Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting

This is a lovely and helpful book. I am a very experienced knitter, and have found this a useful reference book that even includes cast ons and bind offs I have never seen nor used before. The written directions are clear and for those of us who are visual learners, they are accompanied by very nice, (large) easily "read" illustrations. There is also a sharp photo of every technique which is easy to see and helps you to know if this is a cast-on or bind-off that would work for the project you are undertaking. (See images on the site). I have tried several of the techniques prior to writing this review just to be sure that the directions make sense and everything went smoothly.I particularly like the three tables at the beginning of the book. One gives a list of purposes for cast ons (and one for bind offs), so that if you are looking for a durable cast-on or an elastic bind off, you know which type to use. The third table is the best, because it lists cast ons and bind offs that will create matching edges (...And you have a choice of nine different types!)Although the book advertises (more than) 120 cast ons and (more than) 80 bind-offs, one should remember that it includes many variations on techniques along with cast ons/bind offs for very particular uses, so you should not expect 120 cast ons for every occasion. It is a strength that this book addresses particular needs (as well as general ones), for example circular cast ons, sock toe cast ons, two stranded knitting cast ons, decorative bind offs, etc.The book is spiral bound and large (pages are 8.5 by 11" (21 x 27.5cm)) so those that found the pictures unclear or too small in the book on 54 Cast Ons/Bind Off should be much happier. For me it is almost too large (I would like to carry a smaller version in my knitting bag, but also understand those that want the larger clearer illustrations.) The format is clean and very nice. Martingale Press has done a very nice job on the styling and printing of the book and the book can be opened from the front and the back without that problem of pages getting caught on the spirals. The index also seems to be quite thorough. You can look up cast ons/bind offs by name as well as function. (Elastic, lace bind offs, Judy's Magic cast on, reversible cast ons (etc.)Summary Pros:Lots of cast ons and bind offs.Clear instructions (both words and images)A photo for every primary technique.Sprial bound (such that book can be opened either way without leaves catching.)Tables for bind off/ cast on purposes and matching edges.Good index Cons:(Perhaps?) Too large to take along (for some). (8.5 x 11")

Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your KnittingCap SeaseMartingale, 2012162 pages, Craft ReferenceKindle, Hardcover (Spiral), PaperbackPurchased at the current price✭✭✭✭✭The cover is very attractive and tells you immediately that it’s a book about knitting with its two wooden knitting needles and the examples of knitting arranged in a grid. The examples are in different colors, so it’s colorful all set against a pristine white backdrop.The author is home taught, as in her grandmother taught her how to knit. That’s the best kind, but don’t feel bad if you learned in school or had to take classes in a yarn shop or a friend taught you. Any way you learned is valid as long as you learned, feel secure in your technique, and get good results. If you don’t feel you have either or both casting on or binding off nailed down or you’re looking for a different technique or edge, this is the book for you.Ms. Sease speaks in an easy to understand style that makes you feel as if you are sitting with her over tea and learning the techniques from her in person. She does start out with a few charts. First to list the types of cast ons, then the bind offs. Then she lists the pairs that go together to give you matching edges. I thought that would be a particularly helpful list for future projects.From the lists, she jumps right into how to do each of the cast ons and then each of the bind offs. She has them broken down into categories, such as those that start from a slip knot, long tail, and such. She shares the advantages and disadvantages of each and has very clear illustrations showing how each is done. I felt between her worded description of the stitches and the illustrations there wasn’t a technique I wouldn’t be able to do.I bought this book because I couldn’t find the stretchy bind off I needed on Pinterest for my current project and I really needed to get it off the needles. I found this book on Amazon at a reasonable price and downloaded it immediately. I skimmed through it looking for my stretchy bind off and finished my project. Then I went back and read through the whole book. I was so excited about bind offs when I finished. I want to try some of the fancier ones sometime. There are some really pretty ones that create picot, curled, or looped edges that I thought I’d like to try just for the fun of it. I highly recommend this book whether you are a beginning knitter or an expert knitter. Just imagine, 211 ways to start or stop!

