Loom Knitting Socks: 50 Easy No-needle Designs for All Loom Knitters

Sept 09

There are many reasons why knitters knit socks. Not only is it a great way to own totally unique socks that are quite unlike anything that can be bought in a store, but sock knitting offers the perfect opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Sock knitting can be more challenging than knitting scarves or hats, yet is not so time consuming (or costly) as knitting a sweater. As Isela Phelps explains in Loom Knitting Socks, her latest loom knitting book, socks are a perfect project for working on a knitting loom. A wide variety of socks can be produced from plain and simple socks through to creating socks with texture and pattern. Knitting looms are similar to a large knitting nancy and are therefore ideal for producing tubes of knitting. Isela Phelps explains in Loom Knitting Socks, how simple shaping techniques can be used to turn this simple tube into a fitted sock with a turned heal. The clear description of the anatomy of a sock and basic sock making techniques removes some of the mystique from sock making and helps to make the creation of socks accessible to even complete beginners.

Oct 09

If the word loom conjures up images of a large piece of furniture then think again, as these little plastic looms can easily fit inside your knitting bag. They can be used to make a tubular form that is ideal for socks, and here is a whole sock drawer full of them. I like the way this book starts off by telling you how to use it! You can learn how to read the charts and all about the looms as well as what else you need very quickly. There is also a section on decoding ball bands, and on caring for your socks so they will last longer. This is the kind of detail I love about Search Press books. There is a large section devoted to how to do the stitching on a loom, including working out the tension, color changes and even the anatomy of a sock. After reading all this and having a bit of a go there are quite a few patterns to work through for a considerable range of sock types. These are graded according to difficulty showing first how to knit a range of socks in plain yarns with varying patterns, then adding more than one color and then branching out into a veritable galaxy of styles. They include snowflakes, flowers, stripes, cable, lace and finally variations on the basic sock shape such as footsies and other toeless or heelless types and of course socks for children. At the back is a useful page showing all the abbreviations and another page of websites and suppliers for those living in the US and UK. This is a very useful primer for those venturing for probably the first time into knitting with a loom, and the end result is some very practical socks for self and anybody else - and if you lose any odd ones while doing the laundry you can always make some more!

Jan 2010

Machine knitters who have bought knitting looms will know that patterns are scarce, so look out for a great new book. Socks are amazing to create and the perfect project to have around. Loom knitting is portable, fun, easy and fast and you'll get the technique in a few hours. There are 50 patterns in all, so you're sure to find one that appeals to family members and friends. Get going, grab your loom and sock it to them - but be warned, socks are addictive!

Jan 2010

Never worked on a loom before? This book takes you step-by-step through the process. It's so easy to grasp, that within a few hours you'll be watching a simple tube of knitting transform into a perfectly formed sock! The 50 projects in the book are divided into seven categories: Simple, Textured; Colourwork; Fancy (cables and beads), Lace, Footsies and Kids.