Knitting can be a challenging craft, but even more challenging than knitting itself is the cryptic language-a mix of abbreviations, numbers, jargon, punctuation marks, and other symbols-in which patterns are usually written. It's no wonder so many beginners (and even some whose skills are quite advanced) are intimidated by the bewildering code-or that so many yarn-shop owners grow frustrated by the amount of time they must spend deciphering patterns for the uninitiated.Enter Knitspeak, a knitter's dictionary that disentangles the mysteries of pattern language and translates it into plain English, helping knitters to easily transition from confused to confident. Andrea Berman Price's essential guide-written in a friendly, reassuring tone and formatted for quick reference-begins with an overview of how knitting patterns are organized. It then offers a comprehensive alphabetical listing of all the abbreviations, words, phrases, and symbols typically encountered in patterns.Knitspeak's many easy-to-understand drawings clarify basic and not-so-basic needle techniques, and a series of sidebars deals with issues ranging from keeping track of simultaneous shaping to substituting yarns and reading a yarn label. The book's appendix is filled with valuable tips, charts, and worksheets.