50+ Sock Patterns From 50+ States

This came to me from Tina Sanders of the Phoenix Knitting and Crochet Examiner. And how cool is this! Available from Crystal Palace Yarns, a DVD featuring sock patterns from the 50 states, plus Canadian Provinces as well as some US Territories.

Here’s what Crystal Palace says:

50 Socks – 50 States plus Canada, Mexico and Territories (58 sock patterns)

A Sock Book on a CD! (both PC and Mac versions)
Suggested retail is $24.95 for 58 sock patterns and special pages of Fun Facts for each state plus Canada, Mexico and several US Territories. Knit and Learn at the same time.

Check at your local knitting shops or favorite online shops in early January 2010.

Dr. Laura Andersson and editors have put together this collection from sock designers gleaned from all over the internet. A monumental task and a wonderful collection of sock designs for all levels and gauges.

The photos show the states and areas in alphabetical order (click to make bigger).

All socks are knit in Crystal Palace Yarns. All socks are photographed by Susan Druding showing several views and close-ups of each sock. http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/socks/50SocksBook.html

Next Pattern:

I happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, but I know we have a lot of Southern Hemisphere friends, too, who are heading into the cooler months as we are warming up. Whichever one of the seasons you’re in, you might want to stitch up this sweet little hood.

This pattern by saskie&co is called snug hood and it uses two colors of yarn to make a close-fitting pixie style hood (almost a balaclava but it doesn’t cover your face, though there is a neck covering portion to keep you a little warmer). You can use the fingering weight wool and mohair held together that are called for in the pattern, or use a single strand of DK weight yarn.

The neck portion and the edging around the face are worked in ribbing in a single color, while the body of the hat includes an allover colorwork flower pattern. The project is worked both flat and in the round and there is colorwork that is knit flat, which means you’ll have to purl in colorwork (which some people don’t like; also, you can’t see what you’re doing as well on the back of the work).

The pattern comes in one size and the colorwork is charted. Testers noted this is a quick and easy project and a great way to learn some new skills (chart reading, working stranded colorwork flat) if you’ve never tried those things before. They noted the hood is cute, comfortable and warm, and a few said it didn’t take as much yarn as the pattern suggests, so bear that in mind if you’re trying to use stash.

Speaking of the pattern notes, check out all the cute color variations in the projects on Ravelry. From pink and red to blue and white to gray and cream, there are lots of great options to think about.

You can buy this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: saskie&co]

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