Book Giveaway #15 – Socks From the Toe Up & Addi Circs and DPNs

socks from the toe up and addi knitting needlesTHE PRIZE

One lucky reader will win a copy of Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson (published by Randomhouse) AND a whole bunch of Addi knitting needles! The winner will get 40″ circular needles AND double pointed needles in sizes 0 – 5. Lucky!!!

MY REVIEW

If you’re into (or want to be into) knitting socks, check out Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson (read her blog here). This is a great book for pattern, but it’s also great for sock knitting basics.

SOCKS FROM THE TOE UP addi knitting needles

The first section of the book has a handful of methods each for several different skills you need to knit socks, complete with written instructions and step by step diagrams.

She includes instructions for

  • creating 5 kinds of toes (short-row, figure-eight, easy, Turkish cast-on, and Judy’s magic cast-on)
  • knitting socks on 3 kinds of needles (double-pointed, two circulars, one long circular)
  • creating 3 kinds of heels (short-row, gusset, slip stitch)
  • and implementing 3 kinds of bind-offs (sewn, Russian, tubular)

socks from the toe up sample sock pictures

And then come the patterns. She starts out with 3 “plain vanilla” patterns using various heel and toe techniques for you to practice or create your own special stitch patterns.

After that are 20 more intricate sock patterns using lace, texture, cables, and sportweight yarn. My favorite pair in the whole book are the Serpentine Socks (bottom left photo). I love cables, and after I make a practice pair, I’m going to try them. Click here to view a preview of the book.)

addi turbo circular knitting needle review

Skacel has also provided a whole bunch of addi TURBO circular and double pointed knitting needles, and as far as sock knitting goes, these are some of the best needles to use because the join is super smooth. I prefer to knit two socks on one long circular needle, which means a lot of sliding around and around. The join on the addi needles is the smoothest I’ve ever used which makes a HUGE difference.

The cable is also really flexible which is another really important quality for sock knitting needles, and the needle points are lightweight but strong.

The double points come in packages of 5 which is FABULOUS. Finding packages of 5 can be harder than you might think, and it’s nice to have the option to knit the socks with the DPNs if you want.

Thanks to Wendy Johnson and Randomhouse Publishing and Addi Knitting Needles for sponsoring this giveaway!

GIVEAWAY RULES

  • Make a comment on this post telling me why you want to win before midnight Sunday, October 17.
  • A winner will be selected and announced at the top of this post on Monday.
  • Only one comment per person unless you earn extra entries.
  • Giveaway open only to residents of the continental United States…sorry.
  • Winners must email me to claim their prize within 5 days.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES

You may earn 1 extra entry each for doing the following (make a separate comment for each thing you do):

GOOD LUCK!

{These products were provided to Vanilla Joy for review purposes.}