Category: socks

Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary by Barb Brown has 20 different knee-high sock patterns which also include shorter socks and leg warmers variations.

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If you are looking to up your sock knitting experience then Barb Brown’s Knitting Knee-Highs book may be just what you have been looking for. This book takes you to the next level by offering knee-high length socks (13 inch legs) in lovely designs and patterns. And if that much knitting seems too much, there are shorter sock length(6 or 7 inch legs) and leg warmers (knee-highs with out the foots) that you can knit.

The book is divided into two sections.

The first section is about getting started with knee-high sock knitting. It provides a clever formula for figuring out how to knit custom fit knee-highs. And it covers how to convert knee-high sock patterns to other type of sock patterns.

The second section has 20 different knee-high sock patterns. Each of the patterns include one or more variations which could be a shorter sock, an anklet, or legwarmer. Most of the patterns are either fair isle or lace stitch patterns. Some include both types. And there are a couple of patterns that use a picot cast-on that give the knee-highs a stylish look.

A couple of my favorite patterns are the Airy Mountain Knee-Highs on page 65 and the Maid Marian Knee-Highs on page 93. The Airy Mountain Knee-Highs has a picot cast-on and a lace pattern that follows the shape of the calf. The Maid Marian Knee-Highs has a lovely lace pattern and a simple cable running up the sides of each leg.

Overall, Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary has some good information on knitting knee-high socks and some great patterns to get you started on your first pair (or more!).

Happy Knee-High Knitting!

The Spring 2011 issue of the sock knitting e-magazine by Interweave, Sockupied, is now available.

The issue includes 5 sock patterns, 2 sock knitting tutorials, 3 sock calculators for custom heels, and 13 sock knitting videos.

The issue costs $14.97 and is available for immediate download for PC and Mac

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This week’s list of free knitting patterns.

New Knitting Patterns This Week

• Spring Hoodie by Purl Bee – a knitted hoodie without the jacket
• Spring Scarf in Trellis Stitch by Vandy Massey – This is a very simple pattern that’s quick to knit.
• Cable and Lace Hat by Margaret Santino – cute hat made from Cascade Yarns 220 Heathers yarn.
• Gothic Window Socks by Jolie Pollard – picot edge lace sock is a quick knit
• Knitted Easter Eggs by Kelly Patla – just in time for your Easter basket
• Optimistic Mitts by Devin Joesting – fingerless mittens with a textured knit stitch pattern and decorative button strap

Know of any new free knitting patterns? Leave them in the comments!

This week’s list of free knitting patterns.

New Knitting Patterns This Week

• Seed Stitch Stripes Cowl
• Circular Blue Scarf Knitting Pattern
• Cable Socks Knitting Pattern
• Knitted Animal Hat with ‘Triangle’ Ears
• Rocky Point Beach Washcloth

Favorite Knitting Patterns

• Falling Leaves Hat – made from one skein of Malabrigo yarn

Know of any new free knitting patterns? Leave them in the comments!

I have been looking for a good sock knitting book for a quite ahile. I think I found it in Ann Budd’s Getting Started Knitting Socks. This is one of the best sock knitting books to come out in a long time. If you are new to knitting socks or want to learn how to knit socks or having been knitting socks for some time, you’ll find this book to answer most, if not all, your sock knitting questions from getting gauge to casting on to solving common sock knitting problems.

Ann covers the basics of socks including five different ways to knit socks in the rounds which are with four double-pointed needles, with five double-pointed needles, with one very short circular needle, two circular needles, and one long circular needle.

She also covers a couple of flexible cast-ons , the long-tail cast-on and old Norwegian cast-on. And she shows three ways to join rounds. These are a simple join, a crossover, join, and a two-end join.

The best part of the socks basics chapter, however, is the photographs and sections on knitting each part of a sock. Ann breaks it down into knitting the cuff, knitting the leg, knitting the heel turn, knitting the gussets, knitting the foot, and knitting the toe.

Throughout she offers tips to handle sock knitting problems such as preventing ladder stitches, matching leg and foot lengths, preventing holes at gussets, preventing ill-fitting socks, and preventing holes in the heel and toe.

This socks basic information is then followed by a chapter on basic sock instructions. In it, Ann has patterns based on gauge and yarn weight. They include socks knitted with 8 stitches per inch, 7 stitches per inch, 6 stitches per inch, 5 stitches per inch, and 4 stitches per inch. Each pattern has directions for five different foot circumferences and foot lengths.

The rest of the book is broken up into three chapters focusing on different kinds of socks starting with knitting socks with color and texture the easy way with self-striping and variegated yarn. The next chapter shows how to add color and texture on your own with stripe patterns, rib patterns, cable patterns, and lace patterns.

The final pattern chapter has sock with different cuff and leg variations that include picot anklets, ruffle cuff anklets, and knee socks.

I highly recommend Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd. It is probably the only sock knitting book you will ever need. It covers all the basics of knitting socks and shows you how to make your own variations so that you can be confident in knitting great socks every time!