Review: Knitted Socks

This book — Knitted Socks by Anna Tillman — has been on my shelf for years and I always feel like I have reviewed it but apparently never did.

That’s a shame, because it’s pretty darn cute, as you might gather from the penguin socks pictured on the cover. It covers the basics of sock parts and how to knit them, knitting the right size, reading charts and finishing socks and includes 25 patterns for a range of sizes and using a variety of yarns and knitting techniques.

There’s a pair made of rainbow colored eyelash yarn, for instance, and felted slippers that are knit like giant socks. There are socks with cables, colorwork and lace, and simpler striped socks, too.

And there are toe socks. Which I love. The pattern is called Rainbow Toes and each toe is worked in a different color, and the colors are repeated at the top of the knee-high cuff.

Other standouts include The Whole Hog, which features colorwork pigs that make a whole picture when you put your feet together; Zigzag Socks, a fun pattern worked in a bold self-striping yarn; Fly Away Home, baby-sized ladybug socks; Going Dotty, a double-knit pair worked with circles throughout; and Cable Cuffs, which start from a band of cable worked flat, seamed and turned on its side to make the top of the sock.

There’s also information in the back on different heel, toe and ribbing options to help you design your own sock, as well as a kind of blank pattern to get you started.

Want a chance to win this book? Check out this week’s giveaway (ends March 22, 2015).

Looking for more knitted socks designs and patterns to keep you warm this winter? Check out these knitted sock patterns Etsy. And these Knitting Pattern books on Amazon.

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

Next Pattern:

If you’re looking for a sweater knitting pattern that uses up some of your stash and allows you to make just the sweater you want, the Marlina Rib by Shay Johson might be just the thing.

It’s worked with two strands of fingering weight yarn held together to make a DK weight gauge, so you can use the same two yarns throughout or change one or both regularly for an even more colorful look.

The pattern has options to make it either a crewneck or a henley style with buttons, tapered or relaxed sleeves, and a straight hemline or a split hem with buttons (which sounds so cute if you do the henley with split hem and match the buttons on both parts).

It’s also knit from the top down so you can make the body and the sleeves as long as you want. There are 10 sizes available in the pattern, with a chest circumference ranging from 32 to 68 inches, or 81.5 to 172.5 cm. It’s meant to be worn with 4-6 inches/10-15 cm of positive ease at the chest.

The pattern page on Ravelry includes tons of measurements and yardage estimates so you can make sure you’ll get a good fit for your body before you even buy the pattern. Shay also shows a few variations of the sweater so you can see how different options look before you decide how you want to put them together.

The stitch pattern is 1×2 ribbing, which is really easy to do and gives a look almost like fisherman’s rib that’s relaxed and easy to wear.

This sweater looks like a great option for people who are somewhat new to sweater knitting or those who love to have lots of customization options (because it’s like getting multiple sweater patterns in one!).

Check out all the details and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself at Ravelry.

[Photo: Shay Johnson]

Next Pattern:

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