Knitter Gifts: The Best New Knit Books of 2021

We are so lucky that many terrific new knit books come out every year. There are a plethora of great craft publishers who put out creative, original, educational new knitting books. Combined together, they provide a wealth of information, stitch techniques, patterns, and inspiration. If you’re looking for knitter gifts, then adding these knitting pattern books and stitch dictionaries under their tree is a great way to go.

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New How To Knit Books Including Specific Knitting Skills

If you’re a beginner how is just learning how to knit, then you’re going to want to make sure that you have the books that are geared just towards you. Of course, the knitting stitch dictionaries above will also be a great resource. But there are also some great new knitting books for people who are just learning the craft. Moreover, there are books for people who want to learn a specific niche of the craft in depth.

How to Knit: The only technique book you will ever need

If you are a brand new beginner to the craft then start here.

Guys Knit: The Instruction Manual: Techniques, Patterns, Video Links

Anyone can use this knitting book to learn how to knit. However, it’s specifically designed to attract male knitters and to break down some of the stereotypes people have about the fiber arts.

Adventure Cables: Brave New Stitch Crossings and 19 Patterns

This book specifically teaches you everything that you need to know about how to knit cables. Once you learn the instructions, you’ll be able to work with the 19 knit cable patterns included in the collection.

Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond: Your Definitive Guide to Creating Colorful, Lusciously Textured Knitwear

Brioche knitting allows you to create terrific texture and graphic design with vertical striping. This is a book for brioche beginners who want to learn all that they can about this knitting niche.

French Knitting: 40 fast and fun i-cord creations with a mini knitting mill

Learn how to use a mini knitting mill to make iCord knits. But guess what? Even if you don’t have one of these fun little machines, you can still use all of the patterns in this book worked with traditional knitting methods. Have fun trying new things.

Nordic, Norwegian, Scandinavian, and Fair Isle Knit Books

It’s easy to get confused about the similarities and differences between these types of knitting. Generally speaking, Scandinavia refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Nordic is a broader term that includes these places as well as Finland, Iceland, and associated territories such as Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

When it comes to knitting, there’s actually a specific knitting technique called Norwegian knitting. But sometimes people simply refer to the pattern style as Norwegian (or Nordic, or Scandinavian). Fair Isle is also related to this knitting pattern style. IT comes from the Shetland Islands, which isn’t technically a Nordic country, but does have Nordic roots.

So, here are the new knitting books that embrace the color work and pattern style typically associated with Nordic, Norwegian, Scandinavian, and Fair Isle knitting.

The Nordic Knitting Primer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Scandinavian Colorwork

Start here if you want to get to know about this region’s knit colorwork. There are patterns for beginners and advanced knitters. Likewise, you’ll find designs for children as well as adults.

Knit Like A Norwegian: 30 Stunning Patterns from Scandinavia’s Top Designers

One of the best ways to learn a knitting style is to get inspiration from a range of different designers’ interpretations of that style. This is one of the new knitting books that will allow you to do that.

Knits from Northern Lands: 20 projects inspired by traditional knitting techniques from the Scottish Isles to Scandinavia

There are so many new knitting books inspired by this part of the world right now!

Knits from Around Norway: Over 40 Traditional Knitting Patterns Inspired by Norwegian Folk-Art Collections

The Amazon description includes: “With her trademark attention to detail and patience for painstaking reproduction of knitted patterns, based on archival photographs and examples preserved in museum collections, Nina guides readers through the history and origins of each design, in a fascinating step-by-step tour of Norwegian knitting tradition no knitter should be without.”

Handknits from Rauma, Norway: 30 New Takes on Traditional Norwegian Designs

Rauma Garn is a Norwegian Yarn Company founded in the 1920’s. Author Bente Presterud went through their archive of patterns to come up with the designs for this book. Lots of unique colorwork patterns.

Norwegian Mittens and Gloves: Over 25 Classic Designs for Warm Fingers and Stylish Hands

The title pretty much says it all. If you like to knit mittens then this collection will inspire you.

