Craft Talkin' Book Review: Circular Knitting for Beginners and Beyond by Kate Atherley
As a knitting teacher, one of the things I am asked all the time is "what is circular knitting?" and "how can I knit in the round?" During my years at LoveCrafts as Craft Editor, I had the delight of working with the fabulous Kate Atherley on lots of occasions, she often wrote excellent content for our blog, or she spent time with junior knitwear designers, teaching them how to draft patterns, and quite simply, she is the pattern guru we all adore! There's nothing she doesn't know about knitting, and she is blessed with the skills that enable her to communicate her expertise in a very digestible, accessible way. In short - if you want to know about circular knitting, she's the perfect teacher!
Circular Knitting for Beginners & Beyond is the perfect place to start on your knitting in the round journey. When you're used to using two needles for knitting, suddenly to have those needles connected by a wire is quite daunting, so it begins with a handy section all about the different kind of circular needles that are available. I love the fact that Kate includes information about different lengths - because if your needles are too long, it makes life harder unless you are using the thrilling magic loop method. She also introduces the concept of double pointed needles - and these are fine for small apertures, but no good for the body of a sweater, for example - and these are facts that knitters new to circular knitting need to know!
Kate then covers the all important difference between using circular needles for knitting back and forth, flat, (ideal for cardigans or blankets) and working fully in the round, which she refers to in the book as "full circumference". The essential guide to casting on is illustrated so well - when you cast on in the round, it is so important not to twist your stitches, and Kate covers this with clear photography alongside how to join your work, how to hold your work, and what to do if you turn your work inside out. These are the cornerstones of circular knitting, and the things that every knitter needs to learn before they start. There is also a great section on how to work small apertures, such as socks, sleeves, and toys.
What I love, as this book unfolds, are the sections that include how to manage pitfalls and common problems, how to avoid or fix ladders, different cast ons, different cast offs, blocking, sewing in ends, and more. Then a section on colourwork, including stripes, garments in the round, bottom up and top down - and then a glorious section of projects that begin with simple cowls right through to socks and colourwork mittens. This is such a comprehensive book, and so helpful for anyone wanting to learn to knit with circular needles.
It's a 10/10 from me!
Merion x
Keen to follow Merion's advice and try circular knitting for yourself? Pre-order Circular Knitting For Beginners & Beyond today at the link here!
