Review: Knit a Box of Socks

The thing about sock knitting is, if it grabs you, it’s probably going to really grab you. I don’t know a lot of knitters who are mild-mannered when it comes to sock knitting. They either never knit socks, they’ve knit one pair to say they’ve done it and never intend to do it again, or they’ve knit (or are on their way to knitting) lots of socks.

You might guess I fall into that last category, though most of the socks I’ve knit are pretty plain, and I would like to up my sock knitting game with some fun new styles.

Enter Knit a Box of Socks by Julie Ann Lebouthillier. This book includes the techniques you need to get started knitting socks if you don’t already know how, as well as 24 patterns to get you started on your dream sock drawer.

The book opens with a quick overview of needed tools and essential stitches, such as knit 2 together, slip slip knit and working German short rows. You’ll also learn how to measure your foot and adapt patterns if needed to get a better fit. There’s also a pattern for a plain stockinette stitch sock worked from the top down, as well as general instructions for converting a sock pattern to work from the toe up.

After that follow the 24 patterns, rated in difficulty level on a scale of one to three socks. Nine of the projects are rated one sock, 13 are two socks and two are three socks.

In addition to patterns using single strands of sock yarn, there are a couple of patterns with sock yarn held double, a few DK weight socks and one pair of short bulky socks that could be worn more like slippers.

There are a couple of fruit-themed patterns (pineapple and watermelon) as well as motifs like sheep, snowflakes, hearts and leaves. There are patterns with stripes and fades, and a little bit of lace and cables along with a variety of colorwork.

Some of my favorites include April Showers, which uses a kit in shades of blue and gray to make rain clouds on the leg and stripes on the foot; Feeling Sheepish, one of the more difficult patterns, which has a round of sheep, checkerboard pasture and colorwork fencing; Snowflake Dreams, the other harder pattern, with snowflake motifss on the front and checkboard stripes on the back; Scrappy Faded, worked with leftovers of different sock yarns held together; and The Other Side of the Rainbow, a shorty sock with a black background and rainbow stripes. (You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.)

This would be a fun book for someone learning to knit socks or for the sock lover in your life looking for some new options and ways to use up sock yarn leftovers.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 24 patterns. Published 2024 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

Free Knitting Pattern – Slouchy Socks

Next Pattern:

I used to always teach people how to knit by giving them bulky yarn, teach the knit cast on and have them knit a scarf (like this garter stitch scarf). That’s still a great first project, but I acknowledge people might get bored knitting all that garter stitch before they can say they’ve finished their first knitting project. Plus they might not want to wear something that comes out a little wonky, as first knitting projects often do.

These days I’m more likely to recommend a garter stitch washcloth to a new knitter.

Washcloths are usually made with medium weight cotton yarn, which is one of the easiest yarns to find at big box stores and craft stores, and it’s usually inexpensive and comes in lots of fun colors. You only need one ball of yarn and one pair of needles to make one, so there’s not a lot of outlay in terms of supplies.

Everyone can use washcloths, and even if you drop stitches, add stitches, have weird tension issues or all of the above, it will still work as a washcloth. And you can keep that first thing you made to see how much progress you make in just a couple of projects.

And if you still want more garter stitch when it’s done, you can move on to a scarf (or even a sampler scarf if you want to try some new stitches).

That post linked above is a great one for a brand new knitter or someone who just needs a refresher, because it walks you through everything you need to know how to do to make it. There’s also a full video tutorial for people who would rather see moving images rather than still pictures.

What was the first thing you made when you learned to knit? Or if you’ve taught someone to knit, what first project did you give them? I’d love to hear about it!

Easy Washcloth Knitting Patterns

Knit a Sweet Ducky Washcloth

Next Pattern:

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