Sock Knitting Master Class

Finalist in the About.com Reader's Choice Awards for Best Knitting Book of 2011. "Budd's latest book is a trove of expertise, with patterns from 15 of the craftiest sockistas around, no surnames necessary...Every project adheres to the holy trinity of custom sock knitting--fit, comfort, aesthetics. And if you can't get enough of this collected wisdom in words alone, a 95-minute sock tutorial by Budd is included on an accompanying DVD." - "Cheryl Krementz, Yarn Market News" "Ann Budd is at it again. She's pulled together another great collection of patterns, this time from master sock designers. There are 17 sock designs, and there isn't one I wouldn't love to wear." - "Cindy Koepke, Knitcircus" "It seems like just about all the big names in knitting -- particularly sock knitting -- are featured in Ann Budd's excellent new book "Sock Knitting Master Class."..In addition to the fantastic patterns, which offer a wide variety of options for both toe-up and top-down knitters (and even one sock that goes both directions!), an introductory section covers just about all you'd ever need to know about some of the design choices that go into making a sock." - "About.com Guide to Knitting" "If the designers aren't enough to draw you in, there's much more in here for sock novices and sock aficionado alike. With topics like sock design, toe up and top down construction, and the best bind offs for toe-up socks, this book will take you from zero to sock in no time." - "KnitPurl yarn shop (Portland, OR)" "This book is a really valuable collection of patterns and techniques that any sock knitter will use again and again." - "Jenny, KnitPicks.com" "I'm really glad to have this book because it has so many patterns, from lace to cable to colorwork, and the socks are all beautiful. Also, the techniques have plenty of charts, diagrams and photographs to make learning easy." - "Pamela MacKenzie, MyCentralJersey.com" "The facts alone will mak An excellent and comprehensive book on knitting socks. It's exhaustive. The answers to any questions you may have had about knitting and designing socks is in here. Ann has written an excellent introduction and challenging intermediate book for those looking to expand on their skills. There's a free DVD included with Ann Budd professionally demonstrating the different techniques of sock knitting and design. She explains the different knitting needles you can use and the differences between toe up and toe down construction. Also the 'frightening' kitchener stitch is demonstrated by Ann really slowly and clearly. She's an excellent teacher. She's funny, easy to understand and you feel confident when listening to her advice. There are both toe down and toe up socks in here. There are 10 top down designs to follow and seven toe up socks in the book. The first 47 pages are devoted to explaining yarn and gauge, heels and toes. There are sock patterns in here from Cookie A, Nancy Bush, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd herself and Melissa Morgan-Oakes amongst others. The standard of the book is extremely high and it's all been excellently produced, including the DVD. The photography and colours of the sock designs are beautiful. You feel really inspired as you flick through. This book explores such techniques as cables, twisted stitches, lace, stranded colorwork, entrelac, shadow knitting, and intarsia worked in the round. It's such a lovely guide to intermediate sock knitting.-sewingisforgirls.blogspot.com