would these two steer you wrong??

erica and i are at TNNA this weekend, looking at all that’s new in the yarn world and doing some shopping for upcoming clubs as well. while i’m there, i’m sure i’ll run into charlene schurch and beth parrot, co-authors of a terrific new sock knitting resource

the sock knitters handbook: expert advice, tips, and tricks

whatever level of sock knitting you are at, even if you’re just at the contemplating stage, this book is one that you’ll want for your library shelf. it covers just about every aspect of sock construction and technique that any of us will want to know about

and from every angle too—top down and toe up constructions are thoroughly investigated from every site line

and then the authors go on to discuss aftercare and restructuring as well. wow.

i really love the clever way they illustrated the differences between techniques and constructions by color coding all the areas of the sock, making the differences between cuffs, heel types, gussets, or toe shaping stand out in sharp contrast.

discussion of each sock region are accompanied by closeups of variations in use.

along with architectural contrasts, the authors also present a variety of techniques, and a discussion of the hows, whys, and applications of each. the pros and cons of various cast ons, bind offs, and shaping sts are investigated.

i love that they included this aftercare section—how great is that?

and for a truly customized fit, turn toward the back and you will find a whole section on that

including a guide that will help if you enjoy knitting socks as a surprise.

if you feel like trying your hand at a bit of designing, some stitch patterns are included that are universally appealing and work in a number of sizes and constructions.

now you might think that a book jammed with this much information is a big, heavy tome that will sit on the library shelf most of the time, but no—as you can see it has a spiral binding so it will lay flat while you knit and it weighs surprisingly little, making it a great knitting bag accessory.

this is a terrific little book—just what you’d expect form two of the most experienced authors and teachers in our field. not only are they super smart and talented, they are generous—they have provided a giveaway copy of the sock knitter’s handbook to one lucky reader of today’s post.

if you’d like to win a copy, leave a comment at the end of this post by 9 pm EDST on tuesday, june 26. we will announce the winner in the blog post following.

have a good week and happy knitting!