Tag Archives: Socks

Review: New Directions in Sock Knitting

Posted on February 26, 2016 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: New Directions in Sock Knitting: 18 Innovative Designs Knitted From Every Which Way

Author: Ann Budd

Published by: Interweave Press, 2015

Pages: 167

Type: Socks!

Chapters:

1. Top-Down Construction
2. Two-Up Construction
3. Other Types of Construction

The In-Depth Look:

Oh, Ann Budd, never change. You and your crack team of designer friends/accomplices never cease to amaze.

Love knitting socks, but getting bored with traditional structure? Ever wonder if there is another way to construct a sock so that it fits the foot and ankle but isn’t just a standard tube with a right angle knitted into the heel?

Do you ever wonder if there’s a better way? Or, if not better, something different, just this once?

Well, Ann Budd obviously does, and she got a group of designers together to come up with a new way of looking at socks. When she says they are “knitted from every which way,” she means it.

She writes, “When I set out to acquire the socks for this book, I wanted to assemble a collection that differed from every other sock book on the market–hence the title New Directions in Sock Knitting. In this book, you’ll find an array of socks that deviate a little to a lot from the traditional top-down or toe-up construction. From the imaginative ways that heels, gussets, and toes are formed to the ingenious directions of the knitting, this book will change the way you think about knitting socks. The eighteen designs herein represent the efforts of seventeen designers who have puzzled out new ways to knit socks. The designs range from quite simple socks that are appropriate for first-time sock knitters to quite challenging socks that may require a leap of faith for those accustomed to traditional sock constructions.”

The book lives up to that promise–lots of creative ways of turning heels, or starting toes. Methods that construct the sole on its own, or do a u-turn around the heel. Lots and lots of creativity here, and tons of visual interest.

The designers? In order of appearance: Kate Atherley, Cat Bordhi, Carissa Browning (2 designs), Rachel Coopey, Hunter Hammersen, Jennifer Leigh, Heidi Nick, Kathryn Alexander, Anne Berk, Marjan Hammink, General Hogbuffer, Anne Campbell, Louise Robert, Betty Salpekar, Jeny Staiman, Nicola Susen, Natalia Vasilieva.

This great book can be found at Amazon or in your favorite shop.
Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by . Thank you!

My Gush:

Other posts for this author:

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Tagged ann budd, Socks

Review: Custom Socks

Posted on August 27, 2015 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet. 15 Patterns to Make Your Own

Author: Kate Atherley

Published by: Interweave Press, 2015

Pages: 191

Type: Socks, How-To

Chapters:

1. On Sock Sizing
2. On Yarn, Needles, and Gauge
3. On the Basic Patterns
4. On Adding Stitch Patterns
5. On Adjustments for Non-Average Feet

The In-Depth Look:

Everybody loves to knit socks, right?

Or, maybe you don’t. Maybe you think they’re too fiddly or too small. Too complicated, perhaps. Or maybe the socks you make just never feel comfortable.

Maybe what you need is a blueprint that will show you exactly what you need to know to make socks that will fit your feet … yours … not just someone who wears the same shoe size. (Because, yes, that does make a difference.)

Kate Atherley has done a massive amount of homework, here, to give you step by step instructions about everything you need to know to make a good, perfectly fitted sock. She tells you how to measure your foot correctly–and what measurements to pay attention to. She talks about the right yarn, and how to make adjustments for everything from a shallow arch to adjusting the shape of the toe to fit most comfortably.

Details, you’ll see, are not in short supply. This book is chock full of them, along with instructions for both toe-up and top-down socks, ankle-length or knee-highs.

Interestingly, all the heels in this book–regardless of the direction of the sock–are the standard heel-flap type heel. No short row heels here. I’m guessing this is because it’s easier to adjust the fit of the heel-flap style to suit every person’s unique heel shapes, but confess this is the one real flaw I found in this book. I’ve never found an old-school flap-heel that fit me comfortably and rely on short-row heels for my socks … but then, I haven’t tried Kate’s heels yet. Maybe she’ll convert me, but in the meantime, I wish she had included it–even if it was a throw-away “These aren’t as flexible or easy to customize, but if you’re interested…” kind of thing. But then, there’s only so much room in a book, and she was busy doing so many other things!

In addition to the exhaustive instructions, there are fully realized patterns for you to make (along with notes on what makes them special and how to customize to your heart’s content).

All in all, this is a great sock book. The information is thorough, the patterns attractive, the instructions easy to follow, and the photos are appealing.

Really, what else does a knitter need? Other than yarn and needles, of course!

You can find this book at Amazon.com or at your local shop.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Great detail, thorough, even if my favorite style heel is left out.

