So, are you ready for some stunning sock artistry as the Fall weather arrives..?
I’m a newish sock convert. I’d knit socks in the past, and I wholeheartedly embraced the sock movement.
Personally, I feel sock knitters have done more with their passion and skill
to raise the level of our craft than any other specific group of knitters!
But I never wore socks much.
You see, my family is rooted in West Virginia. We’ve lived in that incredibly beautiful state for over 300 years (long before it was WV, or even VA!)
And, whether it’s my own personal preference, or a cultural phenomenon, I like walking around barefoot.
But, as I age, this is changing. My toes grow cold, and in the past year I’ve come to admire the warmth of a great pair of socks.
Unfortunately, I have HUGE feet, so making a pair for myself is
akin to a smaller woman making a simple shrug.
But a book has graced my doorstep by an insanely talented up-and-coming knittress & designer, Andi Smith. Watch this woman!
BIG FOOT KNITS
Andi Smith
Available through Cooperative Press
$26.95/$16.96
12 patterns + more than 50 pages of
step-by-step guidance on adapting socks to your feet
132 pages
In Big Foot Knits, Andi Smith walks us through the process of fitting a sock perfectly to your own foot (be it supersized or teensy-tiny!)
Andi covers the basics, shaping the foot and leg of a sock, heels, toes, and using measurement and gauges in the way the sock god intended.
All of this is priceless information, very well presented and easy to follow.
That in itself is a wonderful thing, but the true joy of this book are the beautiful sock designs.
Two of my favorite designs are Gaia (a long clog-friendly style) and Eidothea (a sweet, lacy short sock with an adorable picot cuff.)
This is a wonderful book – and if you purchase the paperback copy you’ll receive the pdf file for the single price of $26.95 (pdf only is $16.95)
Buy a copy as a gift, keep the pdf for yourself!
If you’ve been casting about for a good, solid sock book with great designs and a comprehensive, easy to follow technical section, this is your book! (Well, actually it’s Andi’s book but you can buy a copy.)
If you, like myself, have a friend you’ve shepherded through the learn-to-knit process, this book along with a ball of beautiful sock yarn might be the best holiday gift you can give! How many gifts can offer beauty, education AND hours of pleasure?
WIN A COPY OF BIG FOOT KNITS!
Would you like your own pdf copy of this great book?
Leave a message below telling me what your favorite sock yarn is. If you’re unschooled in sock yarns, make one up (seriously, there are so many yarns out there now who is going to know the difference?) I will randomly pick a comment and you’ll receive a pdf copy of the book, deposited by the Cooperative Press elves into your Ravelry library (or emailed to you if you aren’t on Ravelry*) and then YOU can start knitting up socks with grace & aplomb!
I’ll pick a winner on this Friday, 9/20 – stay tuned!
*Seriously? You’re not on Ravelry? Check it out! If you’re a knitter or crocheter, this is a wonderful resource with SO many facets that it’s silly not to be involved!
After many years of admiration and longing, I finally got brave enough to try a sock knitting project year before last. I have knit any number of items – sweaters, baby blankets, afghans, hats, scarves… but, I could not bring myself to try making a pair of socks because my mother was a sock knitter. Her socks were patterns, plain, even argyle. I was not bold enough to take on that competition with her memory. With 3 pairs completed last year and one more ready to go on the needles, I am a sock knitter myself. My favorite yarn has been a homespun chocolate 50% wool/25% mohair/25% angora blend that I spun myself. It has the cozy softness and super-warmth of the angora with a moderate halo from the mohair. My sizing to fit is improving as I go.
I just finished a pair in Sereknity Classica Sock. Deliciously yummy and ample for socks far bigger than mine. Sadly, I believe it’s discontinued. Ah, well.
I like Opal. I buy it way faster than I can knit it. I also like the socks that I have made with Dale Falk. OK – I know it is not the usual sock (fingering) weight, but when I make socks with it, that makes it sock yarn.
My favorite sock yarn is Splendor by Jill Draper makes stuff. I’d love to win the book because my mission for this year is to use up some of my fingering weight yarn.
I would like to say my favorite pair of socks I knit was a pair that was all little mitered squares that I made up myself. But with the birth of my first grandson four weeks ago, it’s a pair of bootie socks that he wears for all of his photos. So sweet. Thanks for the great giveaway!
My favorite sock yarn is by my friend, and indie dyer, Karin Maag-Tanchick. She is the force behind Perwinkle Sheep. If you have never seen her yarns…check them out on Ravelry. She is fabulous and a great person as well!
