The Reference Shelf (review and giveaway)
Remember when you first started knitting? You probably had a ball of yarn, a pair of needles, a pattern, and maybe some sort of basic guide (online or on paper) that walked you through a few simple stitches. Then, once you realized you liked this tying fancy knots thing, you started acquiring stuff. Yarn and needles sure, but also patterns. I’m guessing you eventually got around to having lots and lots and lots of patterns. The next step, at least for me, was to begin acquiring what I always think of as The Reference Shelf (I hear the capital letters in my head, and, if you’re prone to acquiring these sorts of books, you probably do, too). These are the books you turn to when you want to know a host of different ways to make a buttonhole or how to do that fiddly decrease on the wrong side of your work or which cast on to use or what to expect from a particular fiber blend. They are the books that deepen your knowledge of a subject in a way that individual patterns or even pattern collections really aren’t trying to do. They are the books that you go to when you really want to know how knitting works, rather than just make an awesome hat.
And now, Lara Neel has created one of these reference books. It’s called Sock Architecture: Heels, Toes, & Techniques for Knitting Awesome Socks, and, if you’re the type of knitter who wants to understand your socks better, it deserves a place on your own personal Reference Shelf.
In Sock Architecture, Lara starts by walking you through sock history and anatomy. Read this carefully, and you’ll know what the heck people mean when they say “high arches” or “square toes” or any of the other mysterious things they say about their feet, how to measure your feet to see where they fall in the spectrum, and what to do with that information.
Next she gives you detailed instructions for dozens of different heels and toes (of course for both top-down and toe-up socks). This section makes the book a real treasure. Sure, you can poke around on your own and find different heels and toes. But Sock Architecture brings a huge number of them together in one place, clearly and consistently explained, with pictures of what they look like, and information about why you might pick one over the other. There isn’t anything else out there that does that. If you’re interested in experimenting to make your socks fit really well, then this is just the resource you’ve been looking for.
Finally, to round things out, Lara gives you 17 patterns on which to try out your new techniques. I will mention that this is a reference book, and the patterns are presented accordingly. That means clear, sharp photos that show off the relevant features of the socks (rather than evocative photos of beautiful girls lounging on picturesque stone walls with misty fields in the background…and oh yeah they have on some cute socks). But really, in this context, that’s exactly what you want.
Reading this book, and playing with these variations for toes and heels, will make you a better sock knitter. You’ll find yourself ready to make socks that really fit, whether that means modifying existing patterns to incorporate these techniques or designing your own socks from scratch.
And Lara wants to help one of you get started right away! She’s offering a free electronic copy of the book to one of you. If you think it should be you, leave a comment telling me what fit issue gives you the most trouble with socks. Do you wonder how tall you should make your heel flap? Do you never quite like the way a standard toe fits you? Are you just hesitant to deviate from the pattern at all? There’s no right answer, just tell me what your experience has been.
Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Tuesday, September 23, 2014 will be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to get the book to them. If you’re leaving a comment, be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do get in touch with you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them.
I prefer toe up, and making sure the foot is the right length can be tricky.
My fit issue is trying to figure out how much ease to put in a sock. I don’t want it to be tight but I hate that loose, slouchy thing that happens.
Ankles and toes are probably the worst for me – I have have narrow ankles, but wide feet and muscular calves, so I tend to get a baggy sock ankle. My toes are short, broad, and at a definite angle – so they’re like square toes, but a square toe actually will wear out really fast on one side for me. I think I might need to start making asymmetrical toes in my socks.
Since mastering toe-up sock construction, I’d like to know the best ways to convert top-down patterns to toe-up patterns. My LYS calls me “Sock Lady” because I always gravitate to the sock yarn!!! Would love a chance to win this awesome Reference Book.
I often have problems with too floppy or too tight cuffs. They’ll either refuse to stay up or strangle the calf.
I have trouble fitting my super high arches. I’ve nearly given up because my entire family have high arches so anything I make never fits a single foot in the house 🙁
This looks like a great addition to anyone’s Reference Shelf! I’m pretty happy with the fit of my socks, but the thing that drove me nuts for years was having much larger calves than ankles, and trying to get the proportions right to have my socks fit both. I also often tend to make my socks just a little short, and have to knit the toes again, or a little long (less often), and still having to knit the toes again. Sometimes both (sequentially) in the same sock 🙂
I love knitting socks. Have never knitted toe up. Why you ask because there are a bizillion patterns I want to make that are cuff down. I was graced with muscular calves and wide feet byt smaller ankles in between. With some patterns I have to get creative with fitting or they slouch around my ankles. Thrilled to meet so many other sockophiles.
I always find a bit of discomfort where you pick up stitches off the heal flap – maybe this is just because the stretch is going a different way? I’d be interested to see if Lara has any tips on that.
I worked out My Way of knitting socks through much trial and error, but am hesitant to deviate from what I know fits. I’d love to try a variety of heels/toes/methods and see what they do.
I almost always have a pair of socks in my bag to work on during my mass transit time, which means I’ve knit a lot of socks. They don’t fit perfectly, which you’d think they should. I have big calves and high arches and it seems like my socks bag around my ankles all the time.
When I’m smart enough to try socks on as I go, I usually have no trouble fitting my feet. The issue comes when I’m trying to knit gift socks. I don’t know where all to measure the foot and tailor the pattern accordingly to ensure fit. My next gift pair is likely to contain a lot of ribbing…..
When I knit top down socks, I’m never really sure how long to make them before starting the heel flap-I just keep trying them on and hope for the best
I would like to try toe up socks. I would also like to learn some new heel and toe techniques.
Socks are my favorite thing to knit. This book sounds fabulous.
I think my problem is that I knit too loosely sometimes then I find the socks stretch out.
Just what I need for my first pair of socks! I’ve been hesitant to start because I’m worried that they won’t fit when I’m done
I used to knit a ton of socks and then stopped for a while. Would love to get my mojo back and get socks that really fit well. Feel like my socks are either too tight or too loose…
Wow, could I use this book! Fingers (and toes) crossed!
I always have trouble getting the socks over my ankles/heels. They are usually too tight there. And I’ve only knitted toe-up socks with heel flaps, because I’m afraid I’ll run out of yarn before the second sock is finished and I think short row heels will be even tighter than heel flaps. But I could be wrong (at least about the heel flaps).
My main issue is judging how long to make the foot in toe-up socks. How to allow for the stretch in the knitted fabric, vs what I have measured, whilst still allowing for a good fit over the ankle and instep.
I have heard reviews of this book and would love to add it to my library!
My issue with socks has always been that there’s 2. Lol. I do all this work to finish one and I still have a whole new one to knit! It feels so unfair. In fact, I’ve had a pair of your Chrysanthemum frutescens Socks sitting around for about a year now. 1 is finished. The other has not been started. I’m in love with both the pattern and the yarn, but cannot seem to force myself to start that second sock!
I’ll get to it eventually…
I’m working on my first sock design at the moment and it sounds like this would be the perfect addition to my sock reference library. I’ve been larding so much from Cookie A’s Sock Innovation.
bahh forgot to answer the question, silly me. My biggest issues are toes and how much a pattern will affect the elasticity. I have finally figured out the perfect toe for my Dad, ugly as …, but fits like a charm.