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

This book is brilliant. When I knit a project, I want the cast on to be right for the garment in mind. Sometimes the cast on needs to be firm, like some top-down sweaters. Sometimes it needs to be stretchy, like in the ribbing for socks. Or maybe I want something decorative. Cap Sease provides an incredible array of techniques, with clear photos that show what the cast on or bind off looks like when done. Her clear instructions guide the knitter through every step, and excellent line drawings reinforce each step visually. Charts in the front of the book make it easy to narrow down the cast ons and bind offs to the project's needs. I wanted to find a good top-down sock cast on, and discovered there was a whole section just for socks. There is even a table that shows what cast-on and bind-off pairs will create matching edges The index is incredibly well done; it's thorough, with references listed many different ways. I highly recommend this book!

What a joy to have at my fingertips so many perfect ideas to start or end any piece of knitting. The illustrations are great, the explanations are thorough, and the book's organization of types of cast-ons and bind-offs is orderly. I actually hesitated to order it because of one review which was very worked up over lack of page numbering in the book. Since no other reviewer mentioned this, I decided to take the chance, and I'm so glad I did. One page in the beginning of the book lists the methods of casting on or binding off that you might find useful in any particular situation - from one or two techniques useful for one situation, to ten or even 20 in another. This is the page the reviewer was referring to, not the whole book, though I didn't realize it till I re-read it after receiving the book. There are no page numbers used in that chart, so you do have to look up the page in the index. I don't find that a nuisance myself since the index in the back is good, there are numbers there and on every page, and especially since I don't knit so fast that looking up page numbers uses up significant knitting time :) -- but everyone has different pet peeves. I just hope nobody else is unsure about ordering this because of difficulty in finding what you need, because there isn't any. WELL worth the money.

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")

Complete guide. Clear instructions. Multiple photographs and drawings.

Excellent book. Clear, well illustrated instructions. Internal spiral binding allows pages to lay flat.

たくさんの作り目や伏せ目が紹介されています。実際に使用する編み方は少ないかもしれませんが、日本の編み物の本ではこれほど特化した本は私は見たことがありません。少しずつ試し編みするだけでも長く楽しめそうです。

One of the best books about the most of the basics in knitting. Good chapter about cast on//cast off for socks. Clear instructions, good pictures. You really understand what is the best cast on//cast off for many projects. It should be in your personal library // Uno de los mejores libros que he encontrado sobre la técnica más básica en punto. Buenas ilustraciones y explicaciones. Realmente aprendes para qué tipo de proyecto tienes que utilizar un montado//cerrado de puntos. Muy útil el capítulo sobre montado y cerrado para calcetines

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.