Product Description

'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. Its inviting design and graceful tone evokes a more genteel time while presenting a bevy of colorful socks not seen for nearly a hundred years. Try the Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern, the Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks, Baby's Bootikins, or the Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting. Readers can rely on the thorough but easy-to-follow patterns and instructions - including a helpful Techniques section - and will love the sturdy spiral binding that makes this book a breeze to bring along.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53201 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 128 pages

About the Author
Nancy Bush is author of 'Folk knitting in Estonia' (Interweave Press, 1999) and 'Folk Socks' (Interweave Press, 1994). She has published articles and designs in Interweave Knits, Piecework, Spin-Off, Vogue Knitting, and Knitters magazines. Owner of The Wooly West, a mail-order yarn business, Nancy Bush lectures and teaches workshops worldwide.

Customer Reviews

At last: a book of practical socks
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.

Beautiful traditional socks
After learning to knit socks (and knit properly) using Nancy Bush's 'Folk Socks' I was very excited to see she had published a new book and with adapations of Victorian and Edwardian patterns. This book did not disappoint. It appreciates its international audience and has all the convertion tables and information you will need. It has beautiful illustrations and , as always, has patterns that even I can understand. I have never had a Nancy Bush pattern not work out.
So far I have knitted two pairs of infant's socks. These are quick and beautiful to knit and work well with 4ply merino wool which is very easy to obtain in the UK. They make a wonderful present for a newborn as they are the only socks I have come across to stay on a baby with the elasticity to be so gentle too. They are warm yet soft. Wonderful. I have also knitted the evening stockings for a young lady. These are adapted to be knee high socks for a lady. I have found it impossible to come across beautful socks for a woman which go well with the pretty skirts fashionable these days. Like many people, I seriously dislike tights and these are so special. As with the baby socks these knit easily with 4ply, or sock weight wool - easily available here.
Also included in this comprehensive book are traditonal 'shooting socks' and other traditonal mens and ladies socks: ankle length right up to proper stockings with knitted garters (suitable for reinactments and people who feel the cold!). All these socks are knitted in one colour but with beautiful stitches which look tricky but are actually easy to follow. They needn't stay one colour however; they could be knitted with some of the beautiful multicoloured wools on the market now.
Altogether a very special book. I would recommend it to any knitter with a little experience or someone who also has 'Folk Socks' on hand to start them off.

Fabulous knitting inspiration
I have never before knitted from a pattern or from a written explanation (I always had Granny to help me), but this book is a VERY GOOD book to start with! All of the patterns -that I've tried so far- in this book are correct, and the result is BEAUTIFUL! The socks are just amazing! I've knitted 6 different pairs now, and I don't ever want to stop! Everything you need to know to be able to knit the socks in this book is explained in plain english, plus you get to read a little about the history behind the patterns, which I though was very nice.
An excellent book for sock pattern beginners! A very good buy.