Knitting Around: Circular Designs & Techniques with Autobiographical Digressions is an updated, full-color re-issue of the original Knitting Around book. This truly special work combines everything Elizabeth Zimmermann (EZ) is known for: innovative garment construction, technical expertise, traditional knitting knowledge, and her beloved conversational pattern writing and storytelling. Elizabeth’s designs are playful, practical, and approachable. The 9 chapters include original patterns for socks, mittens, scarves, shawls, vests, jackets, dickey style cowls, Fair Isle and Norwegian style sweaters, coats, and a bevy of EZ’s invented techniques, including I-cord variations, Afterthought Pockets, Afterthought Mitten Thumbs, Hidden Buttonholes, Phoney Seams, and much more. The update adds charts, extended directions, and illustrations, as well as bonus garments and photos. Elizabeth’s daughter Meg Swansen, a well-regarded knitting designer, author, and teacher in her own right, has written a preface to each chapter with anecdotes, knitting tips, and history related to each classic EZ design. Each chapter ends with Elizabeth’s autobiographical memoirs, in which she describes her British upbringing in the early 1900s, art school and tutoring across Europe in the 20s and 30s, and her eventual immigration and building of her life and legacy in America. Elizabeth’s drawings and paintings are included throughout, along with a newly published small gallery of work, mostly drawn from her art school period. Whether you are looking to knit small projects, learn to construct sweaters, pick up tips, or indulge in a good read from a beloved knitting icon and artist, the updated Knitting Around offers it all. Elizabeth Zimmermann (EZ), a British-born, American knitting designer is known for her place in the 20th century shift to circular knitting. Her innovations for seamless knitting and shaping with her percentage system, her use of pure wool, her original designs, including the ever-popular Baby Surprise Jacket, and her conversational, humorous writing style stand out and attract followers to this day. She produced a semi-annual newsletter, a steady stream of designs in magazines, and two television series taped for PBS-TV. Her annual summer Knitting Camp was one of the first knitting retreats of its kind. Elizabeth’s published books include Knitting Without Tears, Knitter’s Almanac, Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop, Knitting Around, The Opinionated Knitter, and Knit One Knit All. EZ’s philosophy to knit on with confidence, her creative approach to design, and practical, invented techniques form her legacy as an important contributor to the art of hand-knitting. From EZ's autobiographical Digressions: "That the Aunts dedicated one morning a week to polishing the umbrella-handles was considered a screaming joke, as indeed it was. But their umbrella-handles were of gold and ivory, they regarded them very highly, and on one occasion quite truly used the chore as an excuse for avoiding some unwished for social function." From her Seamless Sweater chapter: "Weaving underarms: This is the final detail that makes the sweater truly seamless. We still see directions telling knitters to cast off the underarm sts and sew them together, but how unattractive as well as uncomfortable for the wearer. Weaving is such a satisfying skill to have, and it maintains total elasticity of fabric. Quite magical, to boot."