Customer Reviews

Knitting Circles around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ms. Gillingham does a great job describing how to knit two socks cuff down on two circular needles. Some of the best things are, finally, an illustraton of the anatomy of a sock. Finally, finally, finally, someone shows exactly what the gusset is on a sock. If you've never seen a hand-knit sock, only store-bought, you will be hard pressed to figure out what the gusset is. Here is a picture. Her other illustrations are also very good, particularly of the Kitchener graft.

Her instructions are very clearly written. It's obvious that English is her second language in the sense that she is very careful and precise in its use. Nothing is taken for granted. This is an excellent quality in a book of instructions on a process.

The reason I give this book only three stars is that I found the title misleading. If Ms. Gillingham (or her publisher) had specified that this was a book on knitting socks on TWO circular needles it would have been clear. As it is, I had the impression that it was a book about knitting socks on circular needles. This would normally have included knitting on one long circular needle, aka "Magic Loop." There is no mention of the magic loop method in the book.

The other star was lost in the lack of any toe-up sock patterns. Toe-up is my preferred way of knitting socks because I have a number of relatives with very long feet. When you knit toe-up you can be sure to have the foot (at least!!!) completed before running out of yarn, then you use up the rest of the yarn to knit the leg and cuff. I know that most people are accustomed to knitting socks cuff down, but those of us who knit toe-up shouldn't be denied out of hand.

This said, it is a good beginner book and knitting two socks at a time is truly a no brainer. Even if you've never knit socks before in your life, it will not be a problem to start two at a time with this book.

I am a beginning knitter. I HAD NEVER MADE A PAIR OF SOCKS UNTIL I RECEIVED THIS BOOK! When I first flipped through the pictures and patterns, I thought, "Maybe this is beyond my knitting ability level." However, as I followed the author's meticulous, step-by-step instructions, each subsequent portion of the directions made sense as I continued knitting along. The directions are very detailed, and the pictures are clear and helpful. I am pleased to report that my first pair of knitted socks turned out incredibly well, thanks to this book!

The author provides "The Basic Sock Pattern," on pages 20-33, to show exactly how to make a pair of plain, worsted-weight socks on two size 5 circular needles (one 16" circular needle and one 24" circular needle). There are 19 individual photographs (Figures 1-19) in The Basic Sock section that aid the reader in understanding the well-written directions.

Since the 16 inch and 24 inch needles are different lengths, you will not get confused regarding which row/round you are knitting. I followed the author's suggestion of using point protectors to differentiate between needles for the first few rounds. Bryson knitting point protectors can be cut in half with a sharp craft knife (these point protectors have holes for two needle tips). After cutting one point protector in half, I put halves on two of the four needle tips to differentiate between the 16 and 24 inch needles.

In addition, illustrated diagrams and written instructions are provided in the "Knitting Basics" section of the book. Instructions are included for the Long-Tail Cast On, Knit Two Together, Purl Two Together, Slip Slip Knit, Slip Slip Purl, Make One Stitch, the Kitchener Stitch Bind Off (Grafting), and other stitches mentioned throughout the patterns in this book. As a beginning knitter, I did not previously know how to "Slip Slip Purl" or how to do the Kitchener Bind Off (to graft the final toe stitches together). Since the author provided these instructions in this book, I did not have to search the internet to find directions elsewhere.

In addition to The Basic Sock Pattern, there are 8 more sock patterns in this book. You can make bulky-weight socks (1 pattern), socks with beads (1), socks with stripes (2 patterns), socks with cables (1), anklet ruffle socks (1), and socks with knitted lace (2). Besides the patterns in the book, the author gives instructions for "Converting Patterns From Double-Pointed to Circular Needles." With the conversion instructions, you can convert any double-pointed needle sock pattern to the two-at-a-time circular needles method.

This book is a wonderful resource if you want to make two socks at once (from the cuff down) on two circular needles!

