Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Sock Knitting Master Class: Innovative Techniques + Patterns from Top Designers

Rate this book
Work from the ground up with knitwear create your own socks!

Sock Knitting Master Class showcases methods for designing and knitting creative socks, featuring signature elements and techniques from 16 top designers. You'll learn what makes good sock design, and then dive into knitting 18 spectacular, brand-new patterns featuring the widest variety of techniques.

With patterns divided into two sections by top-down and toe-up construction, Sock Knitting Master Class explores such techniques as cables, twisted stitches, lace, stranded colorwork, entrelac, shadow knitting, and intarsia worked in the round. Plus, you'll discover inventive ways to start and end socks, shape heels and toes, and knit the soles.Ìý

Sock Knitting Master Class is an all-star assembly of the most inventive, exciting designers working in socks including Cookie A, Kathryn Alexander, Nancy Bush, Cat Bordhi, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Anne Hanson, Melissa Morgan-Oakes, Meg Swanson, Anna Zilboorg , and many more. And you'll also learn how each yarn contributes to the overall design from Clara Parkes .

184 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2011

77 people are currently reading
200 people want to read

About the author

Ann Budd

26Ìýbooks29Ìýfollowers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
159 (46%)
4 stars
128 (37%)
3 stars
52 (15%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Gina.
508 reviews
February 24, 2012
Who knew you get could a PhD in socks? Reading this book is like getting a college education in sock making.Even beginner sock knitters will find this to be an excellent reference book.
Profile Image for juliegoonie.
186 reviews9 followers
September 7, 2012
This book is loaded with information. Highly recommended for sock knitters.
Profile Image for Karen.
18 reviews
March 12, 2018
When I bought this book my first goal was to make the socks on the cover. Bought everything, came home, and starting knitting. The problems were several: I had never made anything in the round with that many different colours, and I didn't know how to properly manage and correctly do stranded knitting; I was a pretty tight knitter than (learnt to loosen up 😉since); and I was just too excited to show off strutting my stuff with these beauties. Well I got as far as just past knitting the heel (it was a top-down sock) when I'd decided to try it on and see how it looked. To my absolute horror it was so tight I couldn't pull it past my heel. I must have spent the good part of every free moment of a couple of months, and I couldn't pull it past my own heel because everything was too tight. I never finished the sock, but it hangs proudly on my cork board in my crafts room. I learned a lot of very important things trying to knit that, and one day I think I will try again.
Profile Image for Gabriella.
338 reviews
November 19, 2017
Whoa! There are a lot of great looking patterns in this book, but all of the patterns seem way too advanced for me. There is a lot of info on techniques, and the book comes with a DVD (full disclosure: I haven't watched the DVD.) I would like to come back to this book later, but I borrowed this copy from the library. In my opinion, it would be better to own this book than borrow seeing as you would probably need to hold on to it for a while, and any one pattern refers to other areas of the book for explanations on techniques used in the pattern.
1,919 reviews7 followers
December 4, 2023
I'm reading this book a dozen years after publication and may put it on my "buy" list. There are good explanations on techniques and I thought that, yes, perhaps I could knit every one of these projects. Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet by Kate Atherley is a better book if you just hd to buy one, but the designs here are very inventive. DVD included, which I didn't use. Book is well organized with lots of photos with details, graphics, and stitch charts.
Profile Image for Dorian.
15 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2022
Hugely informative primer on basic sock knitting techniques, but all of the patterns were perhaps a bit too advanced for a beginner sock knitter like myself. Something basic to start out with would have been appreciated before all the cables/lace/intarsia, but I can see why the book assumes the reader would want to be thrown into the deep end first.
Profile Image for Lisa Manning.
3 reviews
September 13, 2019
Socks socks socks

