Folk Socks: The History & Techniques of Handknitted Footwear

Description

This revised edition contains the same in-depth history and the same step-by-step instruction from Nancy Bush that sock knitters have come to love and depend on. Discontinued yarns have been replaced by current yarns, and modifications that Nancy has learned since the book was first published have been added. Also new is a section on Estonian-inspired socks. Folk Socks offers eighteen sock patterns pulled from European and British traditions, plus a chapter on essential sock-knitting techniques for heel turns, toe shaping, and top ribbing for knitters of all skill levels.

Nancy Bush, an expert on knitted socks and knitting techniques of Estonia, teaches workshops for guilds and shops and at conferences throughout the United States, Canada, Finland, and Estonia. She is the author of Folk Socks, Folk Knitting in Estonia, Knitting on the Road, Knitting Vintage Socks, and Knitted Lace of Estonia. Nancy lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she owns The Wooly West, a mail-order and online yarn business.

Folk Socks is the book that started it all for me, and for so many other knitters. Folk Socks is the book that brought sock knitting back. Originally published in 1994, the beautifully illustrated book provides a wonderful overview of sock knitting history and techniques (meaty enough for even the most curious and analytical of knitters), and an excellent selection of interesting and beautiful sock patterns. If all you want to do is knit socks, this book has something for every foot and every taste. There are socks plain and fancy; manly work socks and lacy feminine socks; fun colourwork and stunning twisted stitchwork and cables. There are approachable socks for newer knitters, and challenging socks for the more experienced. And if you want to really dig into sock knitting, to understand construction and historical techniques and start designing your own, this book is for you, too. I bought the book in its first printing, and knitted many of the fabulous designs in its pages. This was back before sock knitting was cool; this was back when all the local yarn shops were closing, and good yarns were getting hard to find. I mail ordered many of the yarns, made some wild (and sometimes ill-advised) substitutions when I couldn't find a suitable yarn, and knitted my heart out. Working through this book, I learnt so much about knitting, about yarn, about gauge, about socks, about fit, about construction - and about myself. This book taught me how to read charts, how to work an SSK, how to turn a heel. But, most importantly, it taught me that I wanted to be a sock knitter. This new edition has been updated with expanded information, including some good stuff about Estonian sock knitting, a new pattern, current yarn information and lovely new photographs. My only disappointment with the book remains - most of the patterns only come in one size. There are socks a wide range of adult sizes, for the smallest and the largest feet, and armed with what you can learn in the book, resizing isn't difficult (trust me, I know!). I can say with complete certainty that I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be a serious knitter, I wouldn't be a knitting industry professional if it wasn't for this book.-Knitty.com Nancy's book was first published back in 1994 and is said to have kicked off the sock knitting phenomenon. This updated edition is packed with 18 patterns for socks, but these aren't just old socks! They're socks with heritage, showcasing a host of Northern European traditions. There are loads of variation including pure cream Latvian socks worked in lace, Estonian socks with twisted travelling stitch braid detail and patterned tops, and some fabulous red and white Finnish socks that even Father Christmas would be proud of!-Knit Today