The Sock Knitting Bible: Everything you need to know about how to knit socks
168The Sock Knitting Bible: Everything you need to know about how to knit socks
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Overview
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 |
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Publisher: | David & Charles |
Publication date: | 11/16/2021 |
Pages: | 168 |
Sales rank: | 166,856 |
Product dimensions: | 8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
IntroductionHow 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
- Needle materials
- Needle types
- Contrast cuffs, heels and toes
- Scrappy socks
- Shortie socks
- No-heel socks
- 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
- 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 for cuff-down socks
- Classic wedge toe
- Rounded toe
- Four-point toe
- Toes for toe-up socks
- Basic toe
- Banded toe
- 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
- Knit stitch
- Purl stitch
- Slip stitch
- K1tbl (knit 1 through the back leg)
- Kfb (knit front and back)
- Yarn over increases (yo)
- Make 1 stitch (M1L & M1R)
- Right-leaning decreases (k2tog, p2tog)
- Left-leaning decreases (skpo, ssk)
- Double decreases (cdd, k3tog, sk2po)
- Along edge from right side of work
- Along edge from wrong side of work
- From waste yarn for forethought heel
- Wrap and turn (W&T) short rows
- Double stitch short rows (German short rows)
- 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
- 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
- Grafting/Kitchener stitch
- Mattress stitch
- Weaving in ends
- Fixing holes
- Blocking your project
Needles
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
Sock elements
Cuffs
Heels
Toes
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
Basic stitches
Reading charts
Increasing
Decreasing
Adding beads
Picking up stitches
Cables
Short rows
Working with more than one yarn/colour
Casting (binding) off
Finishing your project
Abbreviations
About the author
Index
Thanks
The designers
Preface
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