New Directions In Sock Knitting

Starred review from April 15, 2016

Sock knitters know Budd as a knitter with extensive knowledge of sock construction and technique, as seen in her earlier books, including Sock Knitting Master Class. The patterns, from well-known sock designers, are organized into three sections based on the item's construction--top-down, toe-up, and "other"--allowing knitters to choose their favorite and proceed from there. However, even though top-down and toe-up are familiar, these designers switch up familiar forms. Kate Atherley's "mirror socks" look deceptively simple--a plain-vanilla sock worked from the top down--but they're knit at the same time using double knitting. Carissa Browning's "cumulus" socks are knit from the toe up, but they're constructed from a series of scallop shapes that build from one another. The really mind-bending designs are in the "other types of construction" chapter, which features socks started from a diamond-shaped instep, a pair knit in a boomerang form, and socks started from the sole. If you don't have a mind for geometry, it's tough to figure out how these socks are constructed--but the finished products are undeniably cool. Many of these patterns require careful attention to the directions and a certain amount of trust in the designer, because these aren't your everyday knitted socks. Most of the patterns are extremely detailed, but patient knitters will find the process rewarding, and the finished results are gorgeous. VERDICT Experienced sock knitters who relish a challenge will want to pick this one up, as will knitters weary of traditional patterns.

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