For years I have been envious of knitters who could knit two socks at the same time. It seemed difficult and complicated and was sure this was a skill that I could never master. But then a knitting buddy told me about "Knitting Circles Around Socks." I am now one of those skilled knitters who can do two at once! If you've been knitting for a while and you've made socks on dp needles, then you will be able to follow the written instructions. The easy-to-understand photos complement the writing. The whole idea is that when you're finished knitting, you've got both socks done and they are both exactly the same size. I really like that part. But I have to confess that I didn't particularly enjoy this "twofer" process. In practice, figuring out which needles you're using at any given moment can be exasperating, especially if you're like me and didn't use point protectors. And my yarn kept getting tangled up. Even though the author tried to explain how to hold the yarn so that didn't happen, her technique didn't work for me. But the most important thing for me is that I did it. I taught myself how to make two socks at once on circular needles. I figure knitting one sock on two circular needles is going to be a piece of cake!

Very nice resource... clear instructions, good photos, step-by-step instructions. This will get you started knitting tubular pieces two-at-a-time, which I think is the easiest and most logical way to knit components that need to end up exactly alike (or mirrored). I'll use this method for knitting sweater sleeves, pants legs, and mittens, as well.

I started off knitting just one sock on two circular needles to get comfortable with handling two needles at once. But then I was ready to get on with knitting pairs of things.

The idea of using two different length needles was brilliant! That makes it much easier to differentiate between sole/instep ... or in the case of sleeves, front/back. Will make mirrored shaping much easier in future projects.

Combine with Cat Bordhi's New Pathways For Sock Knitters Book One for toe-up instructions and alternate sock architectures... add your own stitch patterns and you're in for unending sock success!

~ Karen Wiant

I received this book as a gift and am SO glad that I did. When I got it, I had knitted about 3 pairs of socks prior (one at a time, using DPNs). I was fairly comfortable with the anatomy of a knitted sock, but I think I could have understood Antje's technique even as a complete beginner.

I have to absolutely RAVE about the photography in this book. I have never seen a knitting book that had so many photos. In the first section of the book where the 2 sock technique is explained, there is a photo of EVERY SINGLE STEP. You can actually just follow the photos without reading a single page of the text and you will still end up with a perfect sock.

I knitted my first sock as a plain stockinette sock using Antje's technique. The second sock I did using this technique was the "Monkey" sock by Cookie A. and I had no problems at all translating the technique over to a more complex pattern.

Since I got this book and started knitting this way, I've had the opportunity to help out at a workshop with Antje in Hendersonville, TN. She is a wonderful person and if you ever have the chance to take a class with her or visit her knit shop in Maryville, TN, I highly recommend it. She's an excellent teacher and an all-around wonderful woman!

I tried to use another book to knit a sock using the magic loop, but even though I mastered using one circular needle to knit with the magic loop, the directions for the socks were hard to follow. So I purchased this book on the basis of these reviews, and what a difference. The directions and photos that go along with them are so clear and easy to follow. At first using the two circular needles was a little confusing, but very quickly I figured it out. And knitting both socks at the same time is so much better than knitting one at a time.

A wonderful book featuring a fantastic technique! After getting over the clumsiness of handling two balls of yarn, this is the BEST (dare I say 'only'??) way to knit socks and is also great for sweater sleeves and fingerless gloves/mittens/gauntlets - heck, even hats for twins?? The photo tutorial gives a perfect view of the steps needed for learning this method of knitting two of anything 'tubular' at a time.

After many attempts at knitting socks, I finally get it! This book has stayed at my side while knitting my first "pair" of socks. As a matter of fact, I have them on right now and have 2 more pair on needles.
The instructions, photo's and description of each part of a sock are right on. I was fortunate enough to have taken one of Antje's sock classes in her shop and can tell you this book is a must! It makes knitting two socks at one time a breeze.
While I have only been knitting for 3 years or so, I have always wanted to make socks only to end up with one as I used double pointed needles.
I am so glad I found her shop and the book. Thanks for sharing!

First let me say I have crocheted for 10 years and have only been knitting a few months when I purchased this book. I was intimidated until I actually got my hands into the very first basic sock pattern. It's really very easy once you get the hang of it. ALso, there is a great intro to sock construction that I've not seen in a lot of other knitting sock books, that is good to have if you've never knitted a sock. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. I am very happy with this book and wish more books were written like it. Plus, the really cool thing is I won't make one sock and wait 3 months to make it's mate!! I would highly recommend this book to beginners and others who just want to try something new.

This is my favorite sock knitting book and it sits on top of a hefty pile of others on the topic! Great illustrations for those of use easily confused by written directions. You need no experience in sock knitting to use this book and there are a variety of techniques to try.