3 Irish girls is the yarn that I am knitting with at this moment but I change my mind often.
I’ve done a few pairs of socks. My favorite yarn is Shibui sock…it’s so crisp and easy to knit with. And the colors are gorgeous (my favorite is 1950s Kitchen!).
I try all the new ones, but I go back to Regia Silk if I want a luscious pair of socks. I’ve never found a knot, the drape (although not important in a sock) is fabulous, colors are vibrant.
I think it is my 4th year of my ” year off from sock making ” .. I could use something to jog me back into sock making.
I think my favorite sock yarn is probably Socks that Rock, but I generally don’t make socks out of it. I think it is just too pretty to hide in my shoes and under my pant legs.
I enjoy knitting in general and I like the idea of knitting socks, but I have only finished about four pair, although I have started many more than that. I seem to have a acute case of second sock syndrome. Three of the four pairs I have finished were for the classes I took to learn how to knit socks two at a time, toe-up on magic loop. The fourth pair is fraternal. I have lots of toes started.
My Ravelry name is Saige.
Thanks,
Lynn
I can’t pick a favourite sock yarn?! The colours are best with Wollmeise, Lang has the longevity, Colinette Jitterbug for vibrance, Opal for gifts but for fun, and I suppose then, you could call it my favourite, it would be Easyknits.co.uk’s Deeply Wicked. I am proud to be the dorkiest knitter I know in owning several colourways named after sci-fi movie moments of my life. Too cool. And they’re great dyes too. Such fab colours.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS DISCONTINUED. Persevere, and you’ll find some in an unloved stash. You will.
Favorite Sock Yarn? Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock Select!
Anything by Periwinkle Sheep.
My favorite sock yarn is Lorna’s Laces. However I’ve only made 1 sock out of it — my gauge was SO off that if my husband would wear a pink lacy sock on his huge feet it would be perfect. I have since knit another pair with a pretty self-striping sock (don’t remember the brand) so I will eventually rip out the pink sock and try again.
I usually use an indy yarn dyer sock yarn. They have such pretty colors, like the end of day yarn, where they take whats left from dying and put it together !
I like anything blended really by anyone, I’m not picky the only time both with the fiber if making a gift for someone who has a allergic reaction to any of them.I just wanted to say that yes heat and exstrem cold can be triggers I have a problem with both and every storm that moves through but the humidity is my worst trigger.I thank God everday for learning to crochet and knit I would loose my mind on those ruffest day’s. Gentle hugs.♥
From one knit pickin’ hooker to another.
Tina Brown Dillard 🙂
I love knitting toe-up socks. So far, that is. I’ve knit 3 pairs of adult socks in my life.
I just finished a pair in KnitPicks Stroll Glimmer — colorway Dragonscale. It was lovely to knit, showed beautifully in the pattern, and had that glistening thread through it. Unfortunately, my sister also has big feet in a challenging shape and is not local, so I can’t try them on her as I go without spending the entire budget on back-and-forth postage. While the first two pairs of socks I knit for her fit nicely (#1) and ok though not perfect (#2), this pair (#3) was a fail. Can’t get it on over her heel/ankle and it’s too tight up the calf anyhow. At least I finally got the foot right (after one back-and-forth and frog to before starting the heel). Awaiting return to frog back again and re-knit the pair. With new calculations, increases, etc. I hope the yarn isn’t worn out by the repeated frog, since it was nice feeling to knit.
But lovely yarn? I have a pair of hanks of KnitPicks Imagination in Ruby Slippers for her. It’s 50% merino, 25″ alpaca, and 25% nylon. Looks wonderful, feels lovely, and I can’t wait to knit it up. I have a pattern selected but am awaiting the fix on the green socks before I decide how to adjust the next pattern. This book probably would help me figure it out.
I’ve used other sock yarn to make other things — mostly wrist/hand warmers. They were just ordinary sock yarn. Both of these feel terrific to knit.
Could she do a casting of her feet? Like having a dress form. The art world (my DH is an artist) has all kinds of how-to and stuff for doing that…pretty easy and useful. Here’s a reliable supplier for example; certainly not the only one out there, maybe you have an art suppply store in your town?… dickblick.com/categories/moldingcasting/
hmmm…I’m gonna do this very thing for my own Mom and sister, so I had a look around…it’s the kind of thing to look for: skin safe, etc. Remember, you do a casting after making the mold of a foot : Again, you could likely find this locally. Thanks for this comment, I’m calling my sister right now 🙂
I love Indulgence 6-ply. I like a thicker sock and it knits up fast. Great colors.
No pharma hack seen! yay!
Thanks for this review! ‘Now is The Time’ could be the name of any sock yarn i buy…need socks more than a shawl. And now is the time to really learn how. My wide footsies, and family who want socks that actually fit their legs, will benefit from this book for sure. Checkin’ out those yarn faves, too.
