The Nordic Knitting Primer by Kristen Drysdale
You know it is a good book when you mention it to a knitting friend and it turns out they own the book and have already made one of the patterns. The Nordic Knitting Primer leads you into the world of Nordic knitting with gently and then works you up to more complex patterns.
It starts with some tutorials--learning to knit stranded colorwork with two hands--and with some very easy projects--a cowl, a pair of mittens, etc. The photographs are nice and big and easy to see. The first step of the French knot embroidery which you see here is one of 4 on the over-sized page and you can see it is crystal clear. (BTW Boo and hiss to small photographs in dark yarns! why ever do editors allow them?). All of the directions are clear, done step-by step, with the information a beginner will need.
The next step is dealing with floats in stranded work, and then more complicated patterns of sweaters, slippers, mittens etc. follow. You can see here how by the end of the book you should be able to work smaller yarns and more complex patterns. The photographs of the garments are all lovely. This book will make you itch to get started.
Find it at your local yarn store, or LYS, or at your local bookstore, or online here where they have both hard copy and ebook:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nordic-knitting-primer-kristin-drysdale/1137482898?ean=9781645672197