Folk Socks: The History & Techniques of Handknitted Footwear, Updated Edition [Paperback]

Nancy Bush (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Originally published in 1994, Folk Socks taught knitters in North America all about how to knit socks with Nancy Bush’s careful instructions, charts, and illustrations. Folk Socks offers a collection of 18 sock patterns pulled from European and British traditions, including boot socks, Birkenstock socks, lacy stockings, kilt hose, cabled and clocked socks, and more. There is also a chapter on essential sock knitting techniques for heel turns, toe shaping, and top ribbing for knitters of all skill levels.

Folk Socks still contains the same in-depth history and the same step-by-step instruction from Nancy Bush that sock knitters have come to love and depend on. Now you can get this popular resource with updated information on new yarns as well as modifications that Nancy has learned since first writing this book.

A classic reference, now updated, this is a must-have for any sock knitter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is the reason I knit socks." -Kate Atherly, aka "Wise Hilda," author of "Beyond Knit and Purl"

“These aren’t just any old socks!” – Knit Today

About the Author

Nancy Bush teaches workshops for guilds, shops, and at conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and Northern Europe. She is the author of Folk Socks, Folk Knitting in Estonia, Knitting on the Road, Knitting Vintage Socks, and Knitted Lace of Estonia. Nancy lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press; Revised Edition edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596684356
• ISBN-13: 978-1596684355
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT'S NEW? This is an essential sock book, updated December 30, 2011

By Joanna Daneman #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

If you are like me, you have a copy of Nancy Bush's Folk Socks on your shelf. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get into sock knitting. The main reason is that the book has a section on different toes and heels, allowing you to customize your own patterns and allowing you to pick the toe or heel with the best fit for you.

The book also has patterns from many lands, from England and Scotland to Estonia and even the Middle East. All the patterns are attractive, some are useful for costumers and re-enactors.

The changes to the book:

1. New yarns, reflecting currently available yarns. For example, the St. Peter Port socks now use a patterned yarn for the gray marl. The look is different, but very good! The former yarn was a licorice-colored marled yarn (Brown Sheep, I think) and it now uses those multi patterned yarns you see all over. I love the new pattern.
2. The Mameluk Socks now have no arabic writing
3. A few new patterns (the Greek socks were replaced)

This is my numero uno sock book--yes, there are others, but this one just has it all--lace, colorwork, twisted stitches, cables. If you have a copy, you probably do not need a new one (unless you want to work from currently available yarns.) If you DON'T have a copy and you like to knit socks, I highly recommend this book.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars in case you were wondering December 20, 2011

By Katie K.

Format:Paperback

in addition to updated info, the changes in patterns between the update and the original books are: the Mamluk Socks are now called Egyptian Socks and the Greek Socks have been replaced by the Estonian Crossroads Socks.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Updated Version of the 1994 book by Nancy Bush December 22, 2011

By Bonnie Brody TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This updated version of Nancy Bush's 1994 book is a sock knitter's delight. It covers the history of sock knitting and origins of the sock. It has a section on knitting in Great Britain and knitting in other European countries. By chapter five, we get down to business - how to knit a sock.

The first pattern is for A Classic Sock: And Some Variations on Heel and Toe. The sock is knit in a simple rib stitch on the leg and to the top of the foot. The pattern provides eight different heels that can be utilized for the pattern. It also has eight different Toe Variations. This is the basic sock upon which the rest of the socks in this book are built.

The Norwegian Socks are great, knit in black and white with a red snowflake band on the top.

The Welsh Country Stockings are lovely, knit primarily in gray with white at the top, on the heels and toes.

The Latvian Socks are lacy and inspired "by a pair of lacy Latvian stockings, knitted in Latvia and owned by Lizbeth Upitis. The lace is simple to work and decorative." Knit all in a soft ivory, they are truly beautiful.

The Highland Schottische Kilt Hose are knit in a soft ivory-gray and is used in Scottish dancing. They are kilt hose and would look great with Birkenstocks or sandals.

The Chalet Socks in bright red utilize 'traveling twisted stitches' and are used to decorate stockings from Bavaria, Tyrol, Alsace and Norway. "There is also a decorated seam running down the back of the leg."

Estonian Socks are white with a red, white and blue top. "This sock dates from the second half of the nineteenth centruy. The original is in the Estonian National Museum in Tartu."

Country Socks look great for a nice hike in the hills and are knit primarily in dark gray with white for the top ribbing, heel and toes. They are "earthy, practical socks".

Some of the socks seem rather short to me and are not what I'm used to knitting. They appear to go up only three to four inches. There are also several patterns that are just not to my liking. Overall, the book is good but not spectacular.

As usual, I asked myself three questions:

Will I knit the patterns?

Are the patterns easy to read?

Is the book a good resource.

The answer to these questions is a conditional 'yes'. Some of the socks are definitely ones I want to knit. Others just don't appeal to me. The book carries a lot of history in it and if you're one of those knitters who wants to know about the origins of socks and the history of knitting socks, this book is a good choice. I don't think the book is an especially good resource though it does have some helpful hints.