Knitting on the Road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter (Spiral-bound)

by Nancy Bush (Author) "The inspiration for these colorful socks comes from wonderful memories of my many visits to Canada and the delightful friendships I've formed with people who..." (more)
Key Phrases: chain sts, work instep sts, heel sts, Repeat Rows, Turn Heel Row, Heel Gussets Knit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Small, portable, and with enough variety in the knitting to keep them interesting, socks are ideal projects for the traveling knitter. Bush (Folk Socks, Folk Knitting in Estonia) is a well-known teacher and researcher in the area of ethnic knitting. This is a collection of 18 projects inspired by her travels in the United States and abroad. Understanding that the traveling knitter may not have on hand the yarn recommended in a pattern, she includes a dandy table of all popular sock yarns with information on each that makes it easy to substitute yarns. Each project includes complete instructions, charts, and full-page illustrations all packed into a sturdy, covered-spiral binding. For all popular knitting collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
These 18 sock patterns are fun, easy, and portable-making this book great for obsessive knitters on the move. Perfect for beginners, it features helpful tips for each pattern and covers each step of knitting these stylish socks with charts and illustrations. Packaged in a covered-spiral binding that is easy to use and carry, these patterns are perfect to toss in the knitting bag on the way out the door.

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 96 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883010918
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010911
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #159,611 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sock it to me, Nancy..., July 5, 2001

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Until this book arrived, I used to recommend Nancy Bush's "Folk Socks" as a must-have book to all aspiring sock knitters. Nancy Bush knows socks and writes excellent instructions for different kinds of heels, toes, fit, finish and folk design. Now, Nancy has written helpful knitting tips as well as some cute patterns in a ready-to-go book that is a real winner.

For those of you who don't knit socks, these can be an addiction. Socks are a small, portable knitting project with many interesting design tasks (heels, toes, cuffs) that lend themselves to much creativity. And you end up with warm, comfy, custom fit footwear. ALL my socks are hand-knit because they are so wonderful to wear.

There's even a sock knitter's mail list, where members exchange patterns and helpful information on techniques and materials.

So whether if you fall into the "sock besotted" category, or aspire to knit socks, you won't go wrong with this book. It's specifically designed to fit into most handbags along with a sock project, has helpful tips, and is written by one of the BEST sock authorities, Nancy Bush. DON'T MISS IT!

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite!, September 18, 2004

By	digikat "digikat" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

Wow, what a book! This book starts out with a discussion of knitting socks. I think the author is assuming that either the reader has already knit socks, or has a supplementary instructional book on how to do so. This is because the instructions are rather brief, although very clear and potentially inclusive of everything you might need to know to knit socks. If you're interested in learning how to knit socks, I recommend Nancy Bush's "Folk Socks", whereas I highly recommend this book for patterns.

Following the knitting instructions is a two-page table listing common sock yarns and all their information so that you may substitute yarns presented in the patterns. This is a great table and the yarns listed are indeed common and commonly used for socks.

Then there is the meat of the book - the 18 sock patterns. I was really impressed with the choice of patterns here. The socks are classic and beautiful - you won't be embarrassed to show them off! Some feature colorwork, but mainly they showcase gorgeous textures. I would say that nothing fits into the "novelty" category here - these are just classic, well-designed socks, without outrageous colors or patterns. At the same time, there are no "basic" (pattern-less) socks here either - each one is truly a work of art. The yarns used in the pattern range from sock weight to light worsted weight. Each pattern is given for only one sock size, and these sizes are mainly smaller (women's) sizes, although there are a few socks which are bigger. It seems to me that the patterns for about half of the items presented can be used for men's socks, although some of them may need to be resized because they are written for a smaller foot. These are the only two limitations of the book - all the yarns used are about the same weight, and the patterns are written for one size only.

The presentation of the patterns is great - each one is devoted several pages, starting with a huge, one-page photograph of the finished product. The instructions seem clear, and not at all hurried, and the information is organized and complete. The book is a comfortable elongated shape with a spiral binding on the inside, hardcover on the outside.

I highly recommend this book for classic, elegant, stylish, and sophisticated sock patterns. I think this book is meant for an intermediate knitter who's already had some exposure to knitting socks.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Sock Book Out There..., March 22, 2002

By A Customer

...or at least in the top five! This book is an indispensable addition to any knitter's library. The socks included are beautiful, with the patterns inspired from places all over the world. It's a great book to use to expand your abilities--I'd especially recommend it for the intermediate knitter. There are several single-color socks with interesting patterns, along with a few color patterns and one *great*-looking Christmas stocking. The directions are perfectly clear, and the introduction at the front is fabulous--several different cast-on methods, etc, and the instructions actually make sense! One of the best little extras, and one that's indicative of the book's quality, is the listing of good sock yarns that are interchangeable with the yarns used for the example socks. This book was written with expertise, a sense of humor, and joy, and it really comes out in the anecdotes and the patterns. I can't say enough about it.