Barbara Walker's Learn-To-Knit Afghan Book by Barbara G. Walker (1974, Book, Illustrated)

This review is for a book called "Barbara Walker's Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book". The book is hardcover with dust jacket. 161 pages. Quoting from the dustjacket: "This is a knitting primer for the real beginner who has never handled needles and yarn before. It includes directions for 63 squares, each demonstrating a special knitting technique, which can be joined to make an afghan. In the first square you learn to cast on, knit back and forth, cast off. By the 63rd square you will have mastered knit-purl patterns, mosaic, twist stitch, slip stitch, cables, increase and decrease, lace and some very special techniques. The squares are planned for four colors and when joined together make a blanket 9 squares by 7, the overall effect is harmonious as well as texturally interesting. You could go absolutely wild with bits of leftover yarn and end up with a dazzling patchwork. Either way, you will have learned a lot and acquired a repertoire which few advanced knitters have at their fingertips.

Barbara G. Walker is nationally known as one of the most expert, prolific and inventive knitters in the country. She has published 5 other books with Scribners, "A Treasury of Knitting Patterns", "A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns", "Charted Knitting Designs", "Knitting From the Top", and "Sampler Knitting."...Her original designs have appeared in yarn companies' pattern books and women's magazines." (End quote from dust jacket.)

The way I see it, there are multiple ways you can use this book. The first way is as the author intended- for a beginning knitter to learn to knit. This is an incredible manual and it will serve its purpose well!

However, I don't think you need to be a beginner to enjoy this book! I think even an experienced knitter could learn something new here. This afghan would make a great project for ANY knitter! And if you are easily bored, this is highly recommended! You'll be trying out so many different techniques that you will not get a chance to be bored at any stage. What fun! And the afghan is sooooo pretty! You might even like it enough to make more than one!

The third way I came up with that this book could be used is, as a stitch dictionary. While this book is not as comprehensive as Ms. Walker's other books, it really does have a whole lot to offer in the way of interesting stich techniques.

A wonderful book that knitters (especially aspiring knitters) are sure to enjoy.

Don't underestimate this oldy but goody. The B&W photos aren't flashy but this books is a terrific resource. I might never use it to make an afghan but it is a terrific stitch pattern library. It also has basic knitting instructions as well as finishing and blocking techniques.

I bought Barbara Walker's Learn-To-Knit Afghan book recently. Prior to buying a copy I had checked it out from the library. I really enjoy this book because it has several sections each relating to a different style of knitting. There's the basics (knit & purl), a lace section, cable section, color pattern section, etc. What struck me about this book is that you're just making little afghan squares so you only have to repeat the pattern a few times, you use regular worsted weight yarn and you use larger sized needles, which is great for a beginner.

I've completed several of the squares with little trouble when it comes to attempting to decipher instructions. She has some illustrated instructions to cover the basics and also a useful glossary of terms at the front of the book which are divided by the sections (again lace, cable, etc.) in which the technique is used. There is also a section on deciphering knitting patterns which I found useful when starting out on patterns that had more than a few changes in a row. All in all I found this to be a very useful and fun book, it's great to use on those left over odds and ends in your stash. If you don't want to make a complete afghan, I take my completed squares to be donated to Michael's. They have a little box you can drop your squares in, they take these squares and knit them together into blankets which are donated to Warming Up America, which helps homeless and low income families keep warm!