elizabeth zimmermann

If you knit and you haven't ever read Elizabeth Zimmermann's books, you're missing out on a glorious read and a permanent liberation from patterns if you desire to knit freely, as I did. EZ was a huge promoter of the idea of seamless, top-down knitting with her "percentage" system for making a perfectly fitting sweater based on the chest measurement. (Of course, some of us modify the formula to suit our unique shapes.) When you use her percentage formula, you begin knitting at the neck, on circular needles, add circulars for sleeves and complete them, then continue down the sweater to it's end. She was also a great process instructor. If you understand what you're doing and how it effects the finished fabric, it's much easier to freely create shapes and patterns. That's right up my alley. It's how I teach music and everything else I have ever taught. For me, there's nothing better than to be free to create what I see in my mind's eye, rather than being shackled to a pattern. Patterns are great for a first attempt at something new, but after than, I like to make original things. I'm that way with hand embroidery, quilting, knitting, some aspects of music, cooking and just about everything creative except baking (because that uses chemistry & I can't "guess" at that.)

Try to get a copy of Knitting Around, Knitters' Almanac, Knitting Without Tears, Knitting Workshop or any other Elizabeth Zimmermann publication. EZ's daughter, Meg Swanson, has taken over Schoolhouse Press, the publishing company/knitting catalog/wool shop/knitting camp etc. that EZ began. If you're an avid knitter, you will often see credit given to EZ in the prefaces of knitting books. I came across one just yesterday in a new book called Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, by Cat Bordhi. EZ was truly a matriarch of contemporary knitting, an artist and one of the most amusing story tellers. If you have your choice of EZ books to read, I'd begin with Knitting Around. It's an unusual blend of knitting patterns (start with this even if you are a beginner but don't knit) and EZ's "Digressions" about her life. If you are not the least bit interested in reading EZ's extraordinary prose, and you are a beginner or intermediate knitter, begin with Knitting Workshop. In it, you will learn how to do every "important" thing.