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Susan Bates Offers Knit and Crochet Prize Packages

July 26, 2012 by Sarah White

susan bates power of pink giveawayDo you like Susan Bates needles? If you like them on Facebook you could win a knit or crochet-themed prize package during the Power of Pink giveaway.

Two of their fans will be selected to win one of the prize packs — valued at $90 — on August 29 (my birthday, not that anyone cares). The knitting pack includes four balls of Luster Sheen yarn, four balls of Baby Sheen yarn, Thread Crochet for Today book, Silvalume knitting needles, yarn needles, a heart shaped cutter pendant, point protectors and a knit count, all in a Red Heart tote bag.

Winner will be chosen at random and contacted through Facebook to collect their prize. The contest is open to people worldwide who are 16 or older. Enter between now and August 24 to be eligible.

[Photo by Susan Bates.]

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Comments

  1. Chris Mulder says

    July 27, 2012 at 12:16 am

    can crochet and knit but do not have materials and would love some, especially with winter coming (I hope).

  2. Francine C. says

    July 27, 2012 at 4:30 am

    Wow! I like to knit and to crochet. The different shades of pink look fantastic. I would love to win one of these kits. Thank you.

  3. de says

    July 28, 2012 at 2:09 am

    What a great giveaway!

  4. Becky says

    August 6, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Hey Sarah – I care – We Virgo Women have to stick together. Mine is September 17th!

Have you read?

Book Review: No Fear Sock Knitting

I feel like when it comes to things that people are afraid to knit, socks probably top the list. I’ve heard people say they would never knit socks because they look too hard, but really you just need to know a few basic things (and trust the pattern even though it sounds wrong the first time you do it) to master socks. 

Denise DeSantis aims to take the worry out of knitting socks with No Fear Sock Knitting. Based on a class on her YouTube channel, it includes all the basic information you need to make sock knitting feel easier, along with eight patterns for both top down and toe up socks. 

The book generally covers types of needles and yarn you might use to knit socks, as well as other supplies you will need. It looks at the parts of the sock, different knitting needle configurations used to knit socks, how to read a pattern (including abbreviations and terms you might find in sock patterns), discussion of ease, how to measure your foot and choosing the correct size to knit.

It includes two options each for casting on cuff down and toe up socks, as well as four options for cuff treatment. It explores the heel flap and turn method for top down and toe up socks, as well as short row heels using a shadow wrap (worked with a leg from the stitch below) and a square heel. There’s a discussion of avoiding holes and fixing other problems in heels.

Likewise with toes there are several options, including a wedge toe, round toe and anatomical toe (different on each foot) for both cuff down and toe up socks. There are also tutorials for grafting and Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind off, depending on which direction you’re going. There’s also a tips section that covers things like avoiding ladders, changing colors. matching stripes and more. 

After all that preparation, there are eight patterns to choose from: short socks worked from the top down that are a perfect first-sock sock, a basic ankle-length toe-up sock, a DK weight sock worked from the top down with different length options, a “vanilla” sock with a short row heel worked top down, an ankle sock with a garter stitch cuff, one with a leg worked in alternating colors with a contrasting heel and toe, a sock worked in a helical stripe pattern and a striped sock with a garter stitch heel. 

Three of the patterns are rated at skill level two on a scale of three, while the rest are level one. They’re all pretty straightforward, they just use different techniques you might not have tried before. Since only one is made to be toe up, there are also tips for converting the other patterns to toe up if you’d rather work that way. Each pattern includes three size options. 

This book is a nice introduction to sock knitting, with lots of techniques to reference and simple patterns to take the fear out of the process. I’m not sure these are patterns you’ll come back to time and again but they are a good place to start if you’ve never knit socks before. 

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 8 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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