The ultimate guide to every aspect of sock knitting for knitters of all abilities. Whether you've never picked up a double pointed needle in your life or you've already started your sock knitting journey, this book will help you on your way.

Introduction

How to use this book

All about socks

Sock anatomy

Measuring foot size

Choosing the correct size

Tools and materials

Yarn

Needles

Extras

Checking your tension/gauge

Importance of tension/gauge

Substituting yarn

Swatching

Measuring your tension/gauge

Achieving tension/gauge in a pattern

Sock recipes

Getting started

Cuff-down socks

Toe-up socks

Two-needle socks

Variations on the sock recipes

Sock elements

Cuffs

Heels

Toes

Sock projects

Sloping Hills by Winwick Mum

Under the Stars by Emma Potter

Twisting Pathways by Vikki Bird

Spring Lace by Rachel Fletcher

Bracken Cables by Olivia Villareal

Summer Meadows by Carmen Jorissen

Autumn Berries by Kaitlin Barthold

Red Sky At Night by Abby Brown

Beads of Dew by Anniken Allis

Winter Snow by Kerstin Balke

Knitting in the round

On double-pointed needles (DPNs)

Joining the round

On a short circular needle

On a long circular needle for magic loop

On flexible short needles

Two at a time magic loop knitting

Sock techniques

Casting on

Basic stitches

Reading charts

Increasing

Decreasing

Adding beads

Picking up stitches

Cables

Short rows

Working with more than one yarn/colour

Casting (binding) off

Finishing your project

Abbreviations

About the author

Index

Thanks

The designers

If I could only knit one type of project for the rest of my knitting days, I would definitely choose socks. There are so many variations and so many techniques to discover and learn that I could happily sit with my sock yarn and needles and knit these amazing tubular structures for ever, creating something different every time.

I love the never-ending possibilities of all the combinations. There are long socks, short socks, ankle socks, plain socks, striped socks or patterned socks, and it doesn’t matter how many pairs I knit as I know they will always come in handy and, as well as being practical, there’s definitely something magical and mindful about knitting socks. You can patiently sit, working stitch by stitch, round by round and before you know it, you’re in your calm zone feeling relaxed and peaceful and another sock is flying off the needles.

I’m delighted to share all my skills and knowledge with you in the form of this reference bible, which I’ve written with both new and experienced sock knitters in mind. I’ve covered all aspects of sock knitting, from beginner’s basics, through to more advanced techniques, so that you can choose to keep it really simple or ‘step it up’ and go for a more intricate combination of stitch patterns and techniques.

My handy guide to all the different sock yarns will help you choose the right yarns for your hand-knitted socks, and the illustrated guides on how to knit in the round will help you knit with any sort of knitting needles. I’ve even included recipes for a two-needle sock and a sock with no heel, either of which could be a great way to start your sock knitting journey.

There are so many things to try and new skills to learn, which is really exciting and is sure to ‘keep you on your toes’.

I’ve split the book into sections so that you can tackle things step-by-step and work at your own pace, without feeling overwhelmed.

• The first section covers all the different parts of a sock and how to measure your feet to work out how long and wide to knit your socks.
• In the second section we look at the the essential materials that you will need, with an in-depth guide to yarn and needles, through to optional extras such as row counters, project bags and blocking equipment.
• The third section addresses every aspect of tension/gauge to help you knit socks that fit.
• Then we move on to the fourth section which takes you through the basic patterns for each type of sock, including toe-up, cuff-down, two-needle and no-heel socks.
• The fifth section provides a variety of cuffs, heels and toes, so that you have all the tools at hand to mix and match these elements in your knitted socks.
• In the sixth section I feature 10 amazing sock designers, each sharing an exclusive pattern for you to try, with a mix of beautiful textures, cables, lace and colourwork. You’re sure to find something that’s just up your street.
• The final sections contain all the knitting techniques that you need to knit socks, including how to knit in the round with different needles, jogless stripes, adding beads, colourwork, two-at-a-time sock knitting, plus lots more.

So everything is here for you to start, or continue, your sock knitting adventures.

Whichever projects you choose, I hope this sock bible will be a useful resource for years to come, as you build up your own colourful and cosy hand-knitted sock drawer.

