Recommended Books: Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick

This is a timeless book, absolutely filled with beautiful, winter-holiday-inspired knits.
The photography is gorgeous, the patterns feature some of the most beautiful and interesting yarns available, and the range of techniques introduced is much broader than your average pattern book.
Learn to knit with wire, double-knit, do Entrelac, Fair-Isle, mosaic knitting, not to mention knit projects with cables and lace.