Stitch ‘n Bitch Superstar Knitting

Stitch ‘n Bitch Superstar Knitting by Debbie Stoller Stoller returns with her fifth Stitch ‘n Bitch book, this time featuring advanced techniques. The whole first half of the book delves into advanced techniques, including what they are and tips for making them look better and how to fix mistakes. Techniques covered include intarsia, stranded color work, cables, lace, short rows, beads, embroidery and steeks, as well as how to design your own sweater. All of these topics are covered with Stoller’s typical clear writing and funky sense of humor, accompanied with line drawings (and hands wearing the familiar scuffed black nail polish.) The second half features the fashion-forward knitting patterns that Stitch ‘n Bitch books are known for, modeled on a multi-ethnic crew. The patterns are divided up by technique, and make me mourn again the extremely limited knitting time I have at present – though there are no difficulty ratings, adding in all of that colorwork, cables, and beading adds time on to knitting. Most of the patterns are for women’s garments, with a few bags and kids’ sweaters thrown in. Some of my favorites include the famous Gretel tam, the leaf-bordered Leafy Lace cardigan, the squirrely mittens (yay Elli!), the cabled thigh-highs called Saxon the City, and the intarsia and embroidery flowered bag called In Bloom. Hopefully in the not-to-distant future I’ll be able to knit enough to feel like colorwork or adult-sized sweaters are possible. In the meantime, I’ll store away the tips and pass the title on to those knitting friends who might just want to know how to calculate the curve of a sleeve top on a fitted sweater, or make their intarsia come out pretty.