Happy sock knitting,

Lynne xx

Allis, Anniken 124–7 arches 12–13 Balke, Kerstin 128–31 Barthold, Kaitlin 116–19 beading 124–7, 153 Becker, Judy 148 Bird, Vikki 100–3 blocking 34, 165 Brown, Abby 120–3 cable 28, 110, 147, 155 casting off 57, 161 casting on 44, 50, 52, 140–1, 146–9 charts, reading 150 colour 18–22 changes 68, 158 multi 20, 158–60 contrast elements 58–65, 66 crochet hooks 28, 34 cuff-down socks 42–9, 68 contrast elements 66 heels 78–81, 85 projects 92–9, 104–7, 116–23, 128–31 toes 88 two at a time 140–2 cuffs 12–13, 70, 72–5 contrast elements 66 sock projects 92–4, 96–8, 100, 103–4, 107, 111–12, 115–16, 118, 120–2, 124, 127–8, 130 sock recipes 45, 56, 60, 66 types 74–5 cut-open tubes 34 decreasing 152–3 ends, weaving in 164 Fair Isle knitting 160 finishing 49, 57, 163–5 Fletcher, Rachel 104–7 foot 12–13 circumference 14, 37, 40 length 14, 15 size 14–15, 37, 40 sock projects 92, 95–6, 99–100, 102–4, 107–8, 111–12, 114, 116, 119–20, 124, 127–8, 130–1 sock recipes 48, 54 garter stitch 78–80 grafting/Kitchener stitch 49, 92, 100, 108, 120, 163 gussets 12–13, 78–81, 84 sock projects 92, 95–6, 99, 104, 107–8, 111–12, 114, 116, 119–20, 122–4, 127 sock recipes 47–8, 64 heel flap 78–81, 84, 92, 95–6, 99, 104, 107–8, 111–12, 115–16, 118, 120, 122, 124, 127 heel turn 92, 96, 98, 104, 107–8, 111, 115–16, 118, 120, 122, 124, 127 heels 12–13, 70, 76–85, 100, 103 common 78–9 contrast elements 66 double stitch short row (boomerang) 82, 128, 130 forethought 85, 100, 103, 154 garter stitch 80 simple shaped 82 slipstitch 80 sock recipes 46–7, 54–5, 60, 62–3, 66 striped (two-colour) 81 toe-up 82–4 wrap and turn short row 83 holes, fixing 164 increasing 151 insteps 12–13, 60–1 joining 44, 65, 135 Jorissen, Carmen 112–15 k3tog 152 kfb 151 kltbl 150 knit stitch 149 knitting in the round 132–43 casting off 161 joining 44, 135 scrappy socks 68 swatches 32, 34 lace 104–7, 118, 126 legs 12–13 sock projects 94, 98, 100, 103–4, 107, 111–12, 115–16, 118, 120–2, 124, 127–8, 130 sock recipes 45, 56, 60 magic loop knitting 26, 50, 53, 56, 136–8, 140–3 make 1 stitch 151 matching socks 22 materials 16, 18–25 mattress stitch 163 needles 26–7, 132–5 cable 28 double-pointed 26, 134–5 flexible short 26, 138–9 long-circular 26, 137 short circular 26, 136 tapestry/yarn 28 negative ease 15, 37, 40 no heel socks 68 P2tog 152 picking up stitches 154, 157 picot edge 75 Potter, Emma 96–9 pressure points 24 purl stitch 149 rib cable and twisted 110 corrugated 75, 160 half-twisted 75 rows, short 82, 156–7 'scrappy' socks 66, 68 seams 12–13, 65 shortie socks 68 side seams 65 sizing socks 14–15 sk2Po 153 slip stitch 80, 150 sock anatomy 12–13 sock elements 70–89 sock projects 90–31 Autumn Berries 116–19 Beads of Dew 124–7 Bracken Cables 108–11 Red Sky at Night 120–3 Sloping Hills 92–5 Spring Lace 104–7 Summer Meadows 112–15 Twisting Pathways 100–3 Under the Stars 96–9 Winter Snow 128–31 sock recipes 38–69 sock techniques 144–65 soles 12–13, 64 SSK 152 Staiman, Jeny 162 stitch directory 149–50 stitch holders 28 stitch markers 28 stocking stitch 78–9 stranded colourwork 160 stripes 22, 81 jogless 159 superwash 24 swatches 32, 34–5 tension/gauge 27, 30–7, 40 toe-up socks 50–7, 68 casting off 162 contrast elements 66 heels 82–4, 85 projects 100–3, 112–15, 124–7 toes 89 two at a time 143 toes 12–13, 70, 86–9 contrast elements 66 sock projects 92, 95–6, 99–100, 102, 104, 107–8, 111–12, 114, 116, 119–20, 123–4, 127–8, 131 sock recipes 48, 52–3, 61, 64–6 types 88–9 tools 16, 26–8 two at a time knits 140–2 'vanilla socks' 40 Villareal, Olivia 108–11 Winwick Mum 92–5 wool 24, 32 wrap and turn 156–7 yarn 18–25, 28 colour 18–22, 158–60 fibres 24–5, 32 matching 22 meterage/yardage 32 quantities 40 substitution 32 weight/thickness 25, 32 yarn over increases 151