Not My Favourite Sock Book (Favorite Socks - Ann Budd)

Member Name: Poison_kitty

Product:	Favorite Socks - Ann Budd
Date:	18/04/09 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pretty patterns from a wide variety of authors

Disadvantages: Sizing can be difficult, written for experienced sock knitters

The thing you need to understand about most pattern authors is that they (for the most part) publish in many different places. Some post their patterns on internet sites such as Ravelry or on their blog, some publish in magazines, some collate their patterns into a book. This book is an amalgamation of patterns by different authors (background information on all the authors is at the back of the book), most of which were originally published in the magazine "Interweave Knits", also published by Interweave Press. As I have mentioned in other reviews, Interweave Press is the powerhouse behind most knitting books and magazines. The trouble with pattern collections however, is that many people buy the book just for one or two specific patterns, but because publishing companies usually retain reprinting rights those patterns may end up in a magazine costing two thirds less than the book price, leaving some very disgruntled knitters, and angry women with pointy sticks are not good!
As to the contents, there is really no doubt about the fact that this book contains twenty five gorgeous sock patterns, all well written, straightforward and easy to understand. They're set out on their own pages with good colour photographs, and since the book is spiral bound, it means no acrobatics to keep it open to the right page! I do however, have one very major bugbear. Most of the patterns are knit to one particular size and only very vague instructions are given for changing it. I know it's not too difficult to knit a foot with a few extra rounds to make it longer, but other size modifications are trickier, especially for the beginner sock knitter.

A number of techniques used throughout the book are explained on the last few pages using words and line-drawn diagrams - good for refreshing your memory but again, not so easy to understand to a beginner. This left me with the distinct impression that the book was intended for use by experienced sock knitters, those that would use the patterns as inspiration, adding their own modifications for size and ease of knitting.

"Favourite socks" by Interweave press is available from Amazon priced £12.99

Summary: A sock book fo rintermediate to experienced sock knitters, great for inspriation!