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Tagged How-to, kate atherley, Socks

Review: Custom Socks

Posted on August 27, 2015 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet. 15 Patterns to Make Your Own

Author: Kate Atherley

Published by: Interweave Press, 2015

Pages: 191

Type: Socks, How-To

Chapters:

1. On Sock Sizing
2. On Yarn, Needles, and Gauge
3. On the Basic Patterns
4. On Adding Stitch Patterns
5. On Adjustments for Non-Average Feet

The In-Depth Look:

Everybody loves to knit socks, right?

Or, maybe you don’t. Maybe you think they’re too fiddly or too small. Too complicated, perhaps. Or maybe the socks you make just never feel comfortable.

Details, you’ll see, are not in short supply. This book is chock full of them, along with instructions for both toe-up and top-down socks, ankle-length or knee-highs.

In addition to the exhaustive instructions, there are fully realized patterns for you to make (along with notes on what makes them special and how to customize to your heart’s content).

All in all, this is a great sock book. The information is thorough, the patterns attractive, the instructions easy to follow, and the photos are appealing.

Really, what else does a knitter need? Other than yarn and needles, of course!

You can find this book at Amazon.com or at your local shop.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Great detail, thorough, even if my favorite style heel is left out.

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Tagged How-to, kate atherley, Socks

Three Pairs of Vanilla Socks

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Marla | Comments Off

The night before Felix was born, I cast on two pairs of socks, just to have some simple knitting lying around my favorite haunts in the house: one on my nightstand and one in my knitting basket by the sofa.

This is the start of my Easter Egg Rainbow socks, which have been living on my nightstand. I haven’t got very far on these despite having spent more time in my bed in the last 10 days than perhaps ever before. I seem to get caught in a time warp while I’m in bed, where nursing and staring at my baby, and perhaps a little dozing takes five hours, but it’s only felt like two. I hope to spend a bit more time on these, because I’m really having fun watching the color distribute. These are going to be very happy, springy socks.

One of my purchases from my new local yarn store Yak n Yarn.
It’s Rowan fine art sock yarn, and it is merino, mohair, silk and polyamide. You know me and mohair, I can’t resist it–and if it’s mixed with silk? Even better! These socks are for Brock. I still owe him two sweaters, but since I don’t have the mental fortitude to knit sweaters right now, I’m knitting him two pairs of socks instead. I’m not sure if he will see this as any consolation, but it’s what I have to offer. I’m loving this color progression. It reminds me of that mud pie stuff that’s made with chocolate pudding with a crushed oreo crust–but in a classy, made of silk and mohair type of way.

I’ve been knitting on these in the evening during Felix’s after dinner nap. I should mention that this after Felix’s dinner, not mine. I usually have just enough time to eat my dinner and get settled in enough to knit three or four rounds before Felix is ready for dessert.

The third pair would be super impressive if I also cast them on the day before Felix was born, but alas, this pair of rainbow socks, the second pair of socks Brock is getting instead of a sweater, was cast on sometime in March, I think, and then lived at my Father-in-law’s house for three weeks. They are so close to being done–just a couple more inches and a toe! But again, I usually only get three or four rounds in before baby calls. (Yarn is Bright Neon Rainbow by Munchkin Knitworks.)

Felix and I are still working out where knitting falls in our relationship, but I am finding time, little by little, to resume some parts of my life that aren’t all about baby. Now dishes and laundry, I haven’t quite figured out how those fit in yet.

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Tagged In The Works, sock knitting, sock yarn, Socks

Sock Day Saturday

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Marla | Comments Off

My job completely wore me out each day this week. When I get home from work is usually when I do the creative stuff whether for pleasure or profit. This week, Monday through Thursday I did absolutely nothing but eat dinner and stare at my tablet screen. I wanted to knit, but all of my projects on the needles involve cabling. I love cables, but this week they were just too much work. I haven’t been fit for anything other than stockinette in the round–if that.

Last night, I finally cast on for a pair of socks, my favorite kind of stockinette in the round.

I used this yarn, which is very similar to the stuff I just posted in my shop, so if you were wondering how it knits up, you’re welcome.

I dyed this last year for a sweater project for myself, which I have since cannibalized to knit this pair of socks and then to turn into another baby sweater/hat/bootie set.

I guess I was really jonesing for a simple knit, because as soon as I cast this on, the stitches starting flying, and so did the ideas for all the other projects I wanted to knit. In one evening I knit what you see above: cuff, five inch leg, heal and heal turn. Today I’m going to try to finish this one and see how far I can get on the second sock tomorrow.

