Alice Curtis (2)

When I was first given this book to review, many years ago, it wouldn't format on my Kindle, but I saw it on my list recently when I was going over old reviews and decided to try it again, and lo and behold, it worked! I absolutely love knitting socks but have never tried knitting them straight so I was eager to see what this book had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the patterns were anything but straight vanilla socks. They were varied and included many different skill levels, and they were very pretty as well. I know quite a few people who are intimidated by the thought of using double pointed needles, but it's hard to find cute patterns when you knit flat, so this book would be perfect for them. Some of the patterns, as with any knit or crochet book, weren't to my taste, but I look forward to trying out a couple that I liked.

4/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.… (meer)

Good morning!

Have you seen this book yet, that just came out today? Have you admired the crazy gorgeous yarn on the front cover or the designs on the inside? Have you started knitting socks yet?


Anyone who reads my blog knows I knit a lot of socks - a lot - though I make mainly basic, easy, toe up socks and don't often challenge myself in the socknitting department... or really, the knitting department. (I'll challenge myself with crochet sometimes, but knitting... knitting is just for me, and for fun, and I really do like the basics though I do know how to do any knitting technique under the sun & teach them all on a regular basis). Now, that being said, I love to knit in the round (and regularly turn flat knit patterns into being knit in the round) but I can't wait to start the socks in this book.

OK, whew... went off on a tangent there, didn't I?

So the book begins with the basics... how to, gauge, and specific sock knitting techniques as well, such as turning the heel. Then come the socks... oh the gorgeous socks! There's 15 patterns here, from the basic worsted weight sock to the fancy, fingering weight texture or cabled socks, and there's baby socks and heavier slipper socks. Surprisingly, there's only a few intarsia designs (Coffee Break would make EXCELLENT scrap socks) & only one pair of lace socks (though admitably it's gorgeous).

Alice Curtis, who's an LYS owner (lucky girl), even explains the best way to seam the socks... and seriously... it's not hard, and the finished socks look good. Crocheters, are you listening? She's having us slip stitch the sock seam!
… (meer)

Knitting socks is fun, plus, it is about the only way to get socks that fit me - but I hate 'normal' heels using circulars and I do not 'do' DPNs. When I heard this book was coming out I pre-ordered in the hope of some new techniques for an interesting change of pace - and maybe a way of avoiding short row profanity. I am very good at dark mutterings while doing short rows...

Pro:
* Clear directions, gauge, yarn, measurements - all nicely laid out. The yarn specifications are pretty useless for me since they're US brands, but at least everything I need to pick a substitution is there. (More details of that for novice knitters would have been nice, but there's always Knitty.com and various reference pages on the internet).
* Some good notes and explanations on heel and toe types, and making them on two needles.
* Variety of sizes from child to adult, and fanciness from plain to cables and intarsia.

Con:
* only one basic sock format. It is a style which seems to work well, but I was hoping for a selection of methods. Of the 20 patterns listed, only four are front-seamed - lullaby (baby), moccasocks (house boots), cirque du sole (child), carnegie hall - the rest are side seamed, meaning left and right socks have different pattern directions for each sock (not always helpful for fifteen-minutes-between-things knitting breaks).
* that being said, it is a good method for doing socks with one seam - just don't forget to carry the pattern with you if you're 'bus knitting'.

Overall:
* Interesting, and - for those who cannot / will not / do not yet - knit in the round, an excellent introduction to sockery *ahem* without getting flustered by trying to learn to use DPNs or circulars at the same time
* It would have been nice to have some other methods (I know of a couple of side to side types, 'turkish' cuff to toe to cuff, top/back/sole, victorian smokers slipper) for comparison, and maybe some information on calculating knee high socks for those who are driven mad by crew socks and get cold calves wearing anklets (its not hard - but it is rarely included), but then again this IS Alice Curtis' method, not a more general 'flat socks' book which the original release made it sound like.… (meer)

Overall:
The pictures were good and useful. The pattern I used was clearly written and well explained. The techniques were not too complicated, and the novelty of knitting straight was enough of a hook (pardon the pun) that I was excited to try making a sock. This was also my first ever sock...

"Wrapped in Hugs" pattern
It was much easier to knit the sock not having to Battle with DPN's, I was just very hesitant about how easy or hard the joining would be at the end. I didn't pin like I was advised to as I didn't have pins and got a little lazy, but I think. Managed very well. This was a fun enough sock to make that I am actually going to make the right sock now. I wasn't sure if I was actually pin to make a pair or just one to show off. I made the large size and its a little big on me. Perfect for around the house or in boots, but not in sneakers.
I may try the baby booties next. If/when I do, I will append to this review.

(Reviewed on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/projects/heffroberts/wrapped-in-hugs)
(Blog Review at http://heffroberts.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-knit-your-socks-on-straight.html)… (meer)