Wonderful patterns, some are very interesting which I cant want to give them a go. Especially love the bios of all the people who provided their spins on knitting socks
Profile Image for Anne.
181 reviews6 followers
January 7, 2017
I haven't used any of her patterns yet, but they look delicious
Profile Image for Wendi Lau.
435 reviews38 followers
June 26, 2017
Very interesting designs. Upon further review and looking at finished objects on ravelry, I think only the U-Turn design looks like one I would try.
Profile Image for Janelle.
786 reviews15 followers
October 2, 2011
This is such a neat book! It begins with about 40 pages of design information, the perfect introduction for a new or intermediate sock knitter and an excellent review/reference for the more experienced. And then come the projects - 17 patterns that are super seductive, thanks in part to the excellent photography. There are only a few I am not immediately interested in making. Each pattern includes commentary by Clara Parkes (yarn swoon) regarding the specified yarn and potential substitutions.

The book truly is a master class - if you knit your way through it, you'll learn every sock technique there is. It is divided into cuff-down and toe-up sections. I'm probably not going to work my through every single pattern... but I'll certainly try a few new things.

I already have Cookie A's Asymmetrical Cables socks on the needles and plan to knit Meg Swansen's Twisted-Stitch Stockings (which have a sole like none I've ever seen before) and Ann Budd's Mock Cables and Lace (lovely, if not very originally named). I predict that this book will become as popular as Interweave's Favorite Socks book.

It also comes with a DVD. I haven't watched the entire disc yet; what I've seen so far truly replicates the text in the book. Perhaps some techniques are demonstrated, which would be more helpful.

I'll be leaving this on my coffee table for a long time to come - partly to inspire me, and partly to have potential sock recipients leaf through it to let me know what they like. S2 has already placed a couple of post-its!
Profile Image for Carolyn McBride.
AuthorÌý5 books106 followers
May 31, 2016
I bought this book in the hopes that one day, I would take the plunge and break out of my vanilla-sock-making comfort zone.
Well, I haven't yet, but the book has proven to be a great resource. The cd is handy, the book is both instructional (even for chickens like me) and inspirational.
I have never regretted buying the book.
One day, I'll cast on for a moccasin toe...one day.
Profile Image for Robin.
609 reviews
October 11, 2011
Ann Budd provides detailed, easy to understand directions with options for all levels of sock knitters. There are sections for toe up and cuff down socks. There are lots of patterns included with wonderful pictures and illustrations.
Profile Image for Tonileg.
2,243 reviews25 followers
September 22, 2016
Lots of sock patterns, that have a range of difficulties, but lots of expensive yarns that are easy to substitute for cheaper choices. I did not like this enough to buy and add to my collection.
184 pages and borrowed from the main library
4 stars
1 review
Read
October 15, 2011
Must have in your pattern book collection regardless of what levev of knitter you are
Profile Image for Christine.
77 reviews
December 31, 2011
Wow, my favorite designers, lovely photos, geeky details. The technical illustrations could have clearer annotations, but they are still lovely, and so handy to have them all in one book.
Profile Image for Terri Cochran.
56 reviews1 follower
Read
April 12, 2012
I'm a want-to-be sock knitter, so this book is over my head. But the designs are beautiful. There's a CD in the back that offers additional instructions. I'll check this out from the library again!
Profile Image for Kristin Roach.
AuthorÌý1 book7 followers
June 16, 2012
I'm giving this 5 stars based on my first quick read through. I'll give a more in depth review once I've read it all the way cover to cover and knit a pair of socks from it.
Profile Image for Laurel.
287 reviews
January 18, 2013
Incredibly informative and if I become obsessed with knitting socks I'll pick up a copy for my library.
Profile Image for Kelly.
13 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2013
I'd love to add this to my sock-knitting collection. Especially interesting were the yarn notes by Clara Parkes
Profile Image for Kathryn.
56 reviews
November 4, 2013
Lovely patterns, but I need to try them out when I have more time. I love that this comes with a DVD as well.
Profile Image for Nikki Kirsch.
9 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2014
Not just for sock knitters. A must have on the bookshelves of all knitters.
Profile Image for Tilden.
578 reviews6 followers
March 6, 2015
Good patterns and instructions. Like how there is a statement with the pattern on what techniques will be used in the pattern. Found 3 patterns I liked.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.