Which of your finishing skills do you wish could master more completely?

Does blocking worry you?

Are edgings a bit problematic?

Do zippers and buttons intimidate you?

You can end all of your anxieties just by reading Deborah Newton's Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters.

With a clear, bright tone of voice, Deborah tames the frightened knitter through all of the detailed steps that take a garment from homemade to handmade.

Photographs in the book are as clear and precise as the instructions. For an intense study, a knitter could read the whole book at once. But, the index is also well-constructed enough to allow the reader to dip in and out of the book, taking away only the information needed at the moment.

There are also complete instructions for 15 projects, and many of the projects are used as examples for different techniques throughout the book.

There are also what can be described as workshops, tutorials and cheat sheets on different methods, all of which build on and complement each other.

Overall, a great book for anyone who wants to take their finishing and garment-construction skills to the next level.