Simple Socks: Plain and Fancy

This is an indispensable guide for knitting socks that fit great! I had been wanting to learn to knit socks for a while now, but was unable to make the class offered by my local yarn shop, so I picked up this wonderful guide instead! I am thrilled with the results. In addition to the basic sock-knitting instructions, the author offers great tips to make better-fitting socks, such as using a larger size needle on the ribbing portion of the sock. Gibson-Roberts gives a method to knit a sock to fit any foot, based on just two foot measurements. I felt that the illustrations in the book were really helpful to learning the special heel and toe shaping techniques. Also, she explains how to knit the socks from either top-to-toe ( which is the method I used for my first pair) or from toe-to-top. Rather than purchasing a bunch of sock patterns, I would recommend picking up this book and letting your creativity run wild!

I knit socks constantly, using the techniques in this book. I made a few heels for practice, and then I was on my way. I never have to think much about the pattern, just figure out the number of stitches to cast on and then go for it. Before I had this book, I always had to look up how to turn a heel. Now I have knitting on the go, all the time with out having to take a pattern along.

Until I got this book, stuffed it into my knitting bag, socks were tedious, livened only by color or a cable here and there. Whatever I did, fit was chancy, we won't discuss heels, and frankly, they were boring to make, not to mention time consuming and frustrating.Then along came Simple Socks. Ahh. Instead of chancy fit, there's exact fit, including a chart so fitting son Brian with the size 13 needs is as easy as fitting my friend's size 6 feet. Instead of a week of intense work, 3 days. Toes fit, heels fit, I can zip up from the toe or down from the top with nearly equal ease. The techniques are amazingly simple to understand, once you get over the inclination to panic. Clear diagrams, charts, and instructions. Then came the extra treat: the expansion of the technique to mittens--always a necessity in cooler climes! I may never BUY socks again...

As one who views socknitting as an engineering design challenge, I am always looking for ways to improve shaping and fitting the socks I make. I have never been happy with the way toes are shaped, and wondered why we couldn't use the "short-row" technique on toes just as we do on heels, then make a straight join on top of the foot, as commercially made socks do. I was delighted to discover that it is not only possible,but this author tells us exactly how to do it, and then goes on to give us an extraordinary variety of other ways to vary our designs. This is not a book of "patterns"; it is much more valuable than that! You can find the General Laws of the Sock-knitting Universe in this book and then you will become the master all all the socks you can knit. This book should belong to every person who knits socks. If you know a sockmaker, give them a copy of this book. You will be rewarded for years to come!