The Sock Knitting Bible: Everything you need to know about how to knit socks

by Lynne Rowe

Overview

The ultimate guide to every aspect of sock knitting for knitters of all abilities. Whether you've never picked up a double pointed needle in your life or you've already started your sock knitting journey, this book will help you on your way. 

The Sock Knitting Bible will break down all the different techniques and show wannabe sock knitters that there is nothing to be scared of. Covering everything from casting on to colourwork and everything in between, knitters won't find a better reference book for all their sock knitting needs. Whether you want to knit toe up, cuff down or even two at a time socks, we've got it covered. Sock knitting is the perfect portable project too - once you know the basics you can dip in and out until they are flying off your needles!

There are a lot of sock pattern books out there but this is more than a pattern book - it covers all the different techniques and methods for sock knitting! There are step-by-step instructions for all the various sock knitting techniques so that instead of sounding like a foreign language making socks becomes your second language. There are also step-by-steps instructions for three basic socks so that you can follow them even if you are an absolute beginner and then start to choose your preferred method for sock making.

Author Lynne Rowe explains what kind of yarns are best suited to different styles of sock and shares her techniques for how to get the best finish. We also look at the different kinds of tools available for making socks so you can experiment with double pointed needles, the magic loop method and small circular needles as well as innovative new products such as flexible dpns until you find your own favourite method.

With this book you can put that beautiful skein of hand dyed yarn you couldn't resist to good use by making the perfect pair of socks because in addition to the extensive techniques there are also 10 projects by some of the most exciting and talented sock designers, illustrating a number of the different knitting methods and styles. Here you will find stripes, fair isle, cables, lacy, sparkly and snuggly socks: a pattern for all your needs. It won't be long before you are delighting your friends and family with your new found skills - just be sure to make yourself a pair too!

But be warned: sock knitting is addictive!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446308523
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Pages:	168
Sales rank:	318,591
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lynne Rowe is a very experienced author, technical editor and designer. There will also be contributions from other well known sock designers and makers.

Table of Contents

Introduction

How to use this book

All about socks

Sock anatomy 

Measuring foot size

Choosing the correct size

Tools and materials

Yarn

• Hand-dyed vs machine-dyed
• Yarn colours
• How to knit matching socks
• Yarn fibres
• Yarn weight/thickness

Needles 

• Needle materials 
• Needle types 

Extras

Checking your tension/gauge

Importance of tension/gauge

Substituting yarn

Swatching

Measuring your tension/gauge

Achieving tension/gauge in a pattern

Sock recipes

Getting started

Cuff-down socks

Toe-up socks

Two-needle socks

Variations on the sock recipes 

• Contrast cuffs, heels and toes 
• Scrappy socks 
• Shortie socks 
• No-heel socks 

Sock elements

Cuffs

• 1 x 1 rib cuff 
• 2 x 2 rib cuff 
• 3 x 1 rib cuff 
• Half-twisted rib cuff 
• Two-colour rib cuff (corrugated rib cuff) 
• Picot edge cuff 

Heels

• Cuff-down heel flap and gusset options 
• Common heel (stocking (stockinette)
  stitch with garter stitch edge) 
• Slipstitch heel 
• Garter stitch heel 
• Striped (two-colour) heel
• Toe-up options
• Simple shaped heel
• Double stitch short row heel (boomerang heel)
• Wrap and turn short row heel
• Toe-up gusset and heel flap
• Forethought heel 

Toes

• Toes for cuff-down socks 
• Classic wedge toe 
• Rounded toe 
• Four-point toe 
• Toes for toe-up socks 
• Basic toe 
• Banded toe 

Sock projects

Sloping Hills by Winwick Mum

Under the Stars by Emma Potter

Twisting Pathways by Vikki Bird

Spring Lace by Rachel Fletcher

Bracken Cables by Olivia Villareal

Summer Meadows by Carmen Jorissen

Autumn Berries by Kaitlin Barthold

Red Sky At Night by Abby Brown

Beads of Dew by Anniken Allis

Winter Snow by Kerstin Balke

Knitting in the round

On double-pointed needles (DPNs)

