Sensational Knitted Socks

by Charlene Schurch

This is the only book on sock knitting you’ll ever need! Choose virtually any yarn, gauge, stitch pattern, and size you like—with nearly 1,000 variations, the possibilities for knitting fashionable to funky socks will last a lifetime. · Create one-of-a-kind socks starting with 10 basic designs plus loads of stitch patterns · Use 2, 4, or 5 needles; patterns let you choose your favorite method · Customize fit and fashion for women, men, and children—step-by-step instructions make it easy

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, How To

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2005

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make sure you get the newest version you can find if you decide to purchase this book. I purchased the 2005 edition and it was riddled with errors.

Here is a link to the errata page

Unfortunately the publisher doesn't list which editions have which errors so you'll have to go through and check your edition against the LONG LONG LONG list of errors.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this was one of the best sock knitting books around. Ms Schurch divides the patterns up based on stitch repeats so that you can make two socks with different but similar stitch patterns and not have to deal with second sock syndrome. I also liked her instructions for the Kitchener stitch. I found them easy to follow. It's been awhile since I've used this book or even made a pair of socks. Maybe its time to sock again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like explicit directions. Please don't tell me to how many stitches to pick up without telling me WHERE to pick them up! The tip for closing the gap when knitting up the gusset is killer.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of variety if you knit socks.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice pictures.

[Barbara K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where I live, in Southern California, we don't have that much need for woolens, much as I love to knit with wool. But wool socks are something I can use for at least a third of the year, and they provide the kind of fun variety in knitting that I love. They're also small, so if I want to knit during hot weather, they're a perfect choice, and I won't have something heavy and warm on my lap while I knit on a hot day.

This is one of my two favorite books on sock knitting. It's more a set of recipes and calculations than patterns, though one can use it as a pattern book. Each portion of the sock is dealt with in a way that the knitter can mix and match heels, toes, legs, feet and stitch patterns to design one's own, or knit exactly as the author did the beautiful examples given in the book. My favorite flap heel with a garter selvage comes from this book.

One of two great things about this book is that you start with your yarn, and check your gauge, then go from there to determine how many stitches to cast on. So many patterns start with the designer's choice of yarn, and then you have to adjust to your kitting gauge.

The second nice thing is how the stitch patterns are organized so that pattern repeats (4-st repeat patterns, 6-st repeat patterns, etc.) are grouped. That's a way that I've wished all stitch pattern books were arranged, and it's refreshing to find it here.

I haven't tried everything from the book yet, but I find this a brilliant and useful book that I know I'll refer to and knit from again and again. The book uses standard US foot and needle sizes, but conversions for other countries are easy to find online.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is the only book on sock knitting you'll ever need! Choose virtually any yarn, gauge, stitch pattern, and size you like—with nearly 1,000 variations, the possibilities for knitting fashionable to funky socks will last a lifetime.

· Create one-of-a-kind socks starting with 10 basic designs plus loads of stitch patterns

· Use 2, 4, or 5 needles; patterns let you choose your favorite method

· Customize fit and fashion for women, men, and children—step-by-step instructions make it easy"

This will certainly keep someone who has started knitting socks busy for a very long time. A great book for beginners as well as those looking for more advanced work.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapters are divided by number of stitches in pattern repeats. A generic pattern is given for all chapters and several stitch patterns are shown that would work with the given pattern. I am actually using one of the stitch patterns in a pair of socks I am working on now. I needed a stitch pattern that would work with 50 stitches and found a five stitch lace rib repeat that worked.

Really, really liked the alternate stitch patterns. I need a book of just stitch patterns.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a treasure trove of information. I checked this book out from the library, but I will be buying my own copy because it is just that great. If you knit socks this book is a must have. It reviews toe up as well as top down construction, heel flaps and short row heels, as well as a wide array of stitch patterns that can be used with the basic formulas given. There are also fit charts for just about every human foot variant imaginable. This book is seriously amazing.

