Stitch 'n Bitch: the Knitter's Handbook
Learn to twirl sticks with this comprehensive book
By Jen Hazen
Published: December 9th, 2003 | 11:35am
I'm a pro at bitching, that's for sure. Everyday occurrences such as traffic jams, or Mr. Grumpers at the grocery store quickly turn me into Ol' Yeller with two heads. In an attempt to summon some positive chi in my life, I bought a book called Stitch 'n Bitch: the Knitter's Handbook. After all, knitting is soothing and cathartic, right? Well, I'm not floating in the lotus position right now, but I've mastered basic knitting techniques pretty quickly while lowering my blood pressure, thanks to this excellent resource.
Stitch 'n Bitch is brought to us by Debbie Stoller, Editor-in-Chief / Publisher of BUST Magazine. This book is intended for the absolute beginner who knows little about knitting, yet it also provides a variety of fun patterns and resources that will interest accomplished knitters. A few years ago, Stoller picked up her sticks and started a new wave of knitters across the globe by co-founding a knitting group concept called Stitch 'n Bitch. The rest is knitting herstory and now it's time for you to join the party!
Stitch 'n Bitch: the Knitter's Handbook initiates the reader into the world of stitch bitchery by providing a thorough, yet understandable, section called ‘Tools of the Trade'. Concise descriptions of each tool, cute diagrams and photos, as well as hand-drawn illustrations take the guess work out of items to purchase from the craft store. Furthermore, Stoller dispels the confusion surrounding knitting needle sizes (US vs. metric). After all, purchasing needles shouldn't create flashbacks of mathematical story problems in grade school.
In the following sections of the book, Stoller gets right to the knitty-gritty of casting on, creating various stitches, and binding off your work. Detailed instructions are accompanied by numbered illustrations to make the first wobbly steps of knitting a little bit easier. Luckily, instructions read like their spoken from a friend, with little jokes along the way; otherwise, my bitchy self would've chucked those sticks across the room a few times. Okay, I did that once when my boyfriend looked at my first attempt at knitting and said, "That's some kind of knot, but it doesn't look right." Grrr, positive chi. Thankfully, the book also includes a section entitled, 'The Stitch Doctor's Guide to Fixing Mistakes.'
Stoller is also kind enough to insert projects throughout the book for knitters of all levels. For instance, my first project was a simple swatch of knit and purl stitches that resembles a washcloth, i.e. a mangled mass of intestines with some holes. Projects created by seasoned Stitch n' Bitchers are presented in a 31-page glossy, color photo spread just when you need that motivation to keep the sticks clickin'. Scarves, cell phone cozys, purses, wristbands, even a bikini, are showcased like dangling carrots, beckoning you to keep practicing your newbie knitting skills.
A quick reference on each page of eye candy directs you to the 'Stitch 'n Bitch Patterns' section in the back of the book, complete with pattern instructions, diagrams, and biographies of the creators. Be warned that the pattern's instructions look like corporate acronym hell, yet Stoller graciously includes a section entitled, 'How to Read a Knitting Pattern'. After all, your knitting projects in the pipeline are value-added, so get to work ASAP.
I must mention the section entitled, 'A Loosely Knit Group', which discusses Stoller's brainchild, known as the Stitch 'n Bitch group. She fondly describes the sense of gratification that she and others derive from making a predominantly solitary craft into a community of stitchers. Seasoned knitters can teach newcomers, patterns can be swapped, and ideas can be shared. Stoller formed a group in New York City simply by picking a café as a meeting place and sending emails to a list of friends. The book explains that anyone can start a Stitch 'n Bitch group and Stoller backs up her word by giving you the resources and details needed to do so. As if this isn't enough, she concludes the book with a directory of yarn shops throughout the U.S. and Canada, so that you can easily find a supply store near you.
If you must learn to knit all by your lonesome, then Stitch n Bitch: the Knitter's Handbook is the one-stop resource for you. It's better to get the book and learn with a friend, so that you can talk each other through the steps, and swear at one another when you can't figure out the purl stitch because it's confusing. Really, I'm kidding. However, it is true that knitting is contagious and if you tell enough friends about your new lover named knitting, you just may have the ammo to start a Stitch 'n Bitch group of your own.
Issue #35
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