Joining the round

On a short circular needle

On a long circular needle for magic loop

On flexible short needles

Two at a time magic loop knitting

Sock techniques

Casting on 

• Long-tail cast on (thumb method)  
• German twisted cast on 
• Cable cast on (two-needle cast on)
• Alternating cable cast on
• Judy's magic cast on

Basic stitches 

• Knit stitch 
• Purl stitch 
• Slip stitch 
• K1tbl (knit 1 through the back leg) 

Reading charts 

Increasing 

• Kfb (knit front and back) 
• Yarn over increases (yo) 
• Make 1 stitch (M1L & M1R) 

Decreasing 

• Right-leaning decreases (k2tog, p2tog) 
• Left-leaning decreases (skpo, ssk) 
• Double decreases (cdd, k3tog, sk2po) 

Adding beads 

Picking up stitches 

• Along edge from right side of work 
• Along edge from wrong side of work 
• From waste yarn for forethought heel 

Cables

Short rows 

• Wrap and turn (W&T) short rows 
• Double stitch short rows (German short rows)

Working with more than one yarn/colour

• Holding two yarns together at once
• Changing colours
• Carrying yarn along inside of your work
• Jogless stripes
• Corrugated rib 
• Stranded colourwork and Fair Isle knitting 

Casting (binding) off 

• Knit cast (bind) off (in the round) 
• Knit cast (bind) off (working flat) 
• Three-needle cast (bind) off 
• Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy cast (bind) off 

Finishing your project 

• Grafting/Kitchener stitch 
• Mattress stitch
• Weaving in ends 
• Fixing holes 
• Blocking your project

Abbreviations

About the author

Index

Thanks

The designers

Preface

If I could only knit one type of project for the rest of my knitting days, I would definitely choose socks. There are so many variations and so many techniques to discover and learn that I could happily sit with my sock yarn and needles and knit these amazing tubular structures for ever, creating something different every time.

I love the never-ending possibilities of all the combinations. There are long socks, short socks, ankle socks, plain socks, striped socks or patterned socks, and it doesn’t matter how many pairs I knit as I know they will always come in handy and, as well as being practical, there’s definitely something magical and mindful about knitting socks. You can patiently sit, working stitch by stitch, round by round and before you know it, you’re in your calm zone feeling relaxed and peaceful and another sock is flying off the needles.

I’m delighted to share all my skills and knowledge with you in the form of this reference bible, which I’ve written with both new and experienced sock knitters in mind. I’ve covered all aspects of sock knitting, from beginner’s basics, through to more advanced techniques, so that you can choose to keep it really simple or ‘step it up’ and go for a more intricate combination of stitch patterns and techniques.

My handy guide to all the different sock yarns will help you choose the right yarns for your hand-knitted socks, and the illustrated guides on how to knit in the round will help you knit with any sort of knitting needles. I’ve even included recipes for a two-needle sock and a sock with no heel, either of which could be a great way to start your sock knitting journey.

There are so many things to try and new skills to learn, which is really exciting and is sure to ‘keep you on your toes’.

I’ve split the book into sections so that you can tackle things step-by-step and work at your own pace, without feeling overwhelmed.

• The first section covers all the different parts of a sock and how to measure your feet to work out how long and wide to knit your socks.
• In the second section we look at the the essential materials that you will need, with an in-depth guide to yarn and needles, through to optional extras such as row counters, project bags and blocking equipment.
• The third section addresses every aspect of tension/gauge to help you knit socks that fit.
• Then we move on to the fourth section which takes you through the basic patterns for each type of sock, including toe-up, cuff-down, two-needle and no-heel socks.
• The fifth section provides a variety of cuffs, heels and toes, so that you have all the tools at hand to mix and match these elements in your knitted socks.
• In the sixth section I feature 10 amazing sock designers, each sharing an exclusive pattern for you to try, with a mix of beautiful textures, cables, lace and colourwork. You’re sure to find something that’s just up your street.
• The final sections contain all the knitting techniques that you need to knit socks, including how to knit in the round with different needles, jogless stripes, adding beads, colourwork, two-at-a-time sock knitting, plus lots more.

So everything is here for you to start, or continue, your sock knitting adventures.

Whichever projects you choose, I hope this sock bible will be a useful resource for years to come, as you build up your own colourful and cosy hand-knitted sock drawer.

Happy sock knitting,

Lynne xx