Customer Reviews

Toe-Up Socks for Every Body: Adventurous Lace, Cables, and Colorwork from Wendy Knits

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book just arrived and I was so inspired just by flipping through it that I'm already planning which pattern I want to knit first. The author did an amazing job of including so many attractive patterns. It also lives up to the "every body" part of it's title with a pattern for men and one for a young girl (see cover for these adorable socks). I will caution that this is probably for someone who has some knitting experience. The patterns are wonderfully elaborate, intricate, and absolutely gorgeous. Part I includes info about toe-up socks including fit and tools. It even includes 2 nicely organized pages on how to design your own - which I fully intend to use. Part II are the patterns in 3 sections - Lace, Cable, and Colorwork. This is followed by an appendix with techniques with ample illustrations. Finally, there is a single page "Index" that includes a thumbname picture and page reference of each pair of socks in the book - what a thoughtful and useful addition. I could go on and on about how great this book is but I need to stop writing so I can start knitting!! Thanks to Wendy for my new favorite sock book.

After receiving "Socks from the Toe Up", I had to order her new book. I follow her blog for us and she often adds tips on sock and shawl knitting. It is great to have a book that dedicated to Toe-Up socks again. The one thing you can count on in Wendy's books is a range of socks for the new knitter to experienced knitters.

The author gives a short section on how to start the socks - at the toe! She offers four different cast-ons for the toes and explains the three different techniques: double pointed needles, two circular needles and one long circular needle. The gets you off to a good start.

Wendy provides some beautiful sock patterns, 21 in all. There are seven each in lace, cable, and colorwork. All of the colorwork are called Fair Isle by technique in that there are only two different colors worked in any one row. In each of the categories given there is one in the easy, some in intermediate and some in higher areas of knitting ability.

I have given a brief breakdown in what is in the book. The cable area covers mostly stitches that only reliant on two stitches to be worked. If you are competent in doing cables without the cable needle, this would be a good time to do it since most of the socks use 2 stitches in making the cable. If you are not familiar with cables or are able to handle cables well, both ways are easy to use in this section. I would suggest that you look up the no cable needle needed method because the cables used are simple.

I would like to see one of Wendy's socks incorporate using three colors in any single row. Most of the cable patterns also include lace in them. But she has given you great value in this book. The organization is excellent, the charts are included, and the pictures given tell you what to expect as an outcome. I think all skills in knitting will find this a fun book to have and use.

This book is fabulous! Okay, that might sound like a bit of hyperbole, but if you are a fan of toe-up socks, then you must have this book. Pure and simple. Socks for you, your husband, boyfriend, best friend, your child or someone else's...something for everyone. Anklets, regular socks, kneehighs...and if you fancy something really over the top, try the thigh-high stockings!

The subtitle on the cover says it all: "Adventurous Lace, Cables, and Colorwork" - yup, got that right! The lace patterns are lovely, there are Austrian twisted stitch patterns, and some really beautiful stranded knitting...including argyles, which I've always wanted! One of the things I particularly like is that the photography showcases the socks which are knit in solid or semi-solid colourways, so that the stitch detail is wonderfully visible, unlike some sock pattern books which feature socks in patterned yarns where the design pattern is lost completely.

Are you are a fan of short-row heels, or do you prefer the look and fit of the heel flap style? These heels are in here. There is also a short-row heel with a mini gusset...something I've been curious to try. And while there is a great deal of valuable information and lots of helpful advice, as with her other book, Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits, this book isn't a rehash of that book. Rather, this is the next step in your toe-up sock knitting process!

The layout of the book is very nice. In Part One, she provides basic information, including tips for designing your own socks. Part Two covers the patterns, which are nicely divided into types of patterns: Lace, Cable and Colorwork. The Appendix covers knitting and finishing Techniques. And finally, the Index includes small photos of each of the completed socks and the pages where they can be found...a very handy and thoughtful addition. Clearly, this woman has put herself in the position of the reader/knitter and knows what we would like in a book.

