-
Preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, this copy of The National Society's Instructions on Needlework and Knitting was the first British published guide on knitting. Children at the time were educated in knitting as a way of escaping poverty. They would have been shown how to knit and sew by a teacher using the book as a guide. At this time, no knitting abbreviations were standardized. I wonder if I would be able to make this tiny stocking? -
This book redefined knitting for pleasure in the English-speaking world. There is no avid knitter who doesn't know about Elizabeth Zimmerman or the Baby Surprise Jacket. Not intended for children, but this belongs on any knitting timeline. -
Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick is one of my favorite knitting books for children. This title, intended for children grades 3 to 6, has everything a child would need to get started. I especially like that the book encourages kids to practice dying yarn with Kool Aid, making their own knitting needles, reaching out to local knitting and craft organizations for help, and practice with two different colored needles before tackling bigger projects. There's a reason this book is still in print. -
This book, intended for ages 8 and up, starts off vaguely and goes directly into projects kids will struggle with. Mittens for a beginning knitter are far too complicated. This is in our collection and worth considering for withdrawal during our next weed. There are far better options. -
This book has not aged well. I would not be surprised if it was a reprint, or using photographs from the 1990s. I cannot find an older edition, though. Despite the dated photos, the instructions are clear. This is recommended for grades 4-6. -
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's famous blog and subsequent books took over the knitting world in the early 2000s. -
Kids Learn to Knit by Lucinda Guy and François Hall is by far the easiest of the books I looked at for this project and the one I would most recommend for a child learning to knit. Recommended for grades 3-4. this book has charming illustrations that are nonetheless highly detailed. The book has clear instructions for each step of the learning process, and unlike most books, the beginner projects included actually are for beginners, requiring only the most basic stitches to complete. -
This is a bright, cheerful book with simple projects, designed for crafters about age 9 to 12. -
This book, intended for a slightly older audience of ages 12-16, is a simple, beautiful volume filled with projects a middle school and high school creator would actually want to make. On top of that, the projects are simple enough to be completed easily by a new knitter. -
Susan B. Anderson is a prolific knitwear designer. This how-to guide comes from someone who truly knits and understands the process, which is not always the case! This book is intended for ages 9 to 12. Since this is a knitting book made by an established designer, the abbreviations, patterns, and other elements will be very similar to more complex patterns a young knitter may decide to work on when they feel more confident. -
This book is a bright, cheerful guide for middle grade crafters. I especially like the projects they chose, which are fun, easy, and with heavy gauge-yarn easy to hold for small hands. -
Loom knitting is knitting! Klutz guides are some of the best, and while they aren't always the easiest to circulate at a library, they would be great for a circulating kit, Makerspace, or Library of Things. This book kit is recommended for ages 6 to 12, but personally, I would recommend 8 to 12 unless the child is particularly interested in crafts. The dexterity this requires can be a bit overwhelming otherwise.