Anyone know why this book is so expensive?

Hi did a search at Amazon and found the following customer review:

I was able to peruse this book once. I immediately knew I had to have it. I never dreamed it would be so difficult to obtain a copy. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, and I cannot afford the huge price tags that are being placed on existing copies. This is not a typical review where I explain the contents or details of this book. This book is a masterpiece, and I want it to be reprinted. And I believe I am not alone in this request. WE NEED TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS TO GET THIS BOOK BACK INTO PRINT! If you AGREE that it is time to have this wonderful masterpiece back in print, then click "YES", and let our numbers be counted.

From Library Journal This is a comprehensive handbook for the knitter who wants to know the "whys" as well as the "hows" of hand-knitted fabric construction. Included are chapters on stitch formation, fabric construction, pattern design, project planning, and decorative work (e.g., multi-color knitting, inlay, and needlework embellishment). Superior organization, layout, indexing, and the numerous illustrations add to the value of this work as a basic knitting reference, but the beginning knitter may be intimidated by the sheer bulk of material presented--including, for example, 33 different methods for casting on stitches. A less intimidating introduction to the craft is Maggie Righetti's Knitting in Plain English ( LJ 3/15/86). Highly recommended for libraries collecting in this area.

- Janice Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., Fullerton Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Also has 579 pages.

On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:22:03 -0400, spampot spewed forth :

It's supposed to be a knitting bible, and is long out of print after but a short run. I've heard rumors of a reissue with updates but my ears on the ground haven't heard anything more than that.

I've had a thumb-through, it's a nice book but I wouldn't pay more than $40 for it, myself.

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

I own this book. Must have bought it when it came out, maybe through Book of the Month Club, surely not for more than its list price of $29.95 (it is a large-format book with about 600 pages, so it was surely worth that, even in

I never use it. (There is a post-it note in it, marking a page on mitered corners--which might have been useful in finishing the interminable Aran-style cardigan vest, but I just winged it; most likely I used it in designing a sweater with a deep V-neck. Around 1988. ) If I ever decide to learn to crochet, and it's possible to learn from a book, that will probably be the book.

FWIW, I find Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Knitting without Tears" (that's tears as in boo-hoo, not rips) and Maggie Righietti's "Knitting in Plain English" much more useful.

IMHO, probably the best bargain, in terms of information per dollar (or penny!) is Barbara Walker's "Knitting from the Top" (of course, you have to be able to appreciate the benefits of knitting everything from the top down, on circulars, but she does a good job of explaining that. (Ignore the photos of hideous early 1970's styles; this book is about knitting to suit your tastes, and your body.)

My $.02.

Georgia

Yep. Been here, um, 36 years... Where are you now?

Georgia

I'm in Maryland, south of Baltimore. My family's from Champaign & Moultrie Counties (Decatur area & Mahomet) & I was born & raised there & in Michigan, lived out here for...well, as long as you've been there. Dad was an Ag Ec at UIUC & Michigan State, USDA out here. Three of my sisters are on their way out to Champaign next week for a visit and I'm green with envy.