Knitting from Fair Isle: 15 contemporary designs inspired by tradition

Per the description on Amazon: “The book includes fisherman jumpers with high, crew and slash necks, a poncho, neck warmer, cowl and long scarf, fingerless gloves and hand and wrist warmers, as well as the traditional fisherman’s hats known as keps.”

Maja’s Swedish Socks: Over 35 Imaginative Patterns to Knit

If you love Swedish prints and knitting socks then this is one of the best new knitting books for you.

Jorid Linvik’s Big Book of Knitted Mittens: 45 Distinctive Scandinavian Patterns

If mittens are more your thing then this is the Scandinavian knit pattern book for you.

Icelandic Mittens: 25 Traditional Patterns Reimagined

Here’s another one of the new knitting books all about mittens. It’s always interesting to see traditional, classic designs updated with new yarns and color choices.

Selbu Patterns

The subtitle on this one says it all: “Discover the Rich History of a Norwegian Knitting Tradition with Over 400 Charts and Classic Designs for Socks, Hats, and Sweaters.” So if you’re looking for unique sweater design books, this might be on your radar.

Nordic Knits for Children

Some of the designs in this book are for little kids – ages 3-6. Others are for ages 7-9. And some of them are designed for all of those ages. You’ll find hats and scarves, dresses and sweaters in these pages.

Sweater Design Books and Other Garment / Accessories Knitting Pattern Books

Do you enjoy knitting things to wear? Some people love sweater design books. Others are looking for knitting pattern books filled with different accessories. Whether it’s hats and mittens or sweaters and socks, these are the new knitting books to add to your shelves:

Texture: 20 Timeless Garments Exploring Knit, Yarn and Stitch

What’s more fun than exploring how yarn and stitches can come together to create different textures. This book explores that while giving you patterns to make scarves, vests, gloves, and sweaters. The designs and their texture were inspired by the city, country, and coastal landscapes, all of which is reflected in the beautiful photography that makes this not only a great knitting book but a good coffee table book as well.

Vogue® Knitting Lace: 40 Bold & Delicate Knits

Here are more than three dozen designs curated from the pages of Vogue Knitting magazine. If you love lace knitting than this is one of the new knitting books you’ll want to get your hands on.

Top-Down Colorwork Knit Sweaters and Accessories: 27 Patterns for Women and Men

Fourteen of this book’s patterns are top-down, seamless, yoke pullover sweaters. Therefore, if you’re seeking sweater design books for knitter gifts this year, then head to this one. These designs will keep you cozy and stylish. The rest of the book’s patterns apply the same basic knitting techniques to accessories that you can wear with the sweaters or on their own.

Summer Knitting: 26 Projects for Warm Weather Crafting

Knitting, of course, isn’t just about sweaters. You can make beautiful, lightweight summer garments as well. This collection has shirts (including a Hawaiian shirt) as well as accessories for home and body.

Easy Knits for Beautiful Yarns: 21 Shawls, Hats, Sweaters & More Designed to Showcase Special Yarns

If you have been looking for an excuse to use your luxury yarns, then this is one of the best new knitting books for you. The simple knit patterns are designed specifically to showcase beautiful, special yarns.

Knit Happy with Self-Striping Yarn: Bright, Fun and Colorful Sweaters and Accessories Made Easy

Knit colorful sweaters, mittens and more with the self-striping yarn patterns in this collection.

Small Knits: Casual & Chic Japanese-Style Accessories (19 Projects + variations)

Knit a variety of different accessories with the patterns in this book. Instructions include Japanese symbol charts as well as diagrams.

Knitted Shawls

This looks like it’s going to be one of the most interesting new knitting books of 2021. On the one hand, it’s a collection of more than two dozen knit shawl patterns. However, it’s also a guide to learning how to knit, with shawls as your projects because gauge is less important than with other wearables. And it also includes information about the health benefits of knitting.

Knitter’s Guide to Shawl Design

In this Kindle book, author Emma Vining uses the shawl to teach you about how to design your own knits. The book covers shawl shapes and knitting techniques. More importantly, it discusses how to adapt and customize designs as you learn to create your own original knits.