I've bought, and returned, toe-up books from other designers, but Wendy's are definitely keepers! And if you would like to know Wendy a bit better, then read Wendy Knits: My Never-Ending Adventures in Yarn. Not only is it a hoot, it's also got patterns for socks, sweaters and more!

I loved the first Toe Up Sock book by Wendy Johnson, and I like this too, but I haven't used it so much for two reasons. One is my own fault, that I'm not advanced enough to try some of the more complicated patterns, and the second is that she knits everything on smaller needles than I'd like. She uses size 0 for fingering weight, and size 2 for sport weight, and I'd really rather use size 2 for fingering and size 3-4 for sport. I can sometimes adjust the patterns, but sometimes not. One reason I bought it is that I read that she explained how to create your own sock patterns, and I had hoped for a tutorial on how to design a heel pattern for however many stitches you wanted across the bottom of your foot. That's not in there - she talks about adjusting patterns to suit you by making the top and bottom different numbers of stitches, and how to change some other things, which are all useful and good to know, but I had really hoped to get some instruction on how to design a heel pattern, so now I have to try to figure out how to do that on my own. But if you liked the first book and you want harder patterns, it's great, and the colorwork addition is really nice.

Having and loving Wendy's first book, I couldn't wait to get this one and it was worth the wait. I don't think I'll ever make another set of top down socks. Thanks to the great instructions in this book and the previous, I convert any pattern to toe-up. I love that you can divide your yarn into 2 equal skeins and knit until you run out - you never have to guess how long the top part can be. (Obviously, I like my socks as long as possible)

I admit that I have settled on the type of cast-on and heel style that I like best and now use it for all of the socks, but the explanations of the variations possible make it easy to personalize each pattern. Having worked my way through nearly all of the socks in the first book, I'm now well on my through these as well.

I noticed in a review of the first book, someone mentioned the fact that the pattern is only on the top side of the sock in the foot portion. I particularly like this because my feet are really picky and designs on the bottom hurt! If a person wants the design on the bottom of the foot, too, it would be very easy to get it that way by looking at how the top portion is done.

Toe-Up Socks for Every Body: Adventurous Lace, Cables, and Colorwork from Wendy Knits Ms. Johnson's latest offering to the sock knitting community. She has created a series of patterns that look incredibly complex, but often are not complex to actually knit.

In this book, the sequel to Socks from the toe up, she covers all of the basic techniques in an illustrated appendix. Other than the appendix the book is broken into three main sections; lace, cables and color work. Each section has instructions specific to the method it is detailing. For example, in the color work section Johnson details all of the areas a knitter is likely to run into trouble. Color work causes the resulting fabric to be stiff, and she describes how to avoid this by not twisting the floating yarn or carried yarn. She shows a few ways to hold the yarn so that the two colors you are working with will not have to dropped and picked up repeatedly.

The illustrations and photographs in this book are stunning in that they show the patterns so clearly you almost feel like you do not need to have the written pattern (note I said almost)!

However the thing that stands out in this book is the beauty of the patterns. Ms. Johnson has an inspired creativity that she shares with the readers of her books. She has somehow created socks that are complex in design, moderate to execute and yet simple enough to wear comfortably. She suggests when the glorious hand painted sock yarns are appropriate or inappropriate, for example, "You'll want to use a solid color yarn for these socks--the lighter the color you use, the more striking the effect."(p. 87)

One final note, this book also contains some patterns for men and children, and many of the patterns written for women could be altered easy by adding a pattern repeat for men, or by simply increasing the needle size.

Before I start my rant, let me say, this is a great sock knitting book. I've slowly read through it in a brick&mortar store several times. I've looked at it at Sock Summit & at the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival this year. I've borrowed it from the library. I've almost bought it several times. Her first book is awesome and I used a heel from it in place of the heel in a pattern I used earlier this year.

If you are looking for a great Toe-Up sock knitting book, I'd recommend this one, or "Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits" or Toe-Up! Patterns and Worksheets to Whip Your Sock Knitting Into Shape. Hands down.

Now. For my rant...

