Usually, I plan the book reviews for this blog weeks in advance so that they’re scheduled to not occur too close to any other reviews and such.

But every once in a while, I stumble across a book that is so awesome, I just can’t wait to tell you about it! And The Knitter’s Book of Socks is one of these books!

Overview

I got the book just the other day, and I’ve already completely devoured it! Clara Parkes is a fabulous writer and knows beyond oodles about the properties of yarn and fibers. (Check out The Knitter’s Book of Yarn and The Knitter’s Book of Wool when you get a chance).

Have you ever knit a sock, only to have it sprout a hole within weeks? Or made one that just never fit right? It’s heartbreaking when it happens, but unless you select a magical combination of fiber, yarn and pattern… it’s bound to happen.

In this book, Clara enlightens you about every facet of yarn so that you can pick the yarn and pattern that are right for you. Of course you already knew that nylon was stronger than wool… but did you know that wool is more elastic than cotton? Or absorbs more moisture? Or that the twist of the yarn has a profound impact on the stitch definition and wear of your sock?

If you’ve ever been tempted to knit socks (or even if you already think you’re an expert), you need this book!

Contents

I geeked-out about the information in every chapter in this book! Really… who knew there was so much to know about socks?

Here’s what’s inside:

• What a Sock Needs (exploring elasticity, strength and moisture management)
• Fiber Foundations (details about fiber length and structure & overviews of properties of protein, plant and synthetic fibers)
• The Yarns (learning about twist and plies)
• Stitch Tricks (exploring how various stitches impact wear)
• The Patterns (20 fabulous patterns!)

The Patterns

Now, there are a lot of sock patterns out there… so I have to admit that I was a little skeptical that I’d actually be impressed with the patterns in the book.

But I was!

Various famous sock-designers contributed patterns to the book, and it’s clear that Clara had a mission in mind when selecting them. Each sock is not only a beautiful new design, but features an explanation of how the sample yarn was selected, and how the sock will be a long-lasting addition to your collection.

No more knitting a sock that’ll end up in the scrap pile a season later!

I’m so excited, I think I’m going to cast on for Cat Borhdi’s Darjeeling socks… a tight fabric, a patterned heel (to prevent wear), an exciting stitch detail around the cuff (for maximum snuggli-ness) and a fascinating arch expansion! Sign me up!

Are you ready to tackle socks?

Whether you’re a sock newbie (there’s a pattern for first-timers) or a seasoned sock-pro, I highly recommend adding The Knitter’s Book of Socks to your collection!

Tags: clara parkes, knitting, socks

In: book reviews