Craft Book Month – Socks from the Toe Up

When Lindsay asked me to take part in a blog hop for Craft Book month over at Craft Buds I immediately pulled a stack of books I’ve got projects marked in. It was a decent stack.

And these are only the ones I had hanging out in my bedroom, it doesn’t count the stack in my studio that are all marked.

Since I had knitting on my mind, I decided to focus on a couple of knitting books that got me out of my “I can knit a mean scarf and nothing else” phase.

This summer I decided to try knitting socks, after seeing so many great knit socks popping up on Instagram. I picked up Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oaks at my local bookstore. Her directions are amazing. I’d read the directions for the magic loop cast-on a few times online and it never really clicked, until I read her well-explained steps.

What I loved about this book is she really teaches you the anatomy of socks. She walks through each part as you make small child-size socks in two colors so you can tell which sock you’re working on at any given time. And has a place you can donate these socks for children in need.

She teaches you how to measure your own foot and adjust patterns to ensure you get a perfect fit. Then she moves on to several patterns for different socks.

That’s as far as I got with that book… I haven’t actually knit any of the patterns in it yet. I had also picked up the Kindle version of Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson. I liked the look of a lot of these patterns.

I’m glad I had made the practice socks 2-at-a-time so I could apply that technique to the patterns in Wendy Johnson’s book. While I love her patterns and different options for heels, I didn’t find her basic instructions as thorough as Melissa’s. Also, I really like finishing both socks at the same time.

I started with the Gusset Heel Basic Socks because my yarn was so busy I didn’t want the pattern to get lost.

Next up – Diamond Lace Socks.

Now I’ve got the toes on the needles for Hearts and Flowers.

I see a lot of hand-knit socks in my future. They’re nice and portable, and it’s so true that once you wear hand-knit socks others are just not the same. Plus, one skein of yarn gives you a finished garment. Not like the four I just ordered for a sweater…

Are you on Ravelry? I’m just figuring out all the great tools they have, but the patterns are plentiful and it’s easy to navigate. Plus, you can see what all of your friends are working on. If you are signed up, find me here – I’d love to add you to my friends and see what you’re up to!

Oh, and I can’t wait to start knitting with this yarn I ordered today from Cakewalk Yarns on Etsy!