[Holly Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a instructional sock knitting book. It assumes that the reader knows how to knit, other than that it's a chapter by chapter class on different socks. It starts with a tutorial sock and after that each chapter moves to another stage. There are stitch patterns appropriate for each construction/ stitch count.
This is a great book for socks, you can knit so many different types in this book alone. Give it a try.

[Brooke Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are trying to make socks for the first time this is the book you need! It could be called Socks for Dummies because it breaks down everything you need to learn about sock basics. But, that's not the best of it. This book gives you instructions to be able to knit any size sock with any yarn or needle you want! No more having to rely on a specific pattern and specific yarn each time.

I love this! Now if I had more time to knit.

[Omly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for new sock knitters. It is a great addition to my library, but I admit at this point I have knit enough socks that it is mostly one I lend out to friends interested in trying sock knitting. The "recipe" style instructions mean that you can do this socks for most size feet with a variety of gauges.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the class sock in a weekend and it was super exciting. Not having knitted a sock before, I did have to check other books for stitches now and then - it was a perfect pair with Getting Started Knitting Socks, which has clearer directions for particular stitches but much less inspiring pictures.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has taken me through almost all of the socks I have knitted. It is my go to sock book. It is better than sensational, although the name is quite catchy. Part of me wants to put out the buckage and the time to go to Portland this August to take a class with Schurch at the Sock Summit. (details look at www.yarnharlot.ca/blog)

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Sock Book Ever. Since I got my hands on this and her second book (More Sensational Knitted Socks) I use no other book(s) or patterns to make socks. Now I design my own. Pick a stitch pattern, pick your number of stitchs, type of heel & gusset, toe, cast-on, bind-off, and you've just designed your own sock!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first sock book, with tried and true patterns; each section is rated by difficulty, and offers new challenges as you progress through the book. I thought I was ready to try a different sock knitting book recently, but it was sub-par compared to this masterpiece of pattern recipes. This is an indispensable reference for knitters like me.

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice variety of patterns, divided into helpful categories such as 4- through 8-stitch repeats, and chevrons for self-striping yarns. I wasn't as interested in her construction of socks because I use the formulas described in Simple Socks Plain and Fancy.

[Nell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure it's a four- or five-star book, but since I don't expect to use most of the info or knit the patterns in it, for me its utility is worth three stars. I like to think I might become an advanced enough knitter to want it, but for now the more concise Sock Knitter's Handbook would suffice for me.

[Nancy Vincent]

This one is indispensible to the knitter learning to knit socks. Not only are the instructions written for double points (which I will NEVER do again -- EVER) and circulars, they are clear and easily understood.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the best book for knitting socks both using DPNs and circular needles. She explains everything. There are probably about 80 different patterns just in this book. I highly recommend this both for beginners (never having knit a sock before) and experienced sockies.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC! If you want to design your own socks, you NEED this book. I've had a 'hole near the gusset/heel stitches join' problem for ten years. This book fixed it in ten seconds. Worth the cost alone just for that. Get it. Knit socks. Thank me later.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by one of the women in my knitting group since I've been having the devil of a time knitting socks. I read it last night and let's see if I can complete my first ever sock today.

[C P · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely useful library of patterns, structures, and general knitting advice for knitters ready to fiddle about with double points, or 2 circs. If you can manage that, this book is a resource you will come back to time and again... Even if it's not socks that you are knitting!

[Jules McNubbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best sock knitting book ever. you can use any yarn, any needle, for any size sock. ive had to photocopy pages or else the book would be worn through by now! the ultimate sock knitting reference bible.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for learning to knit socks!

[kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! It's a blueprint of how to knit socks in various architectures and has kept me busily knitting for weeks on end. And yes, I now have multiple pairs of handknit socks!

[Laurie Rockenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great "recipe" style book--put various elements together for great socks.

[BookMouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some nice sock patterns in this book, plus some additional information on how to make your socks fit well.

[Kimberli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a great sock book.

[Chicklit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for sock knitters of any skill level.