Customer Reviews

Folk Socks (Folk Knitting series)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is beautiful, and has great history. The patterns are very interesting, but if you don't have sock experience I don't know how you'd work them. I have experience, but have never had this many problems. My first pair (light blue and white ones) had the weirdest heel. It made the sock almost completely straight, but since my foot bends at the heel, it was horribly uncomfortable. My local yarn shop couldn't understand how it would ever fit a normal foot so I rewrote the pattern and ripped back. The second pair (grey with off-white heel, toe, and top) was huge, although my guage was correct, and I had to restart that one, too. Then I did the ones on the cover, and the heel, though very interesting in concept, is way too big and forms basically a bubble jutting out from your foot (I just knitted every other row and it came out great). The last ones I did, the red cabled pair, came out very well (but cables give a sock more 'give,' so it's easier to fit them correctly). I'm tired of knitting 3 socks every time, so I'm going to be very careful about the patterns in the future. Here's what I suggest: knit a pair that fits your foot (preferably from a different book), and get the measurements of it, especially at the top and at your ankle. Then figure out the measurements of the pattern as it's written in this book, and change the pattern liberally until it is in normal human proportions.

They are beautiful when you finally get them right. My feet are always the prettiest in the room!

I bought this book hoping to learn the traditional techniques involved in the production of the wide variety of beautiful socks from many cultures featured in tantalizing color photographs. I was deeply disappointed to find that this was not the case.

The first edition had many factual errors in knitting history, of which some were corrected in subsequent editions. And Bush teaches few of the actual traditional techniques. In fact, her "reproduction" socks were all highly simplified modern inventions, based only in part on some of the colors and patterns of the original socks, but not truly involving their techniques.

While many of the socks were traditionally knitted from the toe up, in every case Bush knits them from the cuff down. The photographs are just teasers that left me frustrated and unfulfilled. I finally stopped looking at her directions for her simplified socks. Instead I analyzed the socks in the photos to attempt to knit them as they were originally made.

While it is a good book to learn modern sock knitting and in it Bush does cover a wide variety of techniques, it doesn't cover what its title says. If you want to knit modern socks, you may like this book. But if you're looking for the traditional knitting techniques of other cultures, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' book "Ethnic Socks & Stockings" will actually teach you how, while Bush will not.

The title is misleading in a way; while the book really does have genuine folk designs (and lovely ones too, I might add) the real value of this book is the beginning pages. These pages catalog different sock heel and toe styles and tell you essentially how to design any kind of sock for yourself.

If you want to knit socks, or if you love knitting socks, you really should have this book. For me, this is my most essential and most used reference book on sock and stocking knitting. Gottahaveit!

When I bought this book, I had never made a pair of socks. Now I've done dozens. The instructions in the front part of the book were just what I needed. Granted, I learn best from written instructions, but for those who are like me, I can't recommend a better book to start with. I found some of the charting a little hard to follow, but I chalk that up to inexperience. I have made several of the patterns included and have been pleased with all of them. I also like having options for other than one standard size. Knit till it is 2 1/2 inches from the length you want, then start the toe. That is my kind of instruction. This was particularly important because some of the people I knit for have very long feet. Knowing how long the toe was going to extend was wonderfu.
I recommend this book for everyone from beginner to expert.

This book is really three books in one: A History of Socks, How to Knit a Sock, and Great Sock Patterns. I could knit (sort of) before this book, and I had made socks before but, truly, this book changed my life. I do Living History as a volunteer, and I use information from the history section all the time when I am talking to visitors to the event or museum. The How-To section was very clear and helped me to enhance my technical skills with respect to stockings, and knitting in general. The best part are the patterns. I focused on lace patterns, but all the patterns are beautiful, some more challenging than others. All skill levels are represented. One of the patterns I made because I thought it was very close to the kinds of stockings that would have been worn in the 1600's, and I sure was looking for something to keep my feet warm when I was doing Living History! And, indeed, I came to find out later, that pattern was almost exactly the pattern of stockings that came out of a bog burial, on the woman's feet, from early 1600's in northern England. So I started making these stockings for other Living History people. Then I started making changes to the designs and creating my own stockings. When I lost my job, I even kept food on the table for myself and my child for awhile (I don't recommend that path, however). So I have gone on to research other period stockings, and design them if there is no extant pattern. Of course, I have worn my "historical" stockings as much in modern times as I do in past times because they are comfortable and they keep my feet warm! The book is really a treasure.

After 25 years of knitting sweaters, this is the book that finally convinced me to try socks. The "basic sock pattern" is very clear and easy to follow, and provides several alternative ways to make heels and toes. The section on the history of socks describes the evolution of socks in different parts of the world. All of the other sock patterns in the book are based on socks found in museums and represent different cultures. This is a fabulous book for the knitter who is interested in traditional crafts from other cultures. I'm very happy I found this little book. Turning my first heel was the most exciting thing I've learned in knitting for years!

In the past few years there has been a world wide knitting explosion, with particular interest in socks -- as those of us trying to get ahold of some of the popular and out-of-stock yarns well know. Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear, by Nancy Bush is without a doubt the book I would grab and clutch to my chest if I had to choose one sock book for the following reasons: (1) Bush does a more than adequate job of researching the history of knitting with emphasis on the evolution of footwear, (2) the photographs are all in gorgeous color, and (3) her instructions for knitting socks are excellent. She includes a basic sock with the option of trying several variations of heels and toes, and includes modern adaptions of traditional Old Worldy socks for the more adventurous. Plain color, multicolors, stripes, fingering weight, sport weight, etc. -- you are given a choice.

The only criticism I have of the book is that a few of the patterns don't designate whether they are for a man or woman. If you are new to sock knitting, stick with the patterns that tell you the wearers' gender, and then try the "mystery" socks.

Bush's "Folk Socks", and her second book "Estonian Socks" are instant classics and destined to become premier collectors items.

This book has beautiful and inspiring photographs of traditional knitted socks and the author's modern adaptations. Half of the book is devoted to a history of sock-knitting, and the remainder is divided between explanations of techniques and a series of patterns using all of them. I think this book would be great for both beginning and experienced sock-knitters (although not appropriate for beginning knitters). Another plus: it is very well-written.

I lean more towards the textured camp (cables, bobbles, ribs, lace, etc) than intarsia, but I'm versed in both. I have knit two pairs from this book so far, the Latvian lace (in Lorna's Laces on sz 1) and the Chalet socks in the same. The patterns were error free and enjoyable to make. It's true that the patterns are not exact reproductions of the original designs, but this did not bother me. They are more "inspired by" than anything. The chapters at the beginning about the various toes and heels is really useful as well, and can be used to understand any sock pattern better, not just those contained in this book.

I'd knit a couple of pairs of socks before, and so far I've only used the basic sock pattern from this book; but I like the basic instructions better than any other patterns I have, and I find the other sock patterns very inspiring.