46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
NIce, but...., January 14, 2009
This review is from: Socks a La Carte: Pick And Choose Patterns To Knit Socks Your Way (Spiral-bound)
As you can figure out, this book's main purpose is to serve as an advertisement for Tofutsies sock yarn. Nothing wrong with that, in my book, actually, but if you're expecting more, you'll be set up for disappointment.
The book utilizes a flip format (similar to, I believe, the book _1000 sweaters_ from a few years back) with all of the sock bits knit in the same color. This is handy, because you can see how the sock would look knit up with this toe, this cuff, this ankle pattern, etc. As for variety, you get a good number of options. For cuffs, for example, you get picots, baby-cable rib, ruffle, foldover, etc. For toes they include not only pedi-socks (sock with no toe) to thong socks to even little compartments for each individual toe (no thanks! My toes would get lonely!)
Another reviewer spoke well when she said that the yarn and stitch pattern didn't really show up very well--and that's the problem, after all, with yarns like Tofutsies or, say, Lang Trekking. Some of the patterns work up beautifully, but some just didn't look right for that kind of yarn.
The 'sock gallery' at the end *is* marvellous--only problem is, there are only really about half as many sock variations as listed (they list each sock individually), and the one really interesting pattern isn't in the book. It is on the website, but still. Was it too much to put it in the book!? Not a lot of information on changing sizes or changing gauge, either. And none of the patterns feature anything on the instep of the sock--the pattern goes down to the ankle only, and the foot is knit plain.
If you have any of the other sock compendia (I know I keep harping on Schurch's books for beginners, and Cat Bordhi's two are stupendous for intermediate/advanced socksters), this book is not going to be irresistible for you. If you have my level of sock compulsion, you'll get it and it will be useful to you, just not as much as you'd hoped. I'd hoped for a book full of patterns that showed Tofutsies off in its full splendor--with its limited elasticity and bright colors, it's not easy to plug into a pattern! It's useful, and useful for more yarns (I think some of the patterns would work even better in some of the more subdued Trekkings, for example) than just SWTC, but as an end-all and be-all of sock books, I'm sorry but there are ones you should have on your shelf before this one.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Cute Idea...Poorly Executed, February 9, 2009
This review is from: Socks a La Carte: Pick And Choose Patterns To Knit Socks Your Way (Spiral-bound)
I wish I had been able to look at this book first and then I would not have bbought it. One of the things that bothers me the most is the yarn choice for the pictures of the sample pattern pieces...it is 'tweedy' and sort-if self striping and does not display the pattern designs well at all...doesn't make me want of mak any of the designs shown! The flip pages are a cute idea but because of the poor yarn choice I really can't 'see' how each part works with the other part. Nice reference for MANY different heel and toe types and many different leg stitches but, again, because of the very poor yarn choice all of the patterns are difficult to 'get a real feel of'. Buying this book was a waste of money for me. The book 'Sensational Knitted Socks' is much, much,much better.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful addition to the sock knitting world!, December 31, 2008
This review is from: Socks a La Carte: Pick And Choose Patterns To Knit Socks Your Way (Spiral-bound)
This is the book we've all been waiting for and you've got to ask why hasn't anyone thought of this before?! The book is designed for those of us that prefer visualization over the written word. You no longer have to imagine what a cuff, leg and heel, toe and foot look like as all you've got to do is flip through your preferences. Pick the cuff, the leg and the foot and there it is, all that is left to your imagination is the yarn and colors. The book does talk about the importance of swatching (yes, I'm guilty of neglecting this important step), thus allowing those of us with outrageous stashes to use whichever yarn we'd like. Must admit I do love Tofutsies but also am a handspinner so love handspun as well. The instructional diagrams are lovely as well giving one a choice of using DPNs or circs. There are also more than one cast ons as well as binding off. We all love choices and this is a wonderful book with multiple choices! Well done SWTC!
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