7The art of making your own hand knits begins with a few simple steps: casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, and binding off. These are the keys that open up an entire world of possibilities in creating your own sweaters, accessories, gifts, and more. Pam Allen, author of the best-selling book "Knitting for Dummies", breaks down the very first few steps of knitting for the beginner. Many knitting books, like "Knitting for Dummies", provide a complete guide to everything a knitter needs to become accomplished in the craft. For those who are not sure they want to commit, this is the perfect start. Complete with stunning hand-drawn illustrations, this introduction to knitting is as beautiful as it is useful.