When we first learn to knit, we typically learn one way to cast on. We keep using that same cast on, project after project, year after year. The same with bind offs. We use the same old one on every project.Then we run across a book like this - with hundreds of different ways to begin and end projects - some for socks with the stretchiness needed to get over the heel and the recovery needed to snug back up. Some for lace - so that the effect of the cast on blends into the pattern in the shawl. Some for sweaters with the sturdiness an edge needs that will get a lot of wear.This is a terrific book. The best way to use it, I think, is with needles and yarn in hand. The diagrams and instructions are clear, but sometimes, instructions don't click until you are actually doing the cast on or bind off. The book is spiral bound inside a hard cover. You can keep it in a knitting bag without the spiral catching your yarn, but at the same time, you can lay it open and it stays open so your hands can get on with what they are doing.

The title promises 211 ways to begin and end your project. I ordered the book since I wanted to have all in one place but I found out that I am often unable to work following instructions in this book and I rather go back to my notes and web sources.What I don't like about this book:- step-by-step drawings have no arrows to show direction of movements. You cannot guess what to do just following the pictures. You have to read and the text as well, every time, and it is slow.- I would prefer much deeper information about the individual COs and BOs. I wish the book included at least the "right" side and "wrong" side photos. It includes only the "right" side view. For example, if I use my favorite CO with stockinette, it curls more if I CO and purl the first row (WS) than if I CO and knit the first row (RS).I like the three tables at the beginning of the book. What I miss are the page references. Let's say I search for a CO that prevents curling. The table offers several ones but I have to look them up in the index at the end of the book to get their page numbers.I am not an experienced knitter but I really like to know how things work and I enjoy books that are well organized and are written by authors who have lots to say about the subject, technically. And if the book is to be an overview, a time-saver, then it should have really clear step-by-step drawings, be smaller in size and if spiral-bound then better quality so that you can turn pages easily. The layout could be more compact to save pages and arranged so that even if the book was smaller the drawings remained the same size.

This book was recommended through an online class I took and it's a must have for any knitters bookshelf. Ive had it for less than a week and already used it twice.The book is split into 2 sections; cast on and bind off, which is further split into different groups of these methods such as long-tail cast ons, decorative cast ons, sock cast ons etc.Each method is given the most common name for it, with further familiar names in italics below. They are well described with good illustrations and the author also gives suggestions for when you should use them and also provides the matching bind off.I'm sure I'll be using it for many years to come.

This really shows you a load of differnt ways of casting on and off. I have found this vital to exoand my repertoire for less stretchy wools, circular knitting etc. this book certainly does the job of explaining all your options very well. They are all shown in pictures and are very easy for a beginner to pick up, even if you leave off some of the more complex ones for a year or so. If you have ever finished a jumper and found it unwearable as the neck or bottom is too tight, then you need a book like this, and it is the best I have found so far. However, it doesnt inspire you beyond the basics much in the same way as Nicky Epsteins books on decorative edgings, and I wouldve liked an easier way of searching for edgings by flexibility etc, hence the four stars.In summary, a good solid book for an essential oart of the knitting process which is so often left out.

I know and use about 6 different cast ons. and about the same on my knitting machines but this book really opened my eyes.There are good clear illustrations.I have looked at this book on an e-reader and my Kindle Fire and I have to say the pictures and illustrations are clearer on the Kindle Fire.It showed a Picot hem but not the one I learnt on my knitting machine and do on my hand knitting - with a thinner yarn the same colour as the main yarn on the back of the picot hem. This means the picot hem does not kink upwards at front or back.

Bought this book on recommendation from an artisan knitwear designer because I like to add my own touches to my knitting and also I want to use a basic pattern and create my own designs this way. HavING looked through the book it is everything I hoped for and will become a close friend for my knitting. Instructions and photos etc clear and easy to understand.