American Sock Knitting Paperback – October 15, 2013

I hardly ever buy pattern books brand new cuz there are seldom more than a couple or a few that I would like to make. Wish there were an easier way to look inside before paying for the book.

AMERICAN SOCK KNITTING is a pleasant collection of sock patterns "born from a contest" on Beth Moriarty's PlanetPurl website. The book includes 13 patterns inspired by the designers' favorite places, with an added bonus of 5 scrumptious-looking regional American recipes.The patterns are grouped by U.S. geographical regions. Each pattern is accompanied by a large, full-color illustration of the finished socks, along with a quote from the designer explaining the regional inspiration. The patterns are:Northeast: Winter Chases Fall (Susan Todhunter); Snowy Pines (Rachel Covey Brown); Jersey Turnpike (Heatherly Walker); Appalachian Trail (Kimberly de la Cruz).Southeast: Alpine Meadow Bed Socks (Beth Moriarty); Land & Sea (Emily Marshall); Nana's Garden (Lynn Taylor).Midwest: From the Fields to the Stars (Joy Gerhardt); Ohio River (Rusty Theresa Morris).Southwest: Grand Canyon (Sara Elizabeth Schmidt).Northwest: Willamette River (Allison Isaac); Sweet Onion (Susan Moskwa); Big Sky (Kim Haesemeyer).You can preview all of the sock designs by visiting the book's website (just google the book title). My personal favorites are the Alpine Meadows Bed Socks, with their colorful embroidered flowers (though like most knitters, I shy away from embroidery on knits), and the striped Big Sky socks with their big, whimsical, cumulus cloud on each ankle. The book cover shows the pretty Ohio River design.The recipes are: Cranberry Nut Fudge; Fried Apple Pies; Chicago-Style Hot Dogs; Fresh Salsa & Guacamole; and Berry-Stuffed French Toast. The food looks absolutely wonderful, and the recipes are worth making if they taste even half as good as they look. (I haven't tried the recipes yet, but am drooling over the fudge.)The patterns include information about the yarns used in the models, and have complete gauge information so that you can substitute yarns. Most of the patterns are written for sock yarn, a few use sport yarn.

This is a wonderful book on sock knitting. You will be pleased and challenged with the beautiful patterns in this book.

Beautiful patterns

Perfect