The fleece & fiber sourcebook : more than 200 fibers from animal to spun yarn by Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius — Have you ever wondered about the differences between various kinds of yarn? How is Merino defined, and what are the different types? What are all the animals from which fiber can be collected? What exactly is Cheviot? This book explains all that and much more. Large photographs make the illustrations quite clear and the background information for each type of animal and fiber is detailed and of interest to all fiber enthusiasts.

60 quick baby knits : blankets, booties, sweaters & more in Cascade 220 Superwash — Handknit clothing and items make excellent baby gifts. This book is a compilation of dozens of patterns for making such items, in sizes from newborn to toddler. All of the patterns here will work well with the title yarn, or with any baby-friendly worsted/10ply yarn.

Knitting vintage : 30 knitting projects inspired by period fashions by Claire Montgomerie — Many of us admire vintage styles, but it can be challenging to find actual vintage knits in good condition in the right size for a reasonable price. This book offers patterns for sweaters, hats, and other accessories in vintage styles inspired by the twenties through the eighties. It may be difficult to think of the 80s as vintage, but the Striped Mohair Sweater is not to be missed.

The knitter's companion : expanded and updated! by Vicki Square — If you're looking for a guide to knitting that you can keep at hand and will cover any questions you might have while you're working or learning knitting, this is a great choice. Small enough to fit in your knitting bag, this spiral bound book provides instructions with illustrations to explain all the basics. It also includes a knitting needle gauge and ruler that you can use on the go, and there are two DVDs with instructions as well.

The knitter's year : 52 make-in-a-week projects-- quick gifts and seasonal knits by Debbie Bliss ; photography by Penny Wincer — The projects in this book are categorized by season, and there are just enough of them that you can knit one a week throughout an entire year. They're also manageable projects that most knitters could expect to complete in a week or less. The items range from useful items like a pincushion and a pencil case to accents you can wear like a belt and a corsage. All the projects have a simple, refined style that can easily be embellished if desired.

Quick Nordic knits : 50 socks, hats and mittens by Ann- Mari Nilsson — Here you'll find plenty of small projects to knit, all with a Nordic look. You'll also find a quick guide to wool, the natural fiber preferred for this style of knitting. These hats, socks, mittens, and gloves are so straightforward and quick to knit up, if you start now, you could have a whole wardrobe by the time it's cold enough to need them.

Modern top-down knitting : sweaters, dresses, skirts & accessories inspired by the technique of Barbara G. Walker by Kristina McGowan ; photographs by Gudrun Georges — Many knitters prefer to knit top-down. It often comes with benefits such as requiring less finishing, fewer pieces to handle, and the ease of being able to try on things like sweaters even when you've only made a little progress so far (just slip it over your head!). This book contains patterns for sweaters, dresses, hats, and even things that might not have a traditional "top," like wraps.

Knitting block by block by Nicky Epstein — It is amazing how many projects can be constructed by using blocks. In this book, renowned knitter and designer Nicky Epstein shows 150 different blocks you can use to create sweaters, afghans, bags, scarves, and a bunch of other items. She includes so many different techniques in these blocks that even experienced knitters may learn some new ones.

Simple knitting : a complete how-to-knit workshop with 20 projects by Erika Knight ; [photography by Yuki Sugiura] — The "simple" in the title of this book refers to the fact that knitting doesn't have to be difficult, but it also points to the streamlined, unadorned style of these projects. Made from mostly earth-toned yarns and in earth-friendly fibers, these knitted objects have a modern feel.

Knitted wild animals : 15 adorable, easy-to-knit toys by Sarah Keen — If you're looking for a cuddly, cute gift for a child, it's hard to beat a handknit toy. Included here are patterns for animals including the tiger you see on the cover as well as for an elephant, zebra, panda, crocodile, snake, warthog, koala, moose, penguin and more. Also included are basic knitting instructions, tips for construction, and other helpful hints.