Knitted Animal Hats: 35 designs from the animal kingdom for babies, kids, and teens

How cute are these animal hats? You can knit one for everyone you know, for holidays and special occasions or just for fun.

Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead: Styles for the Whole Family

If you’re looking for more classic knit hat patterns for the whole family then this might be the book for you.

10 Quick Knit Beanies & Slouchy Hats

There are always great new knit hat patterns to choose from. Therefore, here’s another of the new knitting books in that vein.

Big Book of Baby Knits: 50+ Garment and Accessory Patterns

Do you enjoy knitting for babies. If so, then this is one of the new knitting books you’ll want to get your hands on.

52 Weeks of Socks: Beautiful patterns for year-round knitting

Challenge yourself to knit a new pair of socks every week for one year. Or just turn to this book whenever you get the urge to knit socks and need a new pattern at your fingertips.

Knit Soxx for Everyone: 25 Colorful Sock Patterns for the Whole Family

If you love to knit socks then you’ll be pleased to know there are several new knitting books dedicated to patterns for you. This one has patterns in all sizes.

The Sock Knitting Bible

If you’re new to knitting socks, then you might want to check out Lynne Rowe’s book. This is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to knitting socks.

Knit 2 Socks in 1: The Easiest Method Ever for Knitting Two Socks at Once

This is a unique approach to sock knitting. You essentially make one long knit sock then split it into a pair. Learn how from the book which has 20+ knit sock designs in addition to the instructions.

Knitted Gifts for All Seasons: Easy Projects to Make and Share

This book has a combination of wearables and home decor items. What ties the projects together is that they are quick and easy knits that make good gifts for a variety of different people in your life.

Knitter Gift Ideas: Blanket Knitting Books

Many knitters love crafting blankets. You can use these new knit books to make blankets of all sizes. Therefore, they’re among the top knitter gift ideas for 2021.

Geometric Knit Blankets: 30 Innovative and Fun-to-Knit Designs

The designs in this book are inspired by tiles, quilt patterns, and other graphic geometric prints.

Knitted Baby Blankets & Cuddle Bags: Over 50 Designs to Make and Share

Baby blankets are always cute gifts for little ones. Moreover, they’re great to donate to charities. That’s why this is one of the best knitter gifts as far as books go.

Knitting Books for Making Toys

So often we see books for amigurumi crochet toys. However, knitters can make toys, too! If that sounds like fun to you then check out these new knitting books. As far as knitter gifts go, in can be fun to make toys for knitters who themselves usually make blankets or wearables. Gift them something different.

Adorable Knitted Animals: Cute Stuffed Toys to Knit the Japanese Way

There are more than two dozen different knit animal pattern in this book. They are designed as cuddly stuffies.

20 to Knit: Dressed Up Bears

Make a group of cuddly stuffed bears. They are dressed for various professions and hobbies including a firefighter, an astronaut, and a judo bear. Therefore, these are great for kids who are learning and dreaming about what they might want to be when they grow up.

Knitted Space

Create a collection of space-inspired toys for kids to play with using your knitting skills and these patterns.

Arne & Carlos’ Field Guide to Knitted Birds: Over 40 Handmade Projects to Liven Up Your Roost

These knitted birds are humorous toys. However, they’re also perfect for bird lovers. Have fun crafting them and delight in gifting them. If you’ve been looking for knitter gift ideas, both the book and the things you yourself make using it are great options.

New Novels, Memoirs and Knitting History Books

Knitting is such a popular pastime that it shows up in a variety of different types of books. Novels, particularly mysteries, often have knitting in the plot. Moreover, there are some really interesting new knitting books that explore the history of the craft. These are really special knitter gifts because they honor what the knitter loves.

