The Principles of Knitting

Why does the book The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt sell for such outrageous prices on ebay. A friend and I were going to a book sale and she asked me to help her find that book for another friend. She said it was going for up to $200 on ebay and her friend didn't want to pay that price. We did find one at the book sale for $2.00. What is so special about that book that people are will to pay $200 or more on ebay?

I haven't seen it, but I've heard it is much sought after as a knitting encyclopedia. I think what drives the price up are the large numbers of beginning knitters now.

It's the combination of it being rather a one-of-a-kind in terms of knitting stitch theory and instruction (she explains things about how stitches get on the needle and off, for example, and the effects this can have on the shape of the final result) and it being out of print. I read it once (in a library) and it explained why some of my knitting was turning out as (ahem) "unusual" as it was.

I really don't understand _why_ it is out of print, though. There's clearly a demand for it!

Way back in 2000, someone posted on Amazon.com that the author was planning a revised edition. If that was true, apparently she's not in any particular hurry.

I've heard that Hiatt didn't care much for knitting on circular needles. But that was 1989, and I think knitting just about anything on circular needles is much more popular now. I wonder if she still holds that opinion.

I've heard the rumor of a revised edition, but more recently, and with a feeling of surety. Who knows? I'm sure it'd drop the prices down on Ebay.

Personally (and this is just my opinion, of which I have many) I don't have a problem with a knitting writer passing judgement on a technique. 'I tried this, this is what happened, I don't recommend it' is, I think, perfectly valid and may be useful. I may still try something out and I reserve the right to disagree with the writer, but there's nothing wrong with hearing opinions based on experience.

Of course, I also prefer the dressmaker technique of knitting pieces and assembling them. Seams provide structure, people! *grins*

I agree with noramunro that it is ok and even desirable for a knitting author to give her opinions. An opinionated author is more entertaining; opinions bring a book to life.

I was lucky enough to get a retired library copy of this book for $1.00. I love it, although I could do without its unwieldy size. It covers everything, and is truly the only reference you would ever need. I can't believe that it's not yet reprinted. A reprint could be a series in several sections.

The knitting craze has led to the publication of many fine books. If Hiatt and her publisher wait too long, a fair chunk of their audience may decide that most of what she has to say has been covered by those other fine books, and that they can't justify buying still yet another how-to book.

I saw this book at my public library and flipped through it, but figured, well, I'd never get through it before it was due back, it was unwieldy as all get-out, and fairly heavy as I recall. So it stayed on the shelf. Perhaps a revised edition could be lighter?

It looks like the book was originally published by Simon & Schuster. Maybe if enough people contact them and express interest in a reprint, they will get on the ball?

Sounds like a good project for Dover Books. They have done a wonderful job of keeping in print a number of classic knitting and needlework books.

I own the book and loaned it to a friend for two years. In all that time I wanted it *once.* It is not worth all the hoopla and big bucks.

Yes, it does have numerous of different ways to cast on and off but that's all I ever use it for. I'm much, much more likely to go to Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook or one of Zimmerman's books when I want advice.

I've also heard about a revised edition where she will reverse her hatred of circular knitting. Who knows? Don't hold your breath. I don't know why it's out of print either. But then, so are a lot of Alice Starmore's books and they, too, fetch high prices.

She does get on her high horse and preach - do it this way the way *I* knit!! and all will go well. Humbug. I believe if it works for **you** it's right for you.

In other words, don't waste your money.

My two cents.

I thought some of you might be interested in this bit of news that appeared recently in a comment on the blog Making Light:

"According to the Yarn Market News, August 2007, June Hemmons Hiatt's book
The Principles of Knitting is being rewritten and reorganized, with new material.
Hemmons Hiatt signed a contract with Simon & Schuster, and the revised edition
is slated for Fall 2009 publication. Hemmons Hiatt said "the revisions have been
more extensive than expected. This is not a reprint; this is a new Principles of
Knitting, and I hope knitters will find their patience has been rewarded. It isn't
often authors get a chance to make something better, and I don't want to rush this."

The YMN blurb also mentions that this book is frequently in the bookfinder.com
annual Top 10 list of most wanted OOP books."

My husband gave me this book when we were first married for my birthday (way back in the 80's) and because I was a new knitter, it rates as one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. I basically taught myself the principles of making a sweater from this book. I use it as a reference book for when I am frustrated by some technique that is not explained well in a pattern and for that it is invaluable. I do own several other books, Vogue Knitting being one, and still think that The Principles of Knitting is more encompassing. Would I spend $200 to get it? Probably not.

I hope the price of the new Principles of Knitting will be knitters friendly because is a great book.

I also own an ancient copy and taught myself to knit from the book. I only wish that it had color photos, otherwise I love it....but no, it's not worth $200.

It's an amazing book -- the author is indeed opinionated which is alternately charming and infuriating, but always engaging. She is so incredibly thorough -- various ways to cast on, various ways to form a knit or purl stitch and its effect on the pattern -- many ways of doing double knitting (most knitting reference books, you'd be lucky to find ONE way!). I have been knitting for 40 years and I can't believe how much I learned from the first chapter.

I think the best way of using it would be to work through the book from cover to cover, knitting swatches. Do I have time for that? Umm, no. But it would be like a week, or two weeks at knitting camp with a master teacher. Cheap for only $200. (Says a woman who bought hers at Goodwill for $3!)

I gather from discussion on Ravelry that plans to republish the book have been repeatedly postponed. You can tell from the book itself that she's meticulous to a fault. And the new edition will be a completely new from scratch production. It could take forever, but if it ever comes out it will be comprehensive and as perfect as Hiatt can make it.

Edit to add: I would guess, judging by the price of other reference books of similar size, that the new Principles of Knitting would be priced at about $75. Start saving now! ;)

This is just to say that it's now January 2010 and no sign of the book anywhere that I can see.

Does anybody have any more information?

No, but I am upset- my public library had a copy - I used to take it our about once a year so it would stay in the current list. I must have missed once - it is now gone. not in the catalogue anymore.

For what it is worth, there is a copy on amazon for only (hah) $167 USD. Is this book really worth it? i am going to check my library catlogue to see if they have it.

It sounds to me that the substantial price of the book is most likely driven by these two factors:

1) Word of mouth and good reviews by devoted knitters who have used it and re-used it as a standby for good advice and problem solving. Like some of the posts above. :)

2) The very fact that it is out of print makes it more valuable in terms of price because it is hard to find. In other words, the higher scarcity of the book, the higher the price people are willing to pay for it because they finally found it somewhere! LOL.

Now, I am not one to really judge here... I am a crazed bibliophile/bibliomane (as one brief glance at my library page will show you haha) and I have spent quite a small fortune collecting my treasures...

So, I will end with this: if the book is valuable to you and will bring you joy then the price you can afford is the right choice. Hope that helps, at least a little! :)

It is definitely a price in part driven by its being out of print and scarce. However, a hardcover of that size and quality would probably be at least $80 if bought new today. And when I had Principles of Knitting (I couldn't afford to keep it, so I sold it!) I read the first chapters and thought, this is a course in knitting. If you started with the cast-ons, actually did them all, and worked your way through the entire book making swatches of everything, you'd get a lot more solid technique out of it than out of knitting classes or workshops that would, at least cumulatively, cost much more.

I was checking on status of the revised Principles of Knitting by Hiatt and Amazon is now offering it for presale; it will not be available until Delivery estimate: November 7, 2011 - November 14, 2011.
First time I have seen it available for pre publication sale. It states $29.70 price on 4/10/2011

I think the price has even dropped to 20.00 on amazon.com