Book Review - Custom Socks - and a Giveaway

*THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS KNITTYLUCIA. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING!*

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Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet

By Kate Atherley

Interweave/F+W; $27.99

http://bit.ly/1g9rikj

By permission Interweave/F&W

Kate Atherley is serious about socks.  She has written a book, Custom Socks, with a near encyclopedic amount of detail on everything you need to know about hand knitted socks.

The sizing chart is great – there is lots of detail. I was happy to see that she included socks for children. I recently knit a pair of socks for my granddaughter, and not realizing how fast she was growing, knitted the socks about an inch too short.

I also like that she even included whether to measure bunions in the total measurement of the circumference of the foot. That attention to detail is what sets this book apart.

Kate takes the measurements and the good fit of socks very seriously. By telling us how to measure our feet, what to measure, and what amount of ease to allow for, she really helps us get on the right path to well fitting socks.

The most valuable and perhaps unique Section of the book is adjustments for non average feet. I don't think this material has been covered in such detail before.

 

The patterns in the book are beautiful. The patterns alone would make the book worthwhile, but the added attention to detail, and the directions on how to get the best fit, take this book to the next level. In my opinion, any serious sock knitter would appreciate this book.

  

Here are some of my favorite designs. The Wellington Road socks feature beautiful cables that twine up the sock in a graceful way.

Wellington Road

Each sock has both a top down and toe up version. This is really helpful and again, something I don't think I have seen before. 

The Harcourt  is lovely with an easy lace pattern to give it distinction. 

Harcourt

A beautiful colorwork sock is the Lindisfarne . The stranded color work produces a striking graphic pattern that both men and women would be happy to wear. 

Lindisfarne

The Carpita is another colorwork sock that has a really pretty design on it. 

 For each design, Kate has paid attention to how the pattern flows from the top to the bottom and how it is treated at the heel and gusset. Nothing is left to chance.

For example, the Wellesley Sock has graceful cables flowing down from the top to the bottom. 

Kate includes a basic sock for those who like to use self-striping yarns, and don't need to put a lot of work into a complicated sock pattern to get interesting socks. 

The author has done a great job of compiling and amassing all the knowledge that is needed to produce great socks that your family and friends (those lucky enough to receive them), will enjoy for years.

Once again, Interweave is sponsoring a giveaway of this book. Please comment on this blog post saying why you would like to win this book, and also sign up for my newsletter (top right corner of the blog) to to be entered into the drawing. Please include an email address or Ravelry ID so I can contact you if you win. I'll choose the winner on September 16, 2015 and announce it here on the blog.

Good luck!

Next time, I'll continue my series on choosing and using Color. Did you miss Part 1?  It's right here!

Disclaimer: I was given a review copy of this book.

New Design
I just published the Willowbrook Shawl.

This is a pretty side to side shawl especially designed for gradient sets. The pattern gives instructions for using several types of gradient sets, plus directions for various sizes of a single skein.

This pattern uses mostly garter stitch with a delicate lace edge for a nice relaxing knit. The simple stitch will really show off a unique variegated, semi-solid or handspun yarn.

And there's a coupon code - get 20% off right now with code 'SEPT20'.