Customer Reviews

Socks - Socks - Socks: 70 Winning Patterns from Knitter's Magazine Contest

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The one major thing that annoyed me about most sock knitting books was that they had lots of pretty pictures and not enough directions for people to suss out the basics behind turning a heel. This book had the pictures, sure -- but it's the ONLY one I've found that actually teaches you everything you need to know about turning a heel. Finally. FINALLY! This is the book I wish I'd gotten when I first decided I wanted to knit socks instead of wasting my time with others that didn't give me enough directions on heel-turning and figuring that I just wouldn't be able to learn it without someone showing me.

So many long-awaited treats don't measure up to the anticipation -- this book from the people who publish Knitters' Magazine exceeded my expectations instead!!! The socks vary widely in style, complexity and color but almost every pattern made me say "I want to knit those socks!" In addition, because these socks were designed by people who are clearly in love with and experts in their craft, each pattern seems to hold the promise of a new technique or trick or approach to design that a knitter can investigate without the investment of time and money in a larger garment. There are socks which could be completed by a beginner with relatively little trouble although I think to really appreciate and enjoy most of the patterns it would help to have a little experience with knitting. All in all, I think the book is the best knitting book I've seen in a very long time, and is a great bargain at the price. It meets the very highest standards set by Knitters Magazine since its inception. I only wish it was published in hardcover, because I'm going to wear it out in a very short period of time!!!!

I've been knitting for over 30 years, but I had never knitted socks because I had no one to show me how to turn the heel, and I just could not understand the few instructions I had read. My husband gave me this book for Christmas [2000] and it has been a joy and an inspiration. The writing, photography, layout and general tone of the book are all excellent - when you look at the projects and read the text, you WANT to knit socks! Fortunately, the instructions are also excellent. It took me a few tries, but when I actually figured out what the instructions meant for me to do to turn the heel, and it WORKED, I was, to borrow a word from my [now outdated] teenage years, totally stoked :-) (No other word comes close to describing the flush of triumph!) That first sock (the basic baby sock practice pattern) had many errors, but the second, and third, and fourth, are much better. I spent my recent birthday money from my father on more double-pointed needles and some sock yarn - now if only my infant son would let me knit!

There are a few things I would like to see either added or corrected. It would be really helpful for a beginning sock knitter like me to have some kind of size chart for men, women and children, so that I could knit a pair of socks from a pattern to my own specifications (for instance, when the feet for which the socks are intended are either not available or one would like to surprise someone). Also, the metric amounts of yarn required for each project are incorrect. For instance, one project calls for 60 yds/66 m of yarn. Since a meter is approximately 39 inches long, the metric amount should be LESS (60 yds = ~55 m). I'm not sure how the measurements were arrived at, or why the copy editor did not catch this error (in EVERY pattern), but if the book is reprinted, I'd like to see it corrected.

If I had friends who knitted, I would give them this book. Since I am the lone knitter in my immediate circle, I'll give them socks instead :-)

I have spent all weekend poring over this book. It's lovely, and I'm so glad I finally decided that I DID need more sock patterns, after all. There are some truly unique and beautiful socks in this book, and I love the many clear color photographs. Most socks are shown both on feet and in detail shots. Clear instructions and nice little tidbits of information from the knitters who entered the contest. This book is definitely on its way to being one of my favorite knitting pattern books.

I've been knitting for some time, and done mittens, sweaters, hats, lace, cables, fair isle, etc., but never socks. I could never make sense of the directions for doing a heel, so I just didn't do them. This book has an illustration and explanation that not only makes sense, it makes it simple! I'm about to turn the heel on my first pair of socks, and plan to make some lace ones after these. The patterns range from simple to very complex, and include baby bootees and kids' socks, as well as all sorts and styles of adult socks. Fantastic!

It took 30 years and this book to get me to knit socks. What a treasure. The book isn't for novice knitters but if you're a solid beginner there are good choices and if you're an expert there are some ideas that will keep you knitting all night. It includes baby socks and tough big guy hiker socks.

Technically the charts and instructions are very easy to follow. I particularly like the fact that there are several toe-up socks in addition to the the usual leg-down socks. They also made the book relatively timeless by just designating yarn weights and yardages - not specific brand names that will probably not be on the market in the future.

I also like that the socks are the result of a contest and while there are some "designer" socks, most are the creations of talented hobby knitters. Congrats to XRX.

My only wishes for the next edition -- 1. a discussion on washing and care of socks (since they get dirty when worn). 2. instructions, if they could get permission from Joyce Williams, of her brilliant 2 circular needle method of knitting (a wonderful improvement over double-pointed sock knitting).

I own scores of knitting books, but I always come back to this one. Socks are perfect little projects for breaks between big projects, and great for trying new techniques. There are lots of different techniques in this book: Dutch heels, Turkish (short-row) heels, after-thought heels, cuff-down construction, toe-up construction, two-needle method, two-circular method, machine knitting, sideways-knitted, etc. The list of knitting skills you can try is comprehensive: lace knitting, cables, intarsia, fair isle, mosaic, modular (entrelac, mitred squares), embossed (bobbles, etc.), ribble (reversible cable)... the list goes on. Highly recommended.

This is a fun book with a wealth of sock patterns to amuse any taste. From plain vanilla simple socks to fun kids socks to advanced colorwork and landscape socks this book will have at least a couple pairs you can't wait to cast on and inspiration to create many more. The socks all have great pictures and little anecdotes as to how and why they were designed. My only complaint about this book is the relatively limited "how to" section. This was the first sock book I had ever purchased and was expecting it to be pretty comprehensive. While there is a very good section on the basic parts of a sock many issues that are common problems of sock making are completely ignored, from basics like how to join your cast on row to including how to modify a sock pattern to fit a size different from the one listed. So, if you are totally new to knitting socks or want tools to be able to make your own sock patterns then I still say buy this book, but get a "nuts and bolts" sock knitting book too!

This book is nothing short of fantastic. I've knit several of the patterns in this book, and have found no mistakes and no disappointments. There are socks for every experience level, from beginner to the most advanced. Variety abounds, and choices are plentiful.

I especially like the section of lacey socks - I've knitted every one, and love them all. The color patterns are also excellent, and again the instructions are well written.

I you own only one book of sock patterns, this should be it.

Knitter's Magazine challenged their readers some years ago to come up with their best sock designs. The categories ranged from kids, to "simple" socks, lace socks, socks with handspun yarn, whimsical socks and more. The readers responded with a torrent of some truly creative work, and the results of the contest were published in this very popular volume.

There is everything here from lacy frou-frou socks, some beautiful fairisle and colorwork, classy cables, plain but functional socks like golf socks and hiking socks, to outright craziness, such as a sock knitted in every which way but straight (on the cover) and a pair knitted in shoestring licorice. That's right, edible socks. If you enjoy designing socks, this is a great volume for inspiration. If you just like knitting socks, you won't find a more varied and colorful assortment than here.