So many great knitting books came out in 2008 that it was difficult to pick a generous couple of handfuls for this year-end retrospective, but here are the books I consider the best knitting books of 2008, listed alphabetically by the author's last name rather than ranked top to bottom.
Alt Fiber
Ten Speed Press
Learn more about the wonderful world of alternative and natural fibers and how you might use them (or even dye your own) in Shannon Okey's Alt Fiber. If you don't know a lot about the green movement in knitting this book will provide a good education as well as plenty of lovely patterns that show of these more eco-friendly fibers well.
Inspired to Knit
Interweave Books
If you've ever wondered how a designer comes up with his or her ideas, and how you might yourself go from a general idea about a color or a theme and come up with your own knitwear designs, this is a great book to check out. It may just get you to build your own vision boards and get you started looking at how patterns come together in a new way.
Free Range Knitter
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee actually had two new books in 2008 (also check out Things I Learned from Knitting), but I really enjoyed this one, all about knitters out in the world, what we can learn from each other and how important we are to each other's lives.