I have Wendy's first Toe-Up Sock book and LOVE it. I follow her blog and would LOVE to own this book also. We will become full-time RVers sometime this next year. I am selling or donating most of my print library in favor of Kindle versions as much as possible.

I do not blame either Amazon or Wendy D. Johnson because it is clearly stated, "This price was set *by the publisher.*" As of this writing, the paperback price is $15.63 from Amazon. The Kindle price is $17.99. Are you serious, Random House? It costs you nothing more to produce a digital book than it does to produce a paperback book. It probably costs significantly less. Most publishing houses make the digital versions a few dollars LESS. Random House charges MORE.

Why? I can only think of one reason. You want me to buy a printed copy. It's basic marketing. I'd like a copy of this book. I'd like a copy of it for my Kindle. As long as you demand a price IN EXCESS of the print version for the digital version, I'll borrow it from the library. I won't buy one... at all. I know a lot of other Kindle owners who plan to do the same thing, for the same reason.

I understand you want to make a profit and I don't begrudge you that right. I do, however, resent being penalized for preferring a digital version... which cost you less to produce... because, I presume, you are emotionally paranoid about the changes taking place in the print industry. Get over it. Stop alienating potential readers. I find myself watching for "Random House" and its subsidiaries when choosing books over the past year since we bought our Kindle... and passing on those books unless and until you change your digital pricing policy.

I'd pay the SAME as a print copy. I will NOT pay more.

I hope someone from Random House reads this. I plan to find a way to express the same sentiments directly to Random House. But I've been watching this book for sometime, I'd REALLY like THIS book now. I'm placing an order this evening and I'd add this book to that order tonight if I didn't feel extreme irritation at the pricing structure. I can get it from my library for free. I may be able to borrow it in digital format from my library for free now, I've not checked yet. What I do know is, I have no intention of paying one cent more for a digital copy of my own over the cost of a print version! No matter how badly I'd like to have it.

TOE-UP SOCKS FOR EVERYBODY: ADVENTUROUS LACE, CABLES, AND COLORWORK FROM WENDY KNITS offers sock knitters both intermediate and advanced designs for the whole family. A range of over twenty sock patterns for men, women and kids offers all kinds of sizes and different approaches to socks, covering everything from thigh highs to kids' theme socks. Any knitter's collection needs this.

Wendy's books just keep getting better. I've been a fan of Wendy's for years, ever since I discovered her blog around 2004. I bought both of her prior books right away and liked both of them, though I thought the second one somewhat stronger a book than her first one.

Well, this is her third book, and I think it's the best yet.

This is a book filled with toe-up sock patterns for men, women, and children, and they're just lovely. I usually knit just plain-jane stockinette socks (yes, I know, it's boring of me), but there are at least five designs in there that I'd like to make. That's a huge number of sock patterns for me to seriously desire.

The patterns are divided into three sections-lace, cables, and colorwork. Each section starts with a couple of pages of tips and guidelines for the relevant technique, as well as a list of the patterns by difficulty level.

Are you thinking, "Wendy just did a sock book. Isn't it just another book of sock patterns?"

Not exactly. To me, her other sock book (Socks from the Toe Up) was an in-depth exploration of everything you need to knit the socks. It explores the technique in great detail. This book, on the other hand, starts off assuming you know the basics already. There is, of course, a technique section which covers this. You certainly don't need to have read through the other book to understand what's going on. It's just that the techniques are in the back, in the appendix, rather than being the main part of the book.

This book, instead, jumps right into the patterns, and I love them. They're interesting. I like the sneaky argyle socks. I liked every single one of the colorwork socks. The cabled ones were beautiful. The lace was lovely. These are some seriously great socks.

They make me want to knit something other than plain-vanilla, stockinette socks for a change. I like them that much.

My book arrived today and I have had fun looking through it already! As usual Wendy has out done herself by bringing us another beautifully written and photographed book of luscious designs and directions that are well laid out. It is the perfect follow up to her first sock book, Socks from the Toe-Up. I have to say it was also a treat to be asked to be part of "Wendy's Brigade" . So what are you waiting for? Buy it! It is a "must have".