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Giveaway: Toe Up Socks by Wendy D. Johnson

April 21, 2010 by Terrye

Hang on to your socks, Wendy’s done it again!

Up for grabs I’ve got 2 books from Wendy. Now, they’re not new, they’re a bit used, because, you know, I did have to try them out to make sure they were good. Take one for the team and all that, so we have some smudges…

The reason I like toe up patterns is because I rarely buy enough yarn to complete a project. There’s all kinds of good intentions, really, but upon walking into a yarn store my ADD kicks in, the colors and textures overwhelm me and I start throwing stuff in my basket never really checking to make sure I have enough. With toe up socks, not a problem! Start at the important part and quit knitting when you run out of yarn! It’s a no brainer, and really works out well when you happen to be “pattern challenged”.

So, leave me a comment telling me why you want this set and I’ll draw from your comments next Friday, April 30, 2010. Ready, set, go!

Next Pattern:

  • Book Review - Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks
  • Book Review - Head-to-Toe Winter Knits
  • Knitting Pattern - Spring In The Air Socks
«
»

Comments

  1. Becky says

    April 21, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    I knit and I am fairly good at it. I have been dying to try knitting socks but have been chicken. If you say these books are good that is good enough for me!

    PS I do the ADD thingy in yarn and fabric stores too.

  2. Junglewife says

    April 21, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    I would LOVE to win this set! I am just finishing (right now!) my first pair of toe-up socks. In fact, it’s my first pair of socks EVER! I am moving (back) overseas in just a few months and am stocking up on yarn and patterns for the next 3 years… I’d love to make these books part of my collection!

  3. Sheryl says

    April 21, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    I love her books. I can’t afford to buy them so I bugged my local library to purchase them. I keep checking them out but I would like my own copies to mark up with smilies and notes.

  4. Debbie says

    April 21, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    I learned to knit three years ago, and have been hesitant to try socks. Knitting them from the toe up makes sense to me, and these books would be just the thing to get me started. Thank you for the giveway.

  5. One Sheep says

    April 21, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    I’d love to win these books as I’m just getting good with dpn’s and perhaps ready to tackle socks.

  6. megan says

    April 21, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    I would love to get the books as I am starting into dpn’s and would love to learn new techniques, I would be the cream of my knitting group crop!

  7. inkoutloud says

    April 21, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    Oh wow, these would be great patterns for me since I prefer knitting socks from the toe up to the cuff!

  8. Mary Lee says

    April 21, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    I have been wanting to learn how to knit toe up socks and I think this would be a great place to start. Thanks for all the info!

  9. Mary Anne says

    April 21, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    I think we all suffer from ADD when we’re in a yarn shop! I have never tried socks from the toe up and it sounds like the perfect solution. Thanks for the chance to win!

  10. Veronica says

    April 21, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I would love to win this set because I’ve just bought 6 skeins of sock yarn at a fabulous price and have no patterns! Wouldn’t it be great to have such a bargain as sale price yarn and winning the pattern?

  11. Sandi says

    April 21, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Toe up socks are my next challenge! I just finished my first top down sock this week(haven’t started the second yet). I’m looking forward to seeing how different the process is when starting at the other end.

  12. turtle says

    April 21, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    lol, is the fact that it’s my 40th birthday tomorrow good enough? No, i have been following wendys blog for a few years now and have yet to be able to get any of her books. I am in love with knitting socks though and love her designs, like so many others! So, just begging along with everyone else, Smile!!

  13. Brittany says

    April 21, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    I’d love the set! I’ve knit one or two pairs of toe-up socks, but have never been completely sold on the fit. I’ve only done short-row heels, but I’ve realised that I need and love a proper heel gusset. I’ve heard that Wendy’s are brilliant!

  14. Connie Wright says

    April 21, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    I have a friend who is wanting to learn to knit socks. I would love to give the book to her.

  15. Kitten With A Whiplash says

    April 21, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    Looks like I might be lucky #13! I’d love to have these books because there areen’t many patterns for men’s large sized socks out there. Going toe up means being able to adjust more easily.

  16. Jeanne says

    April 21, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    I love Wendy – she pointed me to your site at some point! I also love these books and would love to win them to share with my knitting group. I don’t share books I CAN’T lose, but if I had some slightly used spares?! AWESOME!!

  17. alissa says

    April 21, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    i knit socks, but have only done them top down… i have been looking for the perfect pattern to try some toe up socks with some of my handspun yarn!

  18. teri says

    April 21, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    I’ve thought for a long time that I have adult A.D.D. or ooh how pretty syndrome. So at the moment I really need sock books for all the sock yarn I’ve been collecting…..ooh, did you see that. what was I talking about?…. uh, please pick me 🙂

  19. Eva SB says

    April 22, 2010 at 4:20 am

    I would love to learn how to knit toe-up properly. I need this book :0)

  20. Marianne C says

    April 22, 2010 at 8:29 am

    Yes please, I would love to get Wendy’s books…she is a rock star!

  21. Annette says

    April 22, 2010 at 9:46 am

    My favorite ways to knit socks is from the toe up. I follow Wendy’s blog and would love to see her books!

  22. Tobi Kelly says

    April 22, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win, would be thrilled!

  23. ellesilverworks says

    April 22, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    My mom and I took a toe-up sock knitting class, as our first foray into knitting. It was my mom’s idea, I was just along to soak up the instruction and help her when she got stuck later. Started out great, but the instructor and the handouts left a little to be desired. We’d really like to give it another go, but I haven’t found a good toe-up book. I enjoyed socks more than I thought I would. Thanks!

