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

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out what the instructions meant for me to do to turn the heel, and it WORKED, I was, to borrow a word from my [now outdated] teenage years, totally stoked :-) (No other word comes close to describing the flush of triumph!)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'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!

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!!!!