I love knitting socks. Thanks for this opportunity!
Do I have to pick just one? I really like Malabrigo Sock but I am infatuated with Lollipop Yarns striping sock yarns: she is a master at making yarn that must be knit!!
I have only made one pair of socks (ok, plus the first one of the second pair), but I just love the yarn I purchased from Turtlepurl, “A Turtle’s View” (http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/Turtlepurl/7502325/a_turtle_s_view_-_baby_boo_lace/indie_supplies/craft_supplies/fiber_arts/yarn). She has several other sumptuous yarns, begging to be made into socks. And I could use guidance …
I finished a pair with Misti Alpaca Handpaint sock which was given to me as a gift. I love the socks but don’t wear them often enough because I don’t want them to wear out! I, too, prefer to be barefoot!
Hazelknits Artisan Sock yarn. So yummy and rich colors!
I would really like to learn to able to knit socks. I have only knitted baby socks . so its time I tried and a pattern book might be the incentive I need. I have crocheted several pairs of socks and leg warmers. I like Coats and Clarks ,Heart & Sole it is inexpensive for a beginner ; but I love me some Cascade Heritage sock yarn.
My favorite. Well, to be honest I have only made a few pair of socks but I do like WalkAway Sock Yarn sold at Hobby Lobby. After deciding to comment I check and it is considered a House brand for them.
I’ve made many socks before, and I’ve even made “Monkeys” before, but my most recent pair of Monkeys came out better than any socks I’ve ever done before, which means it must be the yarn. It’s Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering, and (so far) I just love it!
I just knit a pair of socks in CoBaSi, by Skacel. The socks were for my diabetic wool-allergy-having mother. After working with the yarn, I think I need to get more for a pair for myself…
Oh, and I had to adjust the pattern to accommodate for wide feet.
One favorite sock yarn???? I simply cannot pick just one, but I can say that I am fond of self-striping and hand-dyed sock yarns. I love seeing the fun colors play out. Especially since I do not wear a lot of bright colors in the rest of my wardrobe. RavID is jaydawnrn
I’ve done very few pairs of socks and still need very many directions (last pair over a year ago). My teenage granddaughter loves socks and requested a couple of pairs for fall…..need to get busy! Looking forward to the Knit One Crochet Too, Ty-Dy Socks, that I just purchased on vacation, feels yummy! Thanks for the chance at this book and yarn.
I love crazy-zauberball. Just finishing a pair of Snapes Stockings and it was a dream to knit with.
You are right, there are so many beautiful sock yarns! I think my favorite of what I currently have in my stash is the Skinny Bugga. The colors are so saturated and beautiful!
Wendy (Wendeluu on Ravelry)
My favorite sock yarn is still my old standby, Regia.
My favorite sock yarns are the ones I spin and dye myself. Definitely makes for one of a kind socks and I never have to worry about running out of yarn and hoping the store still has the same brand and dye lot. : )
Regia — because it’s a brand I remember without going to look! Your book topics make me happy — I’d very much enjoy winning one!
Treechild on Ravelry
Sweet Georgia Tough Love. Sweet + Tough = Love.
My current favorite sock yarn is Vesper by Knitterly Things. She is local to me so that is a bonus. Also love the DIC 8 ply.
My favorite is Lorna’s Laces Solemate. The resulting socks are lighter weight for NC weather but the yarn is nice and springy to knit with.
I have to go with Lorna’s Laces. Cherry Tree a close second. Raverly name is Meganl.
I have big feet too, so I can relate! 🙂 My fav yarns in general are from MadelineTosh, so right now, my fav sock yarn is MadelineTosh Tosh Sock. Yummy yarn with beautiful stitch definition. Thanks for the opportunity on this great giveaway!
My favorite sock yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot. I have a little – problem – with yarns with mohair. I absolutely love them. Sometimes, I just leave it on my desk and give it a little pet every once and a while.
Let’s go with Lorna’s Laces.
I like Regia and I have some fleurde fibre that is great, also!
My favorite sock yarn is Knit Picks Felici Fingering. It is so, so soft, and I have a thing for stripes. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a bunch of other brands in my stash, though!
HI thanks for the chance would love to get this book. I have been knitting alot of socks laterly, as in 26 pairs in 2 months last year lol!
My favourite yarn is Patonyle or failing that Knitch sock yarn from the Holland yarn co.
Glad to be able to read your blog again as I was one of the ones getting the spam msg.
Cheers
Beverley from NZ
Hmmm. …my favorite sock yarns are dream in color smooshy sock,
madtosh sock and raggi for the big bed socks. I always have socks going!