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Tagged In The Works, sock knitting, Socks

Review: Op-Art Socks

Posted on November 22, 2013 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: Op-Art Socks: Creative Effects in Sock Knitting

Author: Stephanie Van Der Linden

Published by: Interweave Press, 2013

Pages: 159

Type: Socks

Chapters:

Just a list of patterns

The In-Depth Look:

Inspired by the Op-Art movement of the 1960s, the author brings you a collection of 19 patterns of vivid, creative socks.

She explains that “Op art was identified in 1964 as a movement in the visual arts that emphasizes the psychological and physiological conditions of visual experience. Op Art explores visual perception through the illusion of movement, much of which is unsettling to the viewer and difficult for the eye to resolve.”

Well, what could be more appropriate for footwear than sock patterns that move on their own? Drawing on the likes of Fibonacci, Herrmann, Escher, and others, this collection makes for some fascinating sock patterns. Some use color, some use stitch patterns, but all of them are creative in a very geometric, mathematical kind of way.

You can get your copy at Amazon.com.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Whoever said socks needed to be boring?

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Tagged Socks, Stephanie van der Linden

Review: Unique Feet

Posted on September 12, 2013 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: Unique Feet: Men’s Socks from the Unique Sheep

Editor: Laura Lough

Published by: Cooperative Press, 2013

Pages: 80

Type: Men’s Socks

Chapters:
No chapters, just patterns.

The In-Depth Look:

It should seem so obvious, shouldn’t it? Men have feet, too.

Except, the vast majority of sock patterns are written for women. The book’s introduction says that only 1300 of the 18,000 sock patterns on Ravelry are for men, but that, “It seems that lots of knitters want to knit socks for men, either because they are men or they have handknit-deserving men in their lives.”

And so–a collection of sock patterns for men. Colorful, cabled, creative … not just your boring, plain black socks, brought to you from the folks at the Unique Sheep.

The patterns run the gamut from traditional to playful and make a good case for knitting socks for the men in your life (especially if you are a man). I know that, where socks are concerned, I’ve always been grateful to have relatively small feet for a woman, and haven’t really complained that my father has no interest in my making him socks. I mean, it takes me months to churn out a pair of socks as it is, since I carry them in my purse and mostly just work on them when I’m out on weekends … I shudder to think how long a pair of men’s socks would take.

And yet, the socks here are almost enough to tempt me.

This book can be bought from the Cooperative Press.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Cooperative Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Good, because men have feet, too.

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Tagged Socks

Review: Big Foot Knits

Posted on July 25, 2013 by --Deb | Comments Off

First, the facts:

Title: Big Foot Knits

Author: Andi Smith

Published by: Cooperative Press, 2013

Pages: 130

Type: Sock patterns

The In-Depth Look:

The author writes, “Why another sock book? After all, there are thousands of sock patterns out there, from the sublime to the divine, from the fancy to the frivolous, so why another one? The answer is pretty simple: as much as we covet and adore the sock patterns, so many of them seem to be designed for those who have narrow feet, ankles, and calves. As one who is not graced with such a shape, I started altering sock patterns until I hit upon an easy, intuitive way to make socks work for any shape or size.”

It’s true, too. Socks (and sock models) almost always have uniformly graceful and narrow feet, and as a person gifted with narrow feet herself, it’s not something I ever really thought about. Other than length, I’ve rarely ever needed to modify a sock pattern to fit my foot.

But as she points out, our feet have 26 bones, 107 ligaments, 33 joints, and 19 muscles and tendons, so it’s no wonder we’re all so different. There’s no question that those of us with rounder, shorter, or just plain awkwardly-shaped feet are going to be at just as much a disadvantage at knitting a “one size fits all” pattern as we would be if every single one of us tried knitting exactly the same sweater pattern–some of us would get a sock that fit perfectly, some of us would get a sock that fit tolerably, but the rest? Not so much–any more than all of us can wear the same size and style of shoe.

So, this book starts (she does warn you) with a little math–measuring, to be precise. To get perfectly-fitting socks, you need to know your measurements. She gives you precise instructions and a handy sheet to fill in with all the details, and then she goes on to talk about gauge–which is always my bugbear for sock knitting, since I tend to be a loose knitter.

There are TONS of details, here, about what to measure, what to tweak, what decisions to make, all to get the perfect sock. What shape should you make the toes? How deep should the heel be? Where and what kind of shaping do you need? What about the ribbing for the cuff?

Basically, you could read and use just the first section of the book and have perfect socks forevermore … but where’s the fun in that? I mean, it’s wonderfully useful, but don’t we all want somebody else to do the heavy lifting for us once in a while? To put gorgeous and tempting pictures in front of us for inspiration? Luckily, the specific techniques of the first section are followed by 12 patterns, all with instructions for both toe-up or top-down construction, with tips as to how and where to make whatever modifications you need to make.