This Golden Fleece: A Journey Through Britain’s Knitted History

This is a non-fiction book that combines memoir with history through the exploration of a year of knitting while traveling the British Isles. The author explores the history of wool in this area. According to the Amazon description:

“This Golden Fleece is at once a meditation on the craft and history of knitting, and a fascinating exploration of wool’s influence on our landscape, history and culture.“

Unravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey

This is a similar type of book as the one featured above except that it’s about Canada instead of the British Isles. Author “Sylvia Olsen married into the Tsartlip First Nation near Victoria, BC, and developed relationships with Coast Salish knitters through her family’s sweater shop.” She did a cross-country trip exploring different cultures and their experiences with knitting, writing about the similarities and differences.

Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool

This is the new book from Clara Parkes, author of Knitlandia. It is a memoir of the process of turning fleece into yarn.

Unraveled

This children’s book looks adorable. It’s about a knit blanket that a child loves. When it becomes unraveled, he’s upset. But then his mother knits him something new out of the yarn. Want to instill a love of knitting in children from a young age? This book seems like a good way to start.

If You Want to Knit Some Mittens

Here’s another cute kids knit book, described in part on Amazon: “In this playful story, a girl follows 18 steps to knit mittens–from bringing home a sheep to carding, spinning, and dyeing the wool to knitting the mittens.”

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl

Carina Adores is an LGBTQ+ friendly set of love stories. In this one, a pregnant woman finds love and support in a knitting group.

On Skein of Death (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)

In this novel, a yarn shop owner works to solve a mystery when someone is murdered with one of her yarn skeins.

Purled and Poisoned: (A Humorous & Heart-warming Cozy Mystery)

The plot according to Amazon includes: “The Serial Knitters and Happy Hookers in the store’s Craft for Calmness group have been busy creating booties and baby blankets for a christening fit for a prince. But when I stumble onto the little prince’s fatally poisoned mother, a right royal mess ensues.” This book is part of the Knitty Kitties Mystery series, which also includes Knitted and Knifed: A Humorous & Heart-warming Cozy Mystery.

And Other New 2021 Knitting Books

Here are a few unique knitting books that don’t quite fall into any simple category. That’s what makes them special.

Contemplative Knitting

This book is all about knitting as a spiritual practice. It explores daily knitting as a form of prayer. Moreover, it looks at how knitting connects communities.

Sustainable Knitting for Beginners and Beyond: 20 Patterns for Environmentally Friendly Knits

Knitting is a slow fashion antidote to fast fashion, making it a sustainable craft. However, there are many things you can do to make your knitting even more eco-friendly. This book provides information about sourcing eco-friendly yarns, keeping your yarn footprint low, and knitting with sustainability in mind.

Viking Knits and Ancient Ornaments: Interlace Patterns from Around the World in Modern Knitwear

This is a really unique book specifically about interlace motifs in knitting. According to Amazon, this book has “Dozens of different sources of inspiration, catalogued and placed within their cultural and historical context, from all around the world.” The book came out as a hardcover in 2014 and then a paperback a couple of years ago. However, new in 2021, it’s available on Kindle.

Wardrobe Embroidery: Knit & Embroidery Projects for Upcycling Clothes

This is an intriguing book. On the one hand, it’s a guide to upcycling your clothing using embroidery. However, it also contains nine knitting patterns, all of which also make great base projects for embroidering on. Therefore, if you love both embroidery and knitting then this is one of 2021’s new knitting books to order today.

Star Wars Knitting the Galaxy

This book has Star Wars inspired patterns for toys, costumes, garments and more. See our full book review here. Tanis Gray also has a new book out this year called Knitting with Disney: 28 Official Patterns Inspired by Mickey Mouse, The Little Mermaid, and More!

Chic & Simple Chunky Knits: For Arm Knitting, Needles & Crochet

This book is unique in that it has patterns for both knitting and crochet. Moreover, the knitting patterns include patterns for needle knitting as well as arm knitting. What ties it all together is that you get the chance to use beautiful bulky yarn to create cozy accessories and blankets using these 23 patterns.

EZ Knitting: Knitting Without Needles-Easy to Learn, Fast and Fun, No Tools Needed!

This book is specifically about how to use one unique yarn: Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ. This is a bulky yarn that requires no knitting needles to pull loop through loop and craft a variety of items.

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