So you want to learn how to knit but where do you get started?

Not everyone has a friend or relative nearby to teach them and many areas don’t have local yarn stores.

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I have an entire learn to knit section here on NobleKnits. In addition, there are tons of how-to-knit videos on YouTube which is a great place to start. However, sometimes you want to have things written down so that you can reference them.

Like what’s a k2tog? Or how do I know what yarn and needles to buy for my first project? There are so many great knitting books available to help you learn to knit!

I’ve rounded up 10 of the best beginner knitting books to get you started.

#1. First Time Knitting: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Carri Hammett will give you knitting confidence even if you’ve never picked up sticks before. The step-by-step instructions will make it feel like you have a personal knitting instructor by your side.

The book also includes 8 simple projects to help you put your newfound skills to good use.

#2. Knitting Basics for Beginners

Author Katrina Gale promises to help you learn to knit like a pro in less than a week. The first few days of knitting will be frustrating, awkward, and uncomfortable but once you get past that learning curve, you’ll be on your way!

You’l learn the basics of knitting including how to hold the yarn, cast on, bind off, and foundation stitches such as knit stitch, purl stitch, increasing, and decreasing. Gale also covers common mistakes new knitters make and how to fix them - must-have knowledge for new knitters!

#3. Teach Yourself VISUALLY Knitting

If you learn faster by seeing and then doing, this book written by Sharon Turner is for you. It’s loaded with step-by-step photos and covers “basic knit and purl stitches and advance to bobbles, cables, lace, and fancy color work.” With everything you need to know to complete projects, you’ll be able to knit hats, sweaters, mittens, and socks.

#4. The Knitter’s Book of Knowledge: A Complete Guide to Essential Knitting Techniques

Knitting guru Debbie Bliss packs decades of knitting expertise into this must-have knitting reference book. This book is ideal for beginners and also provides boundless knowledge for experienced knitters.

From Amazon, “With information on everything from needles and yarns to tensioning and casting on, from basic stitches to buttonholes and beading, from cabling and entrelac to finishing embellishments” there’s handy information for knitters of all skill levels packed in this book.

#5. The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting

Written by yours truly along with Mary Ellen O’Connell, we packed this book full of skill building techniques and projects. It covers everything you need to get started such as what needles to buy, differences in yarns, and how to read a yarn label.

The book is setup to teach you to knit step-by-step in small easy-to-digest techniques with several projects after each to put your newfound skill to use. It’s packed with 30 projects such as small accessories and even garments!

You may also want to check out the learn to crochet version, The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting (check price on Amazon).

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#7. Knitting for Beginners

Nancy Gordon helps take the frustration out of learning to knit with this step-by-step guide. It’s packed with lots of clear instructions and illustrations to help visual learners with all of the basics.

The best part of this book though are the 11 beginner knitting hacks to help you learn faster and choose the right materials to get started.

#8. The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting: Everything You Need to Know to Start to Knit

By Sojo Books, this Complete Beginners Guide not only shows you how to knit, it also provides other helpful information such as how to read yarn labels, how to choose yarn colors, and what you need in your knitting bag.

In addition, there are lots of interesting and fun to knit project to inspire you to create.

#9. Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook

Author Debbie Stoller took the knitting world by storm when she wrote this book. Knitting is about bringing people together, being creative, and sharing that knowledge. Stoller shows you how to knit in ways that let you know this is not your grandma’s knitting.

The book teaches you all the basics and includes 40 patterns to help you apply your new-found skill with must try projects such as “Alien Scarf, Big Bad Baby Blanky, Mohair Hoodie, Kitty and Devil Hat, Cell Phone Cozy, and Wonder Woman Bikini.”

#10. Knitting (Idiot’s Guides)

There are Idiot’s Guides on just about every topic you can think of! This one, written by Meaghan Goodacre, will have you knitting in no time. The book is packed with hundreds of step-by-step photos to guide you. You’ll then be able to apply your skills with 20 fun and easy-to-knit projects.