Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet
So go ahead and treat yourself to these 15 original sock patterns that are easily customizable and work with any needle configuration. Your feet will thank you!
Reviews (157)
Best sock reference of all time! Plus patterns.
This book is a must-have reference tool for anyone who knits (or plans to knit) socks. It is a complete guide to sock knitting, and she's done the math FOR you. Kate details not only have to measure feet to get the perfect fit, but also how to make more than an educated guess about fit when you can't measure the feet you're knitting for! She provides formulas, tips and tricks to make sock knitting easy AND fun, and oh by the way here are some beautiful patterns as well! The book cover says 15+ patterns, but Kate's formulas and techniques for knitting any sock top-down or bottom-up really gives this book hundreds of patterns. The ribbed sock pattern does have an errata when switching to the heel-- the RS and WS instructions are reversed. Just stay in pattern and your socks will be perfect. This is my first pair of socks and my husband is dying to wear them!
Good but watch for errors in the patterns.
Has a lot of useful charts and general sock knitting theory. Would have given 4 stars but found an error in the pattern for the Basic Ribbed Socks. This has lowered my confidence in the other patterns and will have to look them over very carefully. This would not be easy for beginner knitters.
Excellent! I could not recommend it enough.
I have very wide feet. I have had to alter every sock pattern I ever used. Being only an intermediate knitter at best, it was very hard for me to knit any socks since I had to alter and use a different pattern every time since none were the right size. Hundreds of dollars of yarn, thousands of hours of time and several books later, I finally found this book. It finally enabled me to knit a pair of socks that actually fit.Only wish I found this book earlier.
... to go over some of the highlights of this amazing book, but if you're pressed for time
I'm going to go over some of the highlights of this amazing book, but if you're pressed for time, here's the TL;DR version: if you knit socks, you NEED this book. True to the title, this book gives you everything you need to knit socks that fit--whether you have "average" feet or unique feet, Kate gives you all the tools you need to create a great fitting sock, either from someone else's pattern or when creating your own. She starts with the basics--how socks are supposed to fit, and what parts of the foot you need to measure to size your socks. She talks you through the process of determining whether your feet are average--in which case most sock patterns should work for you with little to no adjustment--or unique, in which case you may need to make adjustments. Of course, she doesn't just leave you stranded there. No, she goes on to address some of the circumstances that might require pattern adjustments--slender ankles, shapely calves, high arches, even long toes!--and explains how to make those adjustments. Is it a lot of math? Yes. But it's worth it for socks that fit! Two of my favorite inclusions in the book are an extensive yarn requirements chart, where Kate indicates approximately how much yarn you'll need to knit socks sized 5"-10.5", at gauges from 4-9 sts per inch (finally, you'll know if you have enough yarn leftover for another pair!); and shoe size charts, where she provides approximate sock measurements for womens', mens' and childrens' shoe sizes (if you've ever tried to measure a child's foot, you'll know how valuable that is). But don't let the title fool you. This book isn't just about knitting socks that fit. It's about knitting great-looking socks that fit. In addition to the truly exhaustive information Kate provides about sizing, measurements and customization, this book is full of tips and tricks about how to make your socks look good. Those holes at the gusset? Kate tells you how to get rid of them. Blocking? Covered. Keeping your socks from wearing out? Check. Stretchy cast-ons and bind-offs? Yup. Avoiding or fixing those darn ladders? That's here too. And if that weren't enough, she's also included both top-down and toe-up plain vanilla sock patterns (that she talks you through adding your own stitch patterns to, I might add!), PLUS 12 original sock patterns! Even better, 5 of the patterns include instructions for working both top-down and toe-up, and several of the designs are unisex--something the knitting world is truly in need of. If you're a sock knitter, clear a space on your bookshelf and order this one right away!
Indespensible
I knit socks a lot. Generally toe-up, generally without a pattern, generally forget the specifics of how to turn a heel when I get there. This book offers varying heels, toes, and everything in between. If you want to knit socks without following someone else's pattern (and HOPE they fit) this is an excellent resource. It includes everything, including how to measure feet to make sure the socks will fit their intended recipient. I bought the Kindle edition because invariably when I get to the point in the sock I need a reference I am no where near where the physical book would be (and bookmarks are really easy and never fall out).
My new favorite sock book
This book provides clear instructions with illustrations to help you take the measurements needed to know whether your feet are "standard" enough for common sock patterns to fit you. Now, you probably already know this based on socks you've already made, but the book goes further to diagnose exactly which part of your foot/leg is unique, and how to then modify patterns so that the resultant socks will fit perfectly. There are formulae provided so that anyone can do the calculations to create their own patterns, but for those who don't want to work out the math, there are also tables provided so that you can just look up the numbers you need. The top-down pattern included that I've tried has Dutch heels (I think they all do). I highly recommend this book for sock knitters.
Wish I bought this first when I started out
I only discovered this book recently. And delayed on getting it because of its price. However, I have found it to be the absolute best books on knitting socks. I now wished I bought this book first, on the topic, instead of it being my 11th book on the topic. This is the only book you need to learn to make socks. Even the writing is infinitely better than any knit book, overall, that I own. And I owe so many that’s it is too embarrassing to disclose that number. The book is well worth the price.
Solved my high arch fitting problem!
Awesome book! I have a fit problem on my knitted socks with my high arch (instep). All my foot ratios are normal except for heel diagonal. This causes difficulty pulling handmade socks over the heel. Perfect easy solution in the book. I just finished my first pair of socks with this fix...what a huge joy!!! This is not a lazy person's book. It requires work, measurements, gauge, pen and paper, thought. Do the work, you will be rewarded with PERFECT socks.
Sock patterns for ALL SIZES! Clear and easy!
This is an excellent book. There are charts which give stitch counts for babies to adults. Directions for measuring feet are clear. If the size you need is not on the chart easy formulas are included to make the right size. Patterns include top down and toe up directions. After mastering the basic sock more involved patterns and color work are introduced. Tips and tricks are included as well as great pictures of stitches and options. I love this book. I have been looking for something like this for awhile now, so I am super stoked about finding it!
Personalize Your Socks
I took a class from this author, Kate Atherley, and it was so good that I decided to purchase her sock book. She promised that knitting socks for a custom fit would not be too difficult. After going through the book and viewing all kinds of socks from Fair Isle, to lace, texture, and cables, I realized that I had a good chance of being able to knit most of these patterns. On the whole, they are lovely and instructions are provided for toe up and top down. I have a lot of sock yarn in my stash so I'm set to go.
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