Rating: 
Summary: Instructions are not clear
Review: Generally speaking, I love this book! I had a wonderful time working on my pattern which appears, as rewritten by XRX, on page 71. I`m blown away by the talent and imagination which is evident in this collection, amazed to have my pattern included, and have enjoyed working many of the other socks in the book.Please note, however, that my pattern was originally all about technique, not texture, and errors crept in when it was simplified/shortened, and rewritten for the book. Due to my finally having received a copy of my rewritten pattern to proof on the same day as a sudden, major medical crisis occurred in my family, I did not get that back to XRX (my bad). The most egregious of these occurs in the second sentence, "_Change_ to sock yarn... " There is no change necessary, as the sock yarn is cast on _over_ the waste yarn, as in the invisible cast on shown on page 106. If you follow XRX's instructions in the pattern, you will have wasted time knitting stitches which you'll have to pick out by partial stitches; instead of whisking the waste yarn out, like a slight-of-hand-artist pulling a tablecloth out without disturbing the dishes on the table, revealing the elegant, and perfectly stretchy, roll-over, double-knitted edge. In addition, I would strongly recommend using five double pointed needles, as originally specified in the pattern, or two circular needles, instead of four DPNs needles. Most adults with average or larger hands will find it much more comfortable. Making these changes should make knitting the slouch socks more enjoyable. I rather like the other other techniques which got left out, but the socks can be knit reasonably well without them.
Rating: 
Summary: The Great Sock Journey
Review: I bought this book so that I could make the toe glove socks. It turned out to be a pretty good purchase. I found many designs to drool over and also patterns that were not to intimidating. I only wish that there was some type of VERY basic instructions. I am a self taught knitter and I need all the help I can get. But, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to build there library.
Rating: 
Summary: Sock knitters--prepare to be mesmerized!
Review: I have spent all weekend poring over this book. It's lovely, and I'm so glad I finally decided that I DID need more sock patterns, after all. There are some truly unique and beautiful socks in this book, and I love the many clear color photographs. Most socks are shown both on feet and in detail shots. Clear instructions and nice little tidbits of information from the knitters who entered the contest. This book is definitely on its way to being one of my favorite knitting pattern books.
Rating:
Summary: my favourite knitting book
Review: I own scores of knitting books, but I always come back to this one. Socks are perfect little projects for breaks between big projects, and great for trying new techniques. There are lots of different techniques in this book: Dutch heels, Turkish (short-row) heels, after-thought heels, cuff-down construction, toe-up construction, two-needle method, two-circular method, machine knitting, sideways-knitted, etc. The list of knitting skills you can try is comprehensive: lace knitting, cables, intarsia, fair isle, mosaic, modular (entrelac, mitred squares), embossed (bobbles, etc.), ribble (reversible cable)... the list goes on. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: You too can turn that heel :-)
Review: I've been knitting for over 30 years, but I had never knitted socks because I had no one to show me how to turn the heel, and I just could not understand the few instructions I had read. My husband gave me this book for Christmas [2000] and it has been a joy and an inspiration. The writing, photography, layout and general tone of the book are all excellent - when you look at the projects and read the text, you WANT to knit socks! Fortunately, the instructions are also excellent. It took me a few tries, but when I actually figured out what the instructions meant for me to do to turn the heel, and it WORKED, I was, to borrow a word from my [now outdated] teenage years, totally stoked :-) (No other word comes close to describing the flush of triumph!) That first sock (the basic baby sock practice pattern) had many errors, but the second, and third, and fourth, are much better. I spent my recent birthday money from my father on more double-pointed needles and some sock yarn - now if only my infant son would let me knit! There are a few things I would like to see either added or corrected. It would be really helpful for a beginning sock knitter like me to have some kind of size chart for men, women and children, so that I could knit a pair of socks from a pattern to my own specifications (for instance, when the feet for which the socks are intended are either not available or one would like to surprise someone). Also, the metric amounts of yarn required for each project are incorrect. For instance, one project calls for 60 yds/66 m of yarn. Since a meter is approximately 39 inches long, the metric amount should be LESS (60 yds = ~55 m). I'm not sure how the measurements were arrived at, or why the copy editor did not catch this error (in EVERY pattern), but if the book is reprinted, I'd like to see it corrected. If I had friends who knitted, I would give them this book. Since I am the lone knitter in my immediate circle, I'll give them socks instead :-)
Rating:
Summary: This book is just fantastic!
Review: If you like to knit socks, or if you want to learn to knit socks, you NEED this book. It includes a number of socks which are appropriate for beginners but still interesting enough for more experienced knitters. It also includes very complicated socks which will challenge the most expert knitters. If you like to make socks as gifts, you should be able to find a gift for just about everyone in here. There are pretty lacy socks, funky colorful socks, sturdy hiking socks, classy cabled socks . . . and socks which are in categories unto themselves. So far I have knit three pairs of socks from this book and am working on a fourth, and I plan to make many, many more. This is not really a how-to book, but the short section on sock construction is very clear. If you have a bit of knitting experience under your belt, this book is probably all you need to get started on socks. I think this book is destined to become a knitting classic. Everyone who practices the craft should have a copy.
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Summary: Wild and Crazy! What happens when you challenge knitters?
Review: Knitter's Magazine challenged their readers some years ago to come up with their best sock designs. The categories ranged from kids, to "simple" socks, lace socks, socks with handspun yarn, whimsical socks and more. The readers responded with a torrent of some truly creative work, and the results of the contest were published in this very popular volume. There is everything here from lacy frou-frou socks, some beautiful fairisle and colorwork, classy cables, plain but functional socks like golf socks and hiking socks, to outright craziness, such as a sock knitted in every which way but straight (on the cover) and a pair knitted in shoestring licorice. That's right, edible socks. If you enjoy designing socks, this is a great volume for inspiration. If you just like knitting socks, you won't find a more varied and colorful assortment than here.
Rating: 
Summary: Some of the patterns have mistakes
Review: Overall I would have to say that this is a good book and worth buying. I have found mistakes in the Interlac socks, and with the maple twist socks, The maple twist socks, I have tried three times and still have yet to make it look like a proper sock. Everthing is fine until the last 3 sections. The Interlac socks are missing a set of squares after the heel.
I have also tried the leafy lacy ones, and the fire like ones and found no mistakes in there. I also have a tendancy of trying to find the hardest pattern and doing it so it could be a me thing.
If there were no mistakes in the book I would give it five of five, but the mistakes are nerve wraking for me
Jodi
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book and well worth the wait!
Review: So many long-awaited treats don't measure up to the anticipation -- this book from the people who publish Knitters' Magazine exceeded my expectations instead!!! The socks vary widely in style, complexity and color but almost every pattern made me say "I want to knit those socks!" In addition, because these socks were designed by people who are clearly in love with and experts in their craft, each pattern seems to hold the promise of a new technique or trick or approach to design that a knitter can investigate without the investment of time and money in a larger garment. There are socks which could be completed by a beginner with relatively little trouble although I think to really appreciate and enjoy most of the patterns it would help to have a little experience with knitting. All in all, I think the book is the best knitting book I've seen in a very long time, and is a great bargain at the price. It meets the very highest standards set by Knitters Magazine since its inception. I only wish it was published in hardcover, because I'm going to wear it out in a very short period of time!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource for All Skill Levels!
Review: This has tons of great sock patterns in it, at a great price. All different types, from lace, to fairisle, to icelandic, to cabled. Most of them seem to be in sock weight yarn, and just as a note, almost all are worked on 4 needles (not 5, not 2). Remeber to go to the publisher's website and print out the corrections. Otherwise you may be terribly frustrated with the book.
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