  24. Ellen Lai says

    April 22, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    I would love to win this set to take out my knitting needles again!

  25. Diane says

    April 22, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    I would love a fun distraction…I’ve got the needles, the yarn…now I just need the inspiration!

  26. Sheryl says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:06 am

    Oh, I love knitting socks toe-up! I have both of these books on my wish list since I am always looking for more fun patterns. There just aren’t enough toe-up patterns online!

  27. Liz Anderson says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:38 am

    OK – so, I became a sock knitter when it was the furthest thing from my mind. Now I crank out a pair a week — did I mention I only started 6 weeks ago? I need something other than “plain vanilla” sock recipes or I’m going to burn out hard and fast. These books would definitely be the “Good Vanilla” I need (as Ina Garten says!).

  28. Wendy says

    April 23, 2010 at 8:16 am

    I’ve crocheted socks, but have always been intimidated by knitting socks. I read Wendy’s blog daily and would really like to try out her sock patterns 🙂

  29. Cetta says

    April 23, 2010 at 8:52 am

    I’d love this set because after 5+ years of knitting I have yet to conquer my fear of sock knitting!

  30. Kylie says

    April 23, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    I have only made cuff down socks before and would love to learn how to make toe up socks, I think that they’d fit better and I tend to run out of yarn partway through my projects too.

  31. Meg says

    April 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    I’ve learned top-down socks and have been dying to learn toe-up socks for the same reason — my ADD in yarn shops! Also, it’s the next big challenge that I want to take on. I follow Wendy’s blog and have been longing to get my hands on these books.

  32. Carmen says

    April 23, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    I want to learn to knit socks – I’ve heard it’s easier to try toe-up, for the reason you mentioned but also because you can try them on as you go.

  33. Corvus says

    April 24, 2010 at 5:38 am

    Socks are one of the few things I’ve never tried to knit. I even have the yarn. Maybe these books would get me to pick the yarn up.

  34. Jean says

    April 24, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    Pick me! Pick me! At age 63 I’m just learning to knit socks. Bought the yarn, got the needles……really need these books!

  35. Cheryl says

    April 24, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    I like to knit socks and it would be
    fun to try some toe up sock knitting.
    Thank you.

  36. Jemma says

    April 26, 2010 at 4:58 am

    I’m moving to China in three months and amongst the very many things I need to sort out, pack up and generally organise is a good stash of yarn and patterns to help my state of mind(fulness) and sanity as I learn a new language, a new job and a new country! Toe-up socks are my favourites!

  37. Helena Dias says

    April 26, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    Count me in. Her first book was great.

  38. Joyce Pruhs says

    April 27, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    Pick Me! I am 69 years young and just started sock knitting a few months ago. Old dogs can learn new tricks! Now after learning much (and ripping out much) through four pairs I am ready to tackle the “toe-up” method. Even one book would be a great help. Thanks for the give-away. Joyce

  39. Kay Wise says

    April 27, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    Hello, you sound like a very generous knitter and my kind of gal. I just learned to knit socks, yeah!, this winter and have tried the toe-up sock several times and without success just from a written pattern. I think I can actually be successful if I had a ‘picture book’ as I’m a visual learning; being 64 doesn’t help. ha Thanks! Kay

  40. Joyce Pruhs says

    April 28, 2010 at 10:14 am

    What does “Your comment is awaiting moderation” mean?
    My sister left a comment yesterday evening and it does not show. Mine showed up very quickly after I clicked Submit. Just wondered if there is a problem?

  41. Kay Wise says

    April 28, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    I am 65 and a visual learner so could well use the book you are generousy offering to learn the art of toe-up knitting of socks. I tried a printed patterns and was not successful so know I need pictures to really learn this technique. Thanks! Kay

  42. Kerry Melton says

    August 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    I have been crocheting for a while. I am now starting to learn the skill of knitting. in the past couple years I have been blessed with 3 new grand babies (at the age of 44). I have been trying to learn so I can make special things for them. I have been intimidated by socks, but I am dying to learn.

Have you read?

Knit a Linen Stitch Hot Pad

Linen stitch is one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns that, every time I use it in a project, I think about how I don’t use it often enough. 

It’s an easy stitch to make, with slip stitches done with the yarn held to the front of the work on the right/front side and to the back on the wrong/back side, which makes the strand of yarn a visible part of the pattern. 

It also makes a fabric that is thick and looks kind of like a woven fabric.

I recently used linen stitch to make a double-thick pot holder, which I worked in a kind of interesting way. I didn’t want to have to do any sewing on the project, so I started it from a crochet cast on and picked up stitches from the side of the cast on to make the hot pad all in one piece in the round with the edge sealed. 

This requires working on two circular needles, which is another technique I don’t use that often and am always reminded how much I like it when I do. 

The combination of double thickness and the stitch pattern makes for a hot pad that’s already pretty thick, but I also added a bit of old towel to the inside before I closed up the end to make it super thick and extra protective for your surfaces. 

I found the engineering challenge of this construction method to be a lot of fun, but you could also just knit it as a tube (casting on twice as many stitches as I did) and sew up the ends by hand when the knitting is done. Either way you’ve got a useful and pretty addition to your kitchen, whether you work it in a solid color, stripes or as a stash busting project will all your cotton odd balls. 

You can grab the pattern over at Our Daily Craft, or check it out on Ravelry. 

40+ Hot Pads You Can Sew For The Kitchen [Sewing]

A Cozy Knit to Calm Your Mind

Double Knit an Infinity Scarf

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