The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches - 500+ Patterns for Beginners & Experts | Reader's Digest (2003) | Perfect for DIY Projects, Home Decor & Gift Making

This review is more on the style and format of the book for knitters who might be interested in this information:While I love the Harmony Guides, it is currently out of my budget to get all 7 volumes. The 900 stitches in this Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook are indeed from the Harmony Guides to Knitting Stitches series. I notice from the copyright page that this material is published by an arrangement with Collins & Brown, the same publishers for the original Harmony Guides. Reader's Digest appears to publish by arrangement with British companies, many wonderful titles and presenting a twist of the english sensibility, i.e. Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook (by RD)The Reader's Digest Sourcebook does not contain every single stitch from the Harmony volumes (numbering over 1000), but it is still a huge amount compiled into one manageable reference and at a much more affordable price. The color combinations look fine to me, the majority are traditional designs, nothing terribly dated except for one or two swatches in strange orange/gray combos. In order to fit 900+ stitches and photographs into the book, each page is divided into 3 columns, with one to two photographs per column followed by the stitch directions. Each photograph measures approximately 2" x 1.5" in detail. The type is either 9 or 10pt., which might be hard for some eyes. I use a craft light like the Ott-Lite to illuminate the page, and also use post-it notes to keep track.What I like is how it is arranged by weight patterns, and the number of multiples to start with at the very top of the section, and what skill level it requires in bold type. Another wonderful thing are the headers on every page, so that you know what section you are on at all times, (i.e. knitting...heavyweight patterns...slipstich color patterns). There are also crochet letterforms in an art nouveau design for filet crochet.The one thing lacking is a detailed section for aran stitches (only 3pp), if you are into that. However, many other cable and panel pattern pages are found in the book.