A Treasury of Knitting Patterns

Good price and excellent condition. Very reasonable shipping charge. Would buy from this business again.

Barbara Walker is the Queen of Knitting! I went through this book and methodically made each and every pattern. It took a long time but, by the end of the book, I had mastered them all! I sewed all the samples together and made a cute blanket to showcase my hard work. This book (all her books) should be in every serious knitters library.

I'm a fairly new knitter but I love to try new stitches. This is invaluable as I can better understand what goes into the rows to create the patterns. This book has sections on everything you could want as far as patterns go.

This is an excellent book for beginning knitters who already know how to knit, purl, and cast on/off. If you know these basics, you can figure out the more complicated stitches that are described in the introduction. There is a wealth of different patterns. Lace, knit/purl combinations, edgings, panel cables, cable patterns, as well as basics like brioche and herringbone.The shorthand used for writing the patterns is easily learned and, well, just makes sense. I have encountered different ways of writing patterns (such as grids) but I always prefer Walker's shorthand. The pictures themselves are black and white and generally detailed enough to get the gist of what the pattern looks like, however, some are a bit fuzzy or simply zoomed out too much (most of them are ok though).I have had the 2cd treasury for many years now and I think there are quite a few patterns that appear in both books. The 2cd treasury has more patterns overall, and I think, a more comprehensive lace section. However, the 1st treasury seems to have more of the basic stitches that are extremely handy if you want to knit a plain-looking garment, but perhaps you want it thicker, thinner, fluffier, denser, sturdier, or non-stretchy. Knowing different basic stitches allows you to control these variables.Either could be quite serviceable by themselves as a general pattern book - but I just had to have both!Also, please realize that this book is simply a pattern book for making knitted fabrics. It does not describe how to actually create a complicated garment such as a sweater or pair of gloves.

I've used this stitch dictionary for years, its a constant inspiration when designing socks, sweaters ... anything knitted. Of the 4 books in the series, this one is by far the best.

I wrote a review for Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns and would like to add more of my comments about this scholarly knitting trilogy. Previously, I had commented that only professional knitters really needed to own these books, but I am beginning to rethink that position. I was attempting to teach myself "linen stitch" which is a simple slip stitch pattern recommended for knitting with chenille to keep it from biasing and "worming" (loops of yarn coming out all over the place). I attempted to follow the directions in "Knitting with Novelty Yarns". After wrestling all evening and failing, I went to bed with a headache. In the morning it occurred to me that I could look up the pattern in Barbara Walker's Treasuries. I found it (under a totally different name) and discovered that a crucial "P1" had been left out of the directions! Probably a typo, but still! I now have more respect for the Treasuries and for the unbelievable amount of scholarly work and patience that went into compiling all those patterns. Just the proof-reading alone for accuracy must have taken years! I think that if you are at an intermediate level and are interested in learning new techniques and stitch patterns, you really should own Walker's Treasuries. There is nothing available like them - they are the knitter's Encyclopedia. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five is that, unfortunately, the photographs that accompany the patterns are small, poorly done black-and-white, very difficult to see anything, very dated. What a shame that the books could not be reprinted with updated photos - but what a job that would be!

The book arrived one day before it was scheduled to arrive, and the conditions were even better than how they were described. The book itself...what to say other than it is the BEST book on knitting stiches I have ever had! And I have many! Now I know why it has become a classic. After reading several reviews on the poor quality of the pictures in the newer editions of this book, I decided to buy the first edition, and I am very impressed with the quality of the black/white pictures; they show the stitch definition very clearly. Even if one doesn't use many of the patterns in the book, it is a feast for you eyes, when you see the many knitting possibilities--I never get tired of looking at the knitting patterns! The instructions are also very clear and easy to follow--I don't do well with charts, so I am glad this book (as well as the Second Treasury I also own) has written instructions, rather than charts. I especially appreciate the very useful comments on some of the patterns. (The ultimate would be to have pictures of the reverse side of each pattern!!!) I am so glad I was able to get this out-of-print book!lagirandola

Of the 4 Barbara Walker knitting pattern books, the first 2 are my go-to books, and invaluable. I knit a lot of socks, and with this book, I can take a plain sock pattern and plug in stitches from this book to make lovely custom socks. Clear pictures and stitch instructions from a master knitter.

All of these Barbara Walkers books are in my opinion a must for every knitting designer and/or knitting enthusiasts.Not that you necessary need to use the patterns as is, but as a pleased inspiration. Browse the books and your next project starts to take form in your mind.I love them all four in this collection.

A knitting enthusiast’s bible. Expensive but good.

One of the best collection of knitting patterns ever. While there are no chards the stitch description is good and simple so that it is easy to follow

Good value

Full of fantastic patterns from simple to downright complicated, i was spoilt for choice when I received this book and am frantically knitting sample squares all over the place!