Sockupied – Spring 2011!

Sockupied Spring 2011 is here. It’s great, even better than the last one. Along with the product reviews – all aimed at sock knitting, there are interviews and of course the patterns. But this emag is different. Along with the interviews there are videos. Interaction all over the place.

Little bits and pieces about the designers and editors, lots of links to references. Tutorials and videos of tips and techniques as well as ground breaking new ideas in sock knitting.

This emag, priced at $14.95 is different from the rest of the emags on the market. You won’t find any ads for cars, or laundry soap or even Trident gum. Nothing but knitting. All knitting all the time.

Read along as needles and yarns are compared and contrasted. Learn different ways to construct your heel, as well as the confidence to tackle your own ideas. The different cast ons and bind off tutorials are worth the price alone. There are 5 patterns, all with interactive links, tutorials, videos, slide shows, and designer info. There are reviews of the Knitting Workshop DVDs as well as Knitting Daily DVDs and video previews of the same.

Pretty enticing stuff, you can’t even imagine interactive features that these emags from Interweave don’t have. Of course, the heart and sole of any pattern book. 5 different patterns, with variations. One men’s sock pattern, one that could swing either way, and the rest for women.

My favorite? The Latvian Inspired socks, but I also had fun with the interactive argyle designing section. Did I forget to mention that? Do you like to mix and match colors? Yeah… that’s in there too!

Next Pattern:

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?