Knitting from the Top

by Barbara G. Walker

Book by Barbara G. Walker

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Reference, Nonfiction, How To

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Barbara Walker studied journalism at the University of Pennsylvania and then took a reporting job at the Washington Star in DC. During her work as a reporter, she became increasingly interested in feminism and women's issues.

Her writing career has been split between knitting instruction books, produced in the late 1960s through the mid-80s; and women's studies and mythology books, produced from the 1980s through the early 21st C.

Reviews

[penny shima glanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Walker writes with a clarity and humor that had me turning pages and feeling that she was sitting across from me and teaching me to knit as I wish my mother had been able to (mom can crochet, not knit). The lessons are sensible and practical and as Walker has said it best "There is a purpose behind this... the purpose is to teach you not just what to do, but why to do it".

Personally I don't always like knitting from patterns that tell me exactly what yarn and needles to use, which of the various cast-on methods to use, and spelling out each and every step of the way. I don't abhor hand holding patterns and more often than not knit them, but I also want to be able to just knit a sweater and have it fit with minimal fuss and intervention between the needles and yarn. Walker generously gives those lessons.

Now if she could only teach me how to warp space/time so I could finish my husband's top-down, vneck, set-in sleeve, hemmed, and dk-weight birthday sweater before it's due!

[Lisa Tollefson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. She goes through each basic shape and style, and includes how to do various necks, front closures, and variations.

I enjoy the math of knitting, but I know that many people actively block their ability to understand it, even though most of them instinctively do it anyway. She lays out how to do the math in the best style of word problems - the kind that have it make sense.

The math basics are repeated in each chapter, in case the reader jumps around, but she refers to previous chapters for some instructions. For example, to make a sweater with set in sleeves, read the chapter on making a sleeveless sweater, then add in the sleeves.

My only complaint is that at the time she wrote this, nobody was talking about the magic loop method, which makes it all so very much easier, as you can do both sleeves at once. But if you use that method, it's easy enough to ignore all that about moving from one length circular needle to another, ending with dpns.

This is a very useful book to have in your library. It gives the structure from which you can embellish with any stitch pattern. And starting at the top makes so much sense. So does knitting in the round.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm not a fan of Ms. Walker's projects per se (her color choices and patterns seem to not be my own style) but her methodology is genius...

the techniques she teaches make much sense with regards to ease of construction, repair of the used-garments, and also saving money and wasted yarn..

a must-have for a full-time knitter...

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are definitely some dated aspects (knitted pants? Seriously?) but this book really helped me understand the structure of different types of sweaters, and the tips in the last chapter are worth the price of admission.
I would say that this is good for an advanced beginner or maybe intermediate knitter. I have made one sweater and one pair of socks (and read a lot about both garments) and I think I would not have understood it without some experience with shaping under my belt.

[Dawn]

Tons of information (sometimes a tiny bit rambling) about knitting tops, pants, skirts and hats from the top down. Required reading for class.

[yoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I would like to own. She is a knot advocate, which makes me distinctly uncomfortable, but I like how she's grouped the patterns by basic construction and than variations at the end. I'm going to try the top down sleeve construction on my purple jacket because the sheer amount of math required to figure out all of the sleeve cap decreases makes me want to cry. I've got all the other decreases figured out and I can just read my notes backwards substituting increases for decreases. Cross your fingers and hope it works!

[Ann Johnson Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definative book on top down knitting. Classic. No "patterns" but is a how to do whatever you want. Teaches you skills and theory, and sets you free to do your own thing. Every bit as good as her stitch dictionaries. There's a reason she's revered as a knitting guru.

[Amberjean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, clearly written, non-cookbook stuff. Really, though, all the stars? Those are because there is a clear formula for set in circular sleeves from the top down--which means I never have to sew in another sleeve. That's worth a few stars!

[Marie]

This is the technical resource for knitting garments from the top down. It's not glitzy or pretty but it will walk you through the math to make pretty much anything you want from the top down.
A good reference book to own.

[Ilyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very useful, a great addition to any knitter's library. I would wonder if it's a little dated, but her explanations are so clear, and applicable to making all kinds of sweaters and socks, that I think this will stay a classic.

[BookMouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK book. There are SO many knitting books out there. Some good instruction, and some OK patterns. Get it from the library before buying it.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great techniques in knitting from the top down.

[Castiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The top-down construction information is extremely handy, though the tip I've used the most is her version of the provisional cast-on.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

good directions on knitting from the top down

[Martha]

"need to own" if you knit sweaters

[DD T · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the sweaters I knit are from the top. Gives me a much more flexible sweater that doesn't bind in any place :D

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to make lots of sweaters from the top down. Loved them. Good book but haven't tried any of the patterns yet.

[Rosemary Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The instructions in Knitting From the Top are extremely clear. I don't enjoy sewing seams so I think this is a great way to knit.

[Maylin]

haven't read it yet but it is there for reference whenever I need it. Barbara Walker was a knitting pioneer :)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that Ive read it, I need to try some sweaters.