Betsy McCarthy - Knit Socks! 17 Classic Patterns for Cozy Feet

Knit Socks!

17 Classic Patterns for Cozy Feet

BETSY LEE McCARTHY

Photography by John Polak

The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by
publishing practical information that encourages
personal independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Gwen Steege and Kathy Brock
Art direction and book design by Mary Winkelman Velgos
Text production by Jennifer Jepson Smith

Photography by John Polak Photography, except back cover photograph
by Kevin Kennefick and author photo by www.smilingwillow.com
Illustrations by Alison Kolesar

Indexed by Nancy D. Wood

2010 by Betsy Lee McCarthy
Previously published in hardcover in 2004

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McCarthy, Betsy Lee, 1942
Knit socks! : 15 cool patterns for toasty feet / Betsy Lee McCarthy.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-60342-549-0 (pbk : alk. paper)
1. KnittingPatterns. 2. Socks. I. Title.
TT825.M383 2004
746.4320432dc22
2004001522

I'm pleased to present new patterns and material in this revised edition of Knit Socks!, a step-by-step book I wrote six years ago to guide knitters gently through the process of knitting top-down socks. I had previously taught hundreds to knit socks at various classes, workshops, and kitchen tables, and the book enabled me to share my experience with thousands more. I'm pleased that Storey Publishing wanted to reissue this expanded edition as well. My heart sings when I hear about people who were helped by the first book, and this revised edition provides an opportunity to reach even more knitters.

My mother helped me to see special beauty in handmade items back when the word homemade implied that the item wasn't necessarily of good quality. My passion for knitting and teaching others to knit emerged from this awareness of beauty in the handmade. The more mechanized and computerized our world becomes, the more we yearn to create items of beauty from our own hearts and hands items like hand-knit socks! Giving yourself time and permission to learn such activities is a wonderful, soul-nourishing gift, as well as a benefit to others who receive the special socks you knit.

I'm hoping this book will encourage you to try knitting socks and to see that with a little guidance, regardless of your skill level, making a sock is not only easy, but also great fun. The patterns range in knitting challenge from easy to intermediate and thus support gradual skill building. If you can comfortably cast-on, knit, purl, slip, increase, and decrease, you should be able to make most of the socks in this book. I've designed the patterns to provide opportunities to try new techniques on a small project and thus expand your knitting repertoire. Colorful Fair Isle stranding, simple no-cable-needle cables, slip stitches, easy lace, and attractive textured designs, as well as fun-to-create stripes in many varieties, all find their way into these pages.

Since the first book came out, I've listened to sock knitters, and in response, I added new material to answer a question frequently asked by knitters who learned to knit socks on circular needles: How can I knit socks on one or two circular needles if the pattern is written for double points? The simple answer is that you can knit any sock pattern on any type of needle, and this edition explains how to do that. (See pages 1922.) Most of the patterns here are written for beginning and ending on the right-hand side of the sock as worn. Needles 1 and 2 (with a few exceptions that are spelled out) hold the instep stitches, and Needles 3 and 4 hold the heel/sole stitches. A few patterns start and end in the middle of the heel/sole to hide color changes.

Additionally, three new patterns, each with several interchangeable stitch patterns that turn those three patterns into eight, are included in this expanded edition. I hope they will provide hours of knitting pleasure and encouragement to knitters who want to create their own patterns once they see how one basic pattern can be developed into others. I also provide information on the expanding sock yarn fiber options, as well as new sock knitting tips and suggestions for taking your sock knitting to a new level.

More experienced knitters, be assured that this book isn't just for beginners. If you're already a sock knitter, you'll find 17 sock patterns, with size and yarn-weight options, plus tips and techniques for increasing the beauty, durability, and fit of your handmade socks. Most are easy to learn, making them perfect candidates for hours of relaxing, meditative, or social knitting.

Yes, it's an exciting time in the sock knitting universe. While almost nothing seems impossible, I encourage future sock knitters to learn by knitting one sock at a time or to knit a pair simultaneously on separate needles/needle sets (see Tea for Two, page 12). This book is for sock knitters past, present, and potential. May our spirits be uplifted as we bring joy to ourselves and others by knitting socks together!

All you really must have to knit socks is some pleasing yarn, appropriately sized needles, a pattern, basic knitting skills, and a commitment to the project. That being said, a well-equipped knitting bag will enhance your knitting pleasure and increase the likelihood of your success. While you can always discover more gizmos, the few basic items recommended are highly portable, simple, and fairly inexpensive:

Needles in size required for your project (double point, or one or two circulars)

Adequate yarn for the project (Each pattern gives the required amount.)

A working copy of the pattern (Photocopies allow you to make notes on your pattern without marring your book; make photocopies only from your own book, for your own use.)

Needle and stitch gauge with a built-in ruler and holes for measuring needle size

Retractable measuring tape showing inches and centimeters

Tapestry needle (blunt) and a large-eyed sharp needle

Plastic stitch markers