Coveted Knitting Titles
Friday September 14, 2007
BookFinder.com recently released its lists of the most sought-after out-of-print books of the year, and three knitting titles made the top 10 in the crafts, hobbies and how to section:
What I really want to know is: Does anyone have these books? Did you get them before they were expensive or find someone selling them cheap? Or did you pay top dollar and you're glad you did? Is $200 too much to pay, even for a really great knitting book?
- Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt. No big surprise there; this huge book is considered a bible of knitting techniques and has been going for hundreds of dollars at Amazon and eBay.
- Alice Starmore's Aran Knitting. This one is also running about $200 on Amazon, and is a classic book on the history of Aran knitting, debunking the myths while sharing beautiful patterns.
- Knitting Lace: A Workshop with Patterns and Projects by Susanna Lewis. Another cherished guide to a popular knitting technique, this book is technical but useful for knitters of all skill levels. I've seen it going for as "little" as $200 or as much as $500.
What I really want to know is: Does anyone have these books? Did you get them before they were expensive or find someone selling them cheap? Or did you pay top dollar and you're glad you did? Is $200 too much to pay, even for a really great knitting book?
Comments
Hi, I have a copy of Aran Knitting, an exboyfried wooked at a copy center and copied the entire book from the library, thats pobably cheeting. I don’t ever plan to sell it becuase of copyright issues.
I have the Lewis book, and I did NOT pay $200 for it! I got it when it was regularly priced, used it a few times, and now it’s packed away somewhere with the rest of my books. I think I might have a fortune in those boxes!
I have the Hiatt and Lewis books, both bought when they were new. I use the Lewis book a lot, being primarily a laceknitter, and have never ever used the Hiatt book, except as a bookend. Heresy, I know, but I never took to her style, and found the information elsewhere or figured it out on my own.
I put a hold on the Starmore book at my local library a few months ago. It took a while to arrive and when I found out the price, I worried that it had been stolen, but they had it after all. It’s a beautiful book with some very nice sweater patterns, but I wouldn’t pay $200 for it.
I have 2 of the 3. I bought Aran Knitting when it was new for $40. I found Principles of Knitting remaindered for $25 (less than the recommended selling price) at Hamilton Books. Had I only known that people would go crazy over it, I would have bought 10 copies!!! I love the Starmore book but POK also leaves me cold. If I weren’t so lazy, I’d sell it. I keep telling my daughters that their inheritance is on my bookshelves
!
I have the Aran Knitting book and acquired it as a bonus item w/points I saved from my book club. I was quite astounded by the $200 price tag. It is a beautiful book and sadly, not in perfect condition, since my then puppy was also excited when this much waited for book arrived and he showed his appreciation by chewing an entire and very large corner off the back cover. Thankfully, he didn’t touch any of the pages. I remember crying when I saw the damage. The book had been in the house for only a few hours. Now - years later - I smile and remember the scene and my wonderful friend. I still love the book and have knit several sweaters from it - $200.00 you say? hmmm.
I bought Susanna Lewis’s book on Lace when it first came out . It is quite helpful as I do knit lace. When I saw that it was going for @ $300, I was quite surprised. I had to check my shelf to see if it was the same book. I never bought Hyiatt’s book as I had Mary Thomas’ and Stanley Montese’ book. Maybe one day they will be worth something.
What a thrill. I have the Lewis book, it is in perfect condition. I paid $25 for it many years ago, probably used it half a dozen times. I bless my Dad for teaching me to not damage books in the slightest.
Sigh. I had all 3, at one time. I developed a chronic pain condition, could no longer knit, and donated my extensive knitting, sewing, and quilting library to the local library. They might’ve kept some of the books to actually shelve, and probably sold the rest at the annual library, friends of, sale.
Now new meds have allowed me to knit again, after 15 years. When I went looking for a few old book friends, I almost fell out at what was OOP, and the prices for same. A bit painful.