stressing. Used the book in a knitting class to help with simple explanations.

Lite svårt att hänga med om man inte är väldigt duktig på engelska.

ありがとうございました。 良かったです。

Such a good read, so useful, a must for the serious knitter. Gives you lots of hints, tips, etc., just the little things that you will find useful for refining your knitting techniques. Besides such useful things like alternative cast-ons, etc., you will get the information you need to write a pattern for your own design, all you need is to do a sample square and some measurements of your desired sweater. you can then work it out from the instructions. I've started writing my own patterns, and they do work! Socks, hats, mittens, sweaters, a lovely child's hooded jacket with not so much in the way of specific instructions, but the information you need to do your own thing - magic! It's a lovely companion to the book 'The Opinionated Knitter' by the same author. They both make good bedtime reading too! Buy it!!

Even though I really like the tone and tenure of the author,she's funny,witty and insightful,I dont understand all the noise about the popularity of this book.True she empathises with any beginner level knitter,but she comes across more a counceller than a teacher.The complete lack of diagrams makes it very difficult to understand what she is trying to say.There have been instances where I have to just skim across as I dont understand the process or technique.You need to have an other book infront of you that shows all the techniques in pics or diagrams to understand what she is saying.