The alternative craft scene is growing rapidly at the moment, spurred on, it seems, by the economic climate and a desire for completely individual and unique items. Although a lot of alt knitting patterns can easily b found on the internet, knitters still want printed patterns to work with. So what do the four most popular alternative knitting books have to offer?

Punk Knits – Share Ross

With it’s funky typography, frequent mention of rock acts, and tattooed scenester models, this is a book that knows what market it’s going for. Some of the rock music “inspirations” given for each pattern seem a little forced (besides the fact their mostly pretty mainstream), some of the descriptions a little over enthusiastic but at least Ms Ross is keen. The patterns themselves range from eye-catching (like the anarchy “A” cushion and the pixie shoulderette shrug) through the fun (like the knitted studded choker or the huge top hat) to the downright unwearable (like the miniskirts), but there are enough of the former two categories to make it worth buying. This is a book for beginner knitters who’re fed up with scarves, many of the patterns are pretty easy and only a handful of different stitches are used, so some of the patterns, particularly the larger pieces may bore more experienced knitters. Still, it’s worth a look and would make a great present to a teenage knitter learning the ropes.

Pretty in Punk – Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles

This is a really pretty looking book. Huge, fashion-photography style pictures of skinny, pouting models with painted on tattoos make up half of the pages, often leaving the knitted pieces themselves a little sidelined. This doesn’t have the same sense of authenticity that Punk Knits has, but the patterns are more promising. The Mohawk hats are fantatic and there are some snazzy jumpers, wrist warmers and scarves, though the skirts and patches are a little disappointing if you ask me. The main problem with this book is that it requires really expensive, good-quality yarns that are often hard to substitute. Many patterns need felting or require a particular stretchy/shiny/mohair yarn. Which is all very well, but spending £20 on yarn for one skinny little jumper that won’t look nearly as good on me as it does on the stick-thin model seems to me to rather defeat the point of knitting something for myself.

Anticraft – Rene Rigdon and Zabet Stewart

Like Punk Knits, this is a book written by people actually involved in the scene rather than fashion students looking in from the outside. From the makers of the marvellous Anticraft website, this is NOT just a knitting book. It includes eight knitting patterns, seven crochet patterns, three sewing patterns and a number of miscellaneous beading, embossing, chain-maille and embroidery patterns as well as a few recipes, funny comic strips and snarky little comments, so anyone expecting a straight knitting book might be disappointed. The knitting patterns are generally very good: they’re fun, they’re quite useable, it’s easy to convert to cheaper or more readily available yarns, and they feature a range of techniques and difficulties. There are one or two mistakes, thankfully included in errata on the site, and one pattern I found a little hard to follow, but they’re generally pretty good. The other patterns are quite a bit more exciting than the knitting ones, including some beautiful crochet patterns (shame I can’t crochet!), a beautiful sewn skirt pattern which I intend to have a crack at, and some really stunning beading patterns. The technique instructions in the back are a little brief, but the writers’ clearly expect a certain level of internet literacy and prior knowledge of techniques, which is fair enough, it’s not a beginner book by any means. All in all, a good book, although the knitting patterns aren’t the best thing about it.

Domiknitrix – Jennifer Stafford

This really is the best knitting book I’ve come across, no joke. Before we even get to the patterns, there’s an exhaustive 93 pages of techniques, advice and tips, well explained with fantastic pictures to help visualise, and there’s been many a time I’ve turned to Domiknitrix to guide me through a new technique. If you have trouble picking up long-tail cast on, intarsia or lace knitting, you might want to pick this book up even if you don’t want to have a go at the patterns. As for the patterns themselves, there’s a counter-culture edge to some of them but they’re mostly quite wearable for trendy types and more mainstream knitters too. Even the easier ones are pretty tricky compared to some other books, but the instructions are generally pretty good as long as you’re awake enough to be paying attention. The jumpers, hoodie and coats are perhaps the most impressive pieces, although the Snood hat is beautiful and there are some fun cushions and things too. I preferred the Pretty in Punk Mohawk hat to the one Stafford includes in Domiknitrix but other than that it’s truly unsurpassable. Stafford’s hints make it easy to substitute yarns meaning the patterns are only as pricey as you want them to be, though many are pretty time consuming. Plus, for those real high-flyers there’s a bonus pattern on her site which is truly stunning, if difficult to make!