Customer Reviews

Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Sock Book: History*Technique*Design

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

 

 

Seems to be a nice book, but in my browsing through I've already noticed that the ZigZag socks pattern has serious errors in it. I'd wait for errata or the second printing, if you are not an experienced enough sock knitter to be able to troubleshoot poorly proofread patterns.

I was relieved to see that I am not the only one struggling with the errors in this book.

As a life long knitter, there is nothing more aggravating to me than a complex pattern with errors. Many times when faced with a challenging pattern, I put my faith in the instructions and follow them strictly. Usually I find some new insight that I would not have been able to guess myself. When you are shaping a heel with multiple colors, the instructions simply have to be correct!

I'm looking at one pattern that the written instructions do not match the graph. So, if you're pushing your limits as a knitter, how do you know what to trust?

I also, for once, bought the exact yarn stated in a pattern, only to find that Vogue didn't even name the colors correctly!

All it would have taken was having ONE person knit ONE sock based on the instructions to see where the written instructions go wrong. How they could have sent this to publication without that is beyond me.

I am a fairly accomplished knitter, and I already had three excellent sock books. I bought this book thinking Vogue would raise the bar even further. While the pictures are pretty, you'd better put your patience-hat on if you intend to use the patterns.

Based on the book's description, Vogue's reputation and my experience with other of their books, I was expecting this book to be more that it is. The history is poorly written and edited. The techniques section is sketchy. For example, the technique for knitting two socks on two pairs of circular needles should be at the front with pictures, rather than as a brief description with the pattern. Many of the other techniques (such as for different heels) are only in the patterns and not in the techniques section. And as noted by other reviewers, wait for the errata.

Why a whole two stars? The history, though poorly written, is nice to have. There are some lovely patterns. The design section has some good advice and ideas.

Am I sorry I bought it? Yes, but I will use it. Vogue ought to be ashamed.

I had an English professor once in college that graded papers on the "any 7 errors" rule; that is, any 7 errors earned an automatic "F" grade. It didn't matter how thoughtful or thought provoking the content of the paper was --

Which turned a lot of students into excellent proofreaders. And those dyslexic students in the mix (like me) either just bypassed this guy -- or kept roommates in beer money by paying .05/error found.

Surely an institution as venerable as Vogue can afford to pay a few anal-retentive knitters/proofreaders to check their work and avoid tripping innocent knitters over the kind of mistakes that are in this book

That said (unlike my professor -- I actually read for content) this book does one thing that I haven't seen before -- within the book of sock patterns, history, general sock instruction, and inspiration there is a stitch dictionary designed specifically for sock weight yarns -- the 5.5-8sts/in fingering and dk/sport weight yarn. Little, tiny, itty-bitty stitch patterns -- in cables, lace, color-work, slip stitch, wave patterns and basic knit/purl patterns.

I bought this book sight-unseen based on Vogue's reputation and track record for solidly written books -- and though I'm a little less convinced of their "solidity," it is definitely worth having on the shelf. Each pattern is by a different designer and all are wonderful examples of "sockness" from the simpler toe-up and cuff-down basic design, to kaleidoscopic 2, 3 or 13-color foot art & architecture.

One caviat: The pages on basic sock techniques are written and illustrated clearly, but if I didn't already understand Kitchner stitching, I don't think I'd get it from their text/drawings. Kitchnier has been one of the most difficult things to get my dyslexic head around and so stands as a test for most technique-books -- that is, if you can't explain Kitchner, then perhaps "how-to" book-writing is not your calling. (It's all the left/right, back/front of the stitch, on-the-needle/off-the-needle yarn-in-front/yarn-in-back, over/under [!!!!!!] that confuses the dyslexic directional signals.)

If you need "best text" on Kitchner, it is nicely illustrated, with steps clearly spelled out in
"Knit Socks!" by Betsy McCarthy.

I am an accomplished knitter and own just about all of Vogue's knitting books. I've successfully created many items from these books so why would I think that Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Sock Book would be one of the worst knitting books I own?

1) No index - why would Vogue Knitting go to such lengths to write a book with "ultimate" in the title and not include an index? It's a reference book!

2) No up-to-date sock knitting techniques - you can't call yourself "ultimate" if you're only going to show how to knit a sock on DPNs. They should have included knitting on two circulars and the Magic Loop. There are many of us who would rather use those techniques. Also, they went into great detail about gusset heels but very little detail on short row heels and nothing on afterthought heels.

3) As mentioned by other reviewers, several of the patterns had errors. I teach knitting and I'm trying to encourage children and adults to find it fun and use it as a stress buster. Not going to happen with this book. It's obviously not for the new knitter but it should be informative enough for a knitter who has never done socks. Errors in patterns just make it frustrating.

This is not the "ultimate" sock book. When Vogue goes to a second printing, they should change the title. There are other sock knitting books out there that are so much better than this. On the plus side, I was able to use the history part of the book for my classes. Otherwise, it was a waste of my money. Go to the bookstore first and look through it before committing yourself to paying $29.95.

I was so happy to receive this book. It was recommended by a knitting instructor. I have started my first pair of socks. This book is probably not for beginners but the instructions are complete and the variety of sock types for different skill levels is sufficient to keep a person busy for a long time.

I was very impressed with the patterns and instructions in this book. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for more variety of sock patterns.

This an outstanding book. It starts with the history of socks/stockings and brings the reader up to today and how they've changed. The photos are wonderful and the writing is easy to understand.

I would recommend this book for anyone who really is interested in sock knitting. The book was not awfully expensive and it covers about anything you might want to know about socks. This will always be current for the who wants a simple sock to a very ornate complicated one.

As a unrepentant sock book collector I found this book to be very well put together and full of fresh new patterns. Another MUST HAVE for any sock knitter! It's got something for everyone from beginner to expert.

This book is self explanatory and additionally has a great section that speaks about the anatomy of a sock. It gives you detailed history of sock making and the biggest names in the sock industry! Impressive! Not only are the sock patterns attractive they are designed and charted out by some of the best designers. You definitely won't be displeased if you add this one to your knitting library!