Knitting Vintage Socks

A main plus for this book is the number of patterns for men, not often found in sock knitting books. She gives the shoe size that the pattern will fit, and there is a range of sizes. There are a couple of baby socks, but none for growing children. The ones originally intended for children she has rewritten to fit women.All patterns are for fingering weight yarn, which is fine with me. They are reinterpretations of very old patterns. Nancy Bush has done a very good job of writing patterns in a format for modern knitters. The ones I've knitted have worked out well, with no corrections needed. All socks are top-down, which was how they were originally written. That allowed them to be re-footed as they wore out.Most patterns also use either size 0 or 1 needles (except for a pair of bed socks, which are knitted more loosely on larger needles). She believes modern knitters would rather not use the very fine needles commonly used 100 years ago. Personally, I find fingering weight plus size 1 needles yields a flimsy sock, but I have to admit most books now use that size or larger.The looks of the patterns are creative. I've made a couple of them, and I want to tackle another 2 or 3, but I will have to adjust stitch count for my preferred needles size 000.The cover is firm. The inside is spiral, so the pages lay flat when open and are easy to work from.This is not a book for beginning knitters, or even for beginning sock knitters, but if you have made at least one pair and understand the techniques, this is a great addition to your pattern library.

Nancy Bush's "Knitting Vintage Socks" is a treasure trove of information on sock construction and patterns, as well as an interesting read. There's a little bit of history or trivia about each sock, and its involvement in the original pattern book Nancy sources from, which adds a little extra to the mix. Several historically accurate toes & heels are in the book, & Nancy lets you know how they did it traditionally, and how she's modified it for today's knitters. I'm a biased history hobbiest, so I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

The only reference you will ever need to knit a sock. The author begins with an overview of the different methods for turning heels and shaping toes - with clear easy to follow instructions. And the patterns include a range of styles and difficulties. I bought this for a friend - my copy is now over 10 yrs old and I am still using it.

I couldn't be bothered to knit sock for years. It seemed to me like a waste of time but a friend dragged me to a class on toe-up socks and I've been hooked ever since. Don't know why but there's something about turning a heel that makes me happy! I feel I have done something substantial. This is a great book. It combines old patterns with new pictures and allows you to see the possibilities. Nice, well written patterns and plenty of choice. There's a nice preamble as well that talks about the history of sock knitting and some good info on needle size etc. The really great thing about this book is the spiral binding. It's so much easier to just knit straight from the pattern in the book because the book stays open where you want it to - no bending of spines to keep the book open!

I like this book for the inspiration it offers and the interesting historical information. This would definitely not be a beginner book--you would want to understand sock knitting and have made a pair first.I will probably knit a few of the patterns and use the rest as inspiration. I'm glad that I added it to my collection, but it is not essential. Also, if you are looking for a learn to knit book try Antje Gillingham's Knitting Circles Around Socks. She uses the 2 circ. method, and it is very easy to understand.Overall, a nice book, but not essential.

I am a casual book flipper and when I first saw this book, I picked it up, said to myself: "too many infant, kid and men's socks" and didn't buy it. However, when I saw it again and had more time, I realized that the headers for each sock designate the original pattern, not the re-worked one. There are plenty of adult sized patterns here to make gorgeous, sophisticated socks. For one sock pattern I craved that was an infant one, I easily adapted it for a woman's size.I've made 5 pairs of socks from this book and I think they are the finest patterns I've used. Excellent discussion and instruction on a variety of heels and toes. Not only one of the best sock books I own but one of the best knitting books I own.

I generally have a policy of not buying knitting books unseen - it's always a good idea to look before you leap to avoid cluttering your bookshelf with patterns you don't care for or instructions you find unhelpful. I broke that rule for Knitting Vintage Socks, and I'm happy I did. The historical sections are enlightening, the discussions of technique are clear and helpful, and the patterns themselves are interesting and attractive. The simple, elegant lace and color stich motifs featured will hold a knitter's attention without being needlessly complex. I can see myself turning to Knitting Vintage Socks again and again, as will beginning and experienced socknitters alike.

Very nix way to reproduce older patterns when more people knitted

The product description says:'Knitting Vintage Socks: New Twists on Classic Patterns' adapts sock patterns from the Weldon's Practical Needlework book series. Nancy Bush updates 23 classic patterns from their rich past and reinvents them for today's knitters by including gauges, up-to-date yarns, and twenty-first century methods and sizes.'That should have given me enough of a clue but I was seduced by the word vintage in the title. There is a crucial piece of text in the introduction which, if I had known about it, would have deterred me from buying this book. The text is:"Another obstacle loomed, however: Many of the patterns called for the equivalent of size 000 or 0000 (1.5 or 1.25mm) needles. Yes, these sizes are still available, but I felt that few knitters today would enjoy knitting with such small needles...."I have knitted plenty of socks in my time in 4 ply and what is marketed as sock yarn. The book would be very useful if you have never knitted socks as it will enable you to understand the construction. However, once you have grasped that, you will realise that they are all made in the same way and the only thing that really makes them different is the pattern you choose to use for the body.What attracted me to this book was the chance to make "vintage" socks as I hoped they would be made with yarn finer than 4-ply, which is fairly readily available. Unfortunately, that is not what this book is. There are tantalising pictures of very fine socks but the updated patterns are chunky by comparison. It is in my view just a book of standard socks and the finest yarn is 4- ply so far as I can see (although it is not immediately obvious from the descriptions of the gauge), set against pictures of much more interesting but unattainable designs.If you do not have any sock patterns or are nervous about making them then this may be a way of getting started but the use of the word vintage led me to expect very much finer socks than the ones offered here. If you have ever knitted socks or have an old pattern then I doubt this will add much value.

I love this book because it is full of patterns for plain coloured socks that you can actually wear inside a shoe! If you really want to knit socks for everyday wear, then I think you should consider this book. The knitting interest comes from the range of patterns and myriad heel and toe shapings that the book offers. Patterns for women predominate, though there are some for children and men (though any sock pattern is easy to adapt, once you get in to the swing of it). The patterns have all been adapted from an old 19th and 20 century knitting magazine called Weldons. My mum remembers Weldons, so I leant her my copy, and haven't seen it since.

Brilliant book for every avid sock knitters book case .

Found what I was lookng for

Book is a bit different from what I expected - I know the title says knitting vintage socks, but I didn't expect a total, constant reference to Weldon's. I don't know who and what Weldon is, all I wanted was a book of patterns to try to knit some socks.good points - has quite a variety of knitting patterns, instructions are relatively clear.bad points - doesn't give in brackets, like most modern patterns do, the variation in sizes. It just says, adjust your yarn and knitting needles till you find the right size. Well... may be i'm a total knitting idiot, but I did expect some guidance in adjusting the number of stitches to adjust for the size. Sometimes may be just have a couple of balls of yarn that I wanted to use up.