Ann BuddGetting Started Knitting Socks , 1 pc (Getting Started series)

I hated knitting when I was small. I vowed I would never knit. I almost got by with it until I learned how to spin my own yarn (long story). Then I had to learn to knit to make the yarn look good since crochet made it too stiff. I began to knit hats and gloves and all sorts of things, but I vowed I would NEVER knit socks. Talk about tedious and a lot of work for nothing. I had a hard time knitting to make something fit, and socks was definitely not on my to-do list. I especially was concerned that the socks would be prickly (I have sensitive skin) and frustrating to wear.Then came this book.WHAT IS THIS BOOK LIKE?This book is one of the best laid out books I have come across, especially for knitting socks. I have never seen such a well organized book on the topic and the way it is set up is amazing.GAUGE--First you pick your yarn and needle- and there are charts inside that cover what size goes with what and approximate yardage needed for what size.--Then you knit up a swatch of stitching with your chosen yarn and needles.--Measure your gauge (she shows you how)PATTERNIn the basic pattern of sock (which is what I started with) you choose the pattern based upon your stitches per inch of the swatch that you knitted and measured. The pattern is well laid out and she easily walks you through the steps.If you get stuck on a written section, you can refer back to the beginning of the book where Ann explains in great detail what each step looks like with illustrations and sometimes photos of actual socks. There is nothing left to chance in this book. All is explained and laid out VERY well.CHANGESYou can add or change any section of the sock (such as the back re-enforced heel stitch) by referring again to the beginning section where she lays out different stitch ideas. All you have to do is substitute the instructions with the new ones in that section and you are good to go!DO THEY FIT?I have to say that these socks fit PERFECTLY. I have made three pair of the now, and each pair, although with different yarns, fits just right.SPECIAL HELP THAT I DOWhat I find especially helpful for me is that I copy off the pages of the sock pattern that I am making (as well as any other pages I might incorporate) by a copy machine or my printer. Then I am able to pencil in all that I want to on the page and print a new one for each pair of socks. That way the book is not going to be taken up with constant markings and erasures like I started doing.WHAT YARNS HAVE I USED WITH WHAT NEEDLES?I have found that the Clover 9 inch circular needles in size 2 was great to use with the Knitpicks Hawthorne yarns or stroll sock which I dyed myself. I am about to embark on using the Chiaogoo 12 inch circular needle in a size 1 to see if I can tighten up the stitches at all for a more industrial sock, but the size 2 was fine and I have worn my first pair tons of times and it wears well.FINAL COMMENTSThis book changed my life- literally. I am now so excited to make socks it is ridiculous. I stay up late at night and knit- in fact, my most recent socks I am working on now, are almost done and I just started them five days ago. I hated knitting with thin yarn and small needles. This book gave me the confidence, desire and satisfaction of wearing my own amazing socks.As a bonus, if you want to have some fun, Ann has a Ravelry board where you can post your creation and she and others will stir you enthusiasm all over again!

Socks are small but they are not simple! I was determined to learn how to knit socks and this book has been so helpful. Very clear instructions with clear photos as well. The author provides patterns for yarn of different weights for feet of all sizes. I had looked elsewhere for information and hadn't found anything as easy to understand as this.

It's my go to for socks. Good patterns. Info and tricks for all sizes. Helpful for all skill levels.

I was able to complete my first pair of socks using the book, but I'm only been knitting about a month and had to do several YouTube searches to fill in some of the gaps left on the text. It starts out very beginning oriented showing several ways to cast on and how to join in the round with DPNs, but then when it gets to the actual follow along tutorial it really flies through some parts that halted my progress because I was unfamiliar with the process of knitting socks and it's explained as if I should already be. Mainly in the part concerning picking up the gusset and rearranging the stitches to prepare for that. I was unsure how to arrange them and where my working yarn should be without watching a few videos online. What I absolutely love is the fact that the author gives a very good and straight forward formula to use to create socks of any size with any yarn you could want to use with just a few measurements and of course knowing your gauge for the yarn you are using

I wish I could give more stars than 5! I’m easy to please and rarely give less than 4 stars but rarely feel the need to shout from the rooftops. That being said, any book from Ann Budd is worth the purchase.This book breaks down sock knitting basics, different cuff/leg variations, textures. Color work etc. The best part is how Chapter 3 provides basic instructions for 5 different gauges-weights of yarn. The instructions are close enough I could follow Crazy Sock Lady video and vanilla sock pattern following the books instructions for 2weight yarn. The socks were my first completed successful pair and they fit perfectly.Wouldn’t it be awesome if it were a more compact book to keep in my knitting bag.If you want a Sock knitting bible, this is it. There are 16 stitch guide patterns. A yarn guide to determine how much you’ll need based on your yarn weight and size desired. This book isn’t large in size of pages but mighty in terms of what you can make/learn from 136 pages.

I can’t say enough good things about this book! The instructions in the patterns themselves are written for DPNs and I prefer to use the magic loop method, so I don’t follow the patterns, but I still refer to this book for every sock I make. It has clear explanations with diagrams for each part of the process, including different flexible cast on methods, different methods for joining in the round, common stitches for heel flaps, different methods for picking up gusset stitches, different methods for closing the toe, etc. It’s also really helpful for determining how many stitches to cast on based on yarn weight/gauge and foot size. It makes adapting any pattern for your foot or style so easy! It also helps with googling because all the terms are laid out clearly and is a great reference to follow along with when watching a YouTube tutorial. The only thing I’ve found that it’s lacking is that it doesn’t have a description for a boomerang heel (but I prefer a heel flap anyway). A must have for any sock knitter!

As a knitting manual it is a clear,comprehensive excellent knitting book. The authors style and tone makes it a good reading book also"

Amo questo libro. Da qui ho lavorato il mio primo paio di calzini! Ann Budd spiega in modo semplice e chiaro come fare a maglia dei calzini partendo dalla gamba e terminando alle dita del piede. Ci sono le spiegazioni per 5 misure di piede e per 5 tensioni diverse. In fondo al libro c'è una sezione che spiega molti punti che possono sostituire il punto usato sulla gambe del calzino base. Il libro è scritto in inglese.

Easy and well presented

Al final he conseguido mi objetivo, que era aprender a tejer calcetines. Incluye varios modelos, aunque me quedo con el modelo básico, los demás son un poco horterillas. Los patrones vienen indicados para varias tallas, desde niños (para un pie de 18 cm) a la talla grande de adultos (para un pie de 29 cm). De todas maneras es más difícil aprender ciertas técnicas con los gráficos del libro que con los vídeos de Internet. Eso sí, las indicaciones son precisas y siguiéndolas al pie de la letra no hay posibilidad de fallar..