All in all, this is a really useful book, addressing a sock-making need that I honestly hadn’t thought of before–which makes it not only unique but fitting a very specific, helpful niche … even for those of us with narrow feet!

You can find this book at the Cooperative Press site.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Cooperative Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Lovely patterns for larger feet

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Tagged andi smith, Pattern Books, Socks

Flying Dutchman, Sock Madness round 2

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Julie | Comments Off

This is my test knit pair of socks for Sock Madness round 2. At first glance, the pattern looks much harder than it is. With needle and yarn in hands, you just have to go carefully row by row and then the intarsia in the round begins to make sense. Once I got over thinking it was hard, these socks really flew off the needles. The stripes and the pattern make this a hard project to put down. We have more competitors than every which makes for an incredibly busy spring but it’s also a lot of fun!

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Tagged Again with the socks?, Flying Dutchman, Knitting, round 2, SM7, sock madness, Socks

SOCKS!

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Marla | Comments Off

I did it. I couldn’t deny it any longer. I was so close to them, I just had to cast on for the Thigh High Stripes. These socks are so delicious, I can’t wait to have them finished and on me. It’s so much wool, and I wish to be clothed in all of it’s bright, colorful gloriousness!

I am making minimal changes to this pattern. I basically changed the brown to a dark charcoal and picked colors similar to the originals out of Knit Picks Palette, because whoa, these socks take a lot of yarn. I didn’t know if I would like Palette, but this is the second pair of socks I have used it for and I really like how squishy and sticky it is. I will report back how it wears.

Of course, I am going to have wait until these socks are done because it was a bit disingenuous of me to say that I have knit two pairs of socks out of it. when I only knit one of the French Market Socks–and not in a size I will ever be able to get on my foot. I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, it was her first real stranded color work project, the gauge was too tight.” And you would be ever so wrong. My gauge is fantastic! It’s exactly what the pattern should be, though I used US size 3 needles to get it, but you know I usually go up a needle size or two when knitting in the round. The reason I can’t wear this sock, is that it is knit for someone with feet the size of a doll’s.

Can you spot the meme?

Now, dear reader, you must be asking yourself why in the world I didn’t knit this sock long enough for my ginormo lady feet, and then knit a mate to go with it so I could have toasty, classy, French feet this winter? And the answer to that question is because I would have stuck four very large double pointed needles in my eyes by the end of it! I’m sorry, I think the design for these socks is gorgeous. I think the colors I chose show off the design perfectly, but seriously, what the heck was I thinking? I am not classy and understated. Me, the woman who is attempting to plan out how long before she can be self-employed again so that she can dye her hair hot pink, thought she could knit this very elegant pair of socks in understated natural colors. It was like trying to be someone I wasn’t at a very base level every time I sat down to work on them. Like I was trying to be a knitter that I am not. My original color combination was much more me. Remember that one?

Oh practice swatch, what a lovely dream you were. . .

The French Market socks are my one cheat from the whole book. I figure that so many other people have modified the Thigh High Stripes to be knee highs or even normal high socks so they would have a pair of socks they would actually knit that I can skip a second sock that I would never ever wear ever. Don’t tell the knitting police.

In other news, I am also working on the Happy Go Lucky Boots Socks

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Sport

These have become my work / car knitting, so they are going rather slow, but the pattern is fun. I particularly like the color combination here. They remind me an old-fashioned Professor’s office with dark wood and leather everywhere–and one of those desk lamps with the green glass shade. These socks look like a they should be wearing a tweed jacket.

And finally, I am combining two of my favorite things: sock yarn and Jane Eyre. I dyed myself some periwinkle yarn and cast on Jane’s Ubiquitous Shawl along with the craftlit folks. I am quite happy with the dye job, and knitting the pattern while listening to the book is just about the most sublime combination for someone who should have been a librarian, but couldn’t quite make it because the lure of having pink hair was just too strong.

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Tagged ann budd, craft lit, craftlit, deborah newton, erica hernandez, In The Works, jane eyre, janes ubuquitious shawl, sock knitting, sock knitting master class, sock yarn, Socks, veronik avery

Tag Archives: Socks

Review: New Directions in Sock Knitting

Review: Custom Socks

Review: Custom Socks

Three Pairs of Vanilla Socks

Sock Day Saturday

Review: Op-Art Socks

Review: Unique Feet

Review: Big Foot Knits

Flying Dutchman, Sock Madness round 2

SOCKS!

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