Knit. Sock. Love. [Paperback]

Cookie A (Author), Laura Kicey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2010

Sock designer extraordinaire Cookie A chronicles her love affair with sock knitting and explores different methods to pattern socks by examining their underlying structure. Nineteen patterns ranging from simply chic to astonishingly intricate are arranged into three sections: Columns, Tessellations and Diagonals. Among the projects are Pointelle, a pattern which features diagonal lace lines over an arrowhead lace background, and Wedge, an ingenious use of garter stitch short rows and stockinette bands that will have you marveling at its simplicity. These rich and seemingly complex patterns are broken down step by step into bite-size components that are easy to digest. Illustrations, diagrams and charts accompany each project, offering an invaluable guide for visual knitters.

Breathtaking photographs by Laura Kicey and styling by Sarah Beaver showcase the socks in dramatic locations, leading you off the beaten path just like the socks in this collection. This revolutionary compilation is sure to elevate sock knitting to new levels of sophistication.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A sock book as they were meant to be written impeccably conceived, stunningly photographed, and thoroughly inspiring. The only hard part is choosing which sock to cast on first." Clara Parkes of Knitter's Review and author of The Knitter's Book of Wool

"If you're knitting socks today, Cookie is the reason. Cookie A is the definition of modern sock knitting." Amy Singer of Knitty.com and author of Big Girl Knits

"In this outstanding collection of socks, Cookie's exploration of columns, tessellations, and diagonals proves that there's no end to her fresh and ingenious designs." Ann Budd, author of Getting Started Knitting Socks and editor of Favorite Socks

"Cookie is a designer who deserves watching." --Knit 'N Style

If you're knitting socks today, Cookie is the reason. Cookie A is the definition of modern sock knitting. --Amy Singer of Knitty.com and author of Big Girl Knits

In this outstanding collection of socks, Cookie's exploration of columns, tessellations, and diagonals proves that there's no end to her fresh and ingenious designs. --Ann Budd, author of Getting Started Knitting Socks and editor of Favorite Socks

About the Author

Cookie A is an avid sock knitter, teacher, and designer. Her patterns have been featured in Vogue Knitting, Knit.1 and Knitty magazines. She teaches intensive sock design workshops throughout North America and is the author of the bestselling book, Sock Innovation.

Laura Kicey is a Philadelphia-based photographer and artist whose work has been showcased in regional galleries and museums. She has been published in magazines and the book Beyond Architecture: Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: One Leg Press; 1St Edition edition (November 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984572600
• ISBN-13: 978-0984572601
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 72 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but... December 9, 2010

By K. A. Kellersberger

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a huge Cookie A. fan, and absolutely fell in love with her designs in Knitty.com. When the first book, "Sock Innovation" was released, I was absolutely smitten. I was so excited when I heard she was releasing another book; however, unlike the previous reviewers, I am quite disappointed that more than half of the patterns here have been previously published, and that I already have most of them. While I agree that the photography is beautiful, and instructions are impeccable, I find myself quite let down at the dearth of new patterns here, especially given the price.

Overall, while there are some very nice patterns here, I was just not blown away the way I was with Cookie's first book. The patterns here are just not nearly as, well, innovative as those in "Sock Innovation". Maybe I am disappointed because I have knit my way through the first book and was hungry for some new material and there is just not as much new here as I had anticipated. I really wish this had been disclosed either by author or publisher before I bought the book, especially since I had already paid for most of these patterns previously (at the steep $6 and $7 price tag from Twist Collective and the Cookie A. website). I felt a little like I had been duped.

Beautifully photographed and written, and if you are new to Cookie A's designs, you will probably be very happy with the book.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Monkey See, Monkey Knit; the textural socks of Cookie A. November 30, 2010

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

Format:Paperback

Cookie A. (the "A" is for us folks who can't pronounce "Apichairuk" is a beloved sock designer who has many notable designs on Knitty dott com, an ezine offering free knitting patterns. Her "Monkey" sock and her "Potamus" both took the knitting world by storm. Now she has given us a book, the title cleverly playing on "Eat, Pray, Love" and I'll bet this book will prove just as popular with knitters as that bestseller.

So, learn more about the "Monkey" sock and the famous mannekin leg that displays her designs, as well as drool over beautifully photographed models of 18 other socks. 12 of these have been published before, 7 of these are newly published.

The socks are organized by design feature (columnar, tesselated, diagonals, and so you get a peek into the mind of the designer. Cookie likes textural socks with architectural features. You get schematics of the sock leg, foot and instep and heel. So if you like textural knitting (I certainly do) then you will be delighted to learn how this designer goes about creating her socks and it will give you insight into doing, perhaps, designs of your own.

If you are looking primarily for 2 color work or simple socks, that's not what "Knit.Sock.Love is about. Also, some avid collectors of sock patterns are going to be miffed by the fact that there are only seven new designs in this book and you could conceivably grab the others here and there on the internet or magazines. Nor are there toe-up methods here, though you can probably adapt any of these socks to starting at the foot rather than at the leg cuff.

The photography merits a mention: Laura Kicey does a fabulous job staging and photographing the models. The women who model the socks get a bio in the back of the book, which is a nice touch as they have fascinating faces and it turns out, each of them has an interesting story, too. The author credits the test knitters, a very gracious gesture, and there is a lot of info on resources for the sock knitter.

This is a very beautiful knitting book and even if you have a notebook full of Knitty printouts and other publications that include the dozen previously-published socks, you'll enjoy this book on your shelf. I'm planning to knit quite a few of these socks and I appreciate the large charts and pretty photos.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sock love! January 26, 2011

By M. Gerhard

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wonderful socks to knit -- clear charts and written instructions. Beautiful photography including good closeups of all the socks. I'll be knitting a lot of these patterns. I've heard people complain that this book contains too many previously published patterns (some of them free) -- and it is true that a few are re-published. But for someone like me who hadn't purchased any of the patterns prior to this book, this publication is just fine. Highly recommended for those with "sock love".