Sock Calandar – Unique And Appealing

Tall-ship sailor and knitting pattern publisher team up for THE SOCK CALENDAR, a uniquely appealing combo of multi-year calendar, write-in journal and sock-knitting pattern book

Even if you thought there were no other knitting publications you needed, you will change your mind when you see THE SOCK CALENDAR: Socks for All Seasons, the newest publication by HeartStrings FiberArts with 12 new designs by Catherine Wingate. A flexible journal style multi-year calendar is merged with monthly-themed instructions for sock designs that will set your feet a-dancing right over to your local yarn shop or on-line web store for The Sock Calendar — one for yourself, and likely a few more for friends. It is a great value for only $20 and priced right as a unique gift for friends who knit, spin or just appreciate a handsome, user-friendly record for keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries.

This is HeartStrings FiberArts’ first venture into book publication, but The Sock Calendar by no means looks like a first attempt. The quality and obvious thoughtfulness is there from start to finish. In addition to Catherine’s attractive sock designs with unique stitches and textures, there is lots of eye appeal in the full color spreads, complete instructions with abundant white space and typeset sized for ease in reading, full-shot color photographs of all socks as well as close-ups of stitch details, monthly calendars through 2006, a perpetual daily journal for keeping track of important dates and even room for your own project notes.

I concentrated on designs that would look complicated but actually be easy enough for most knitters Catherine said. The May design, ‘Ahoy! Socks’, was where my nautical aesthetic got exercised … a neat Gordian (aka ‘knotted’) cable alternating with a plaited rib. It’s not as complicated as I’d make for myself when in a fisherman’s knitting mood, but we worked hard to make sure that all the patterns have some underlying interesting stitch that would be attractive in various yarns … and also have some combo of small stitch-multiple, short round-repeat.

Looking for variety? The Sock Calendar has it. There’s a project for every mood from January’s indulge yourself Sock Therapy, to August’s Kool-Aid™ Kidz Socks (easy dyeing instructions included), to December’s Winter Solstice heirloom Stocking and Ornament duo. The whole family has been considered in the multi-sized “Everybody Wants Sox!” for October, and several of the other designs are appropriate for both men and women as well. For the whimsical, November’s “Dancing Feet” socks with eyelash cuffs and beads are irresistible.

The patterns have generic language for yarn type and amounts needed, and also indicate amounts and colors of all socks photographed in case you want to knit the same as shown. The ‘Yarns Used’ table in the appendix is a valuable reference tool for knitters, spinners and shop owners in making yarn substitutions. “We used a variety of widely available yarns in our pattern models, including Lorna’s Laces, Garnstudio, Heirloom, Mountain Colors, Plymouth and Haneke. But we specifically planned the designs to be independent of yarn brand, and thus the knitter can easily substitute based on generic yarn specifications and yardage, or even handspun said Jackie, who herself is a hand spinner.

Also see; socks.

About The Author:

Rony Swede is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.socks-n-socks.com. Find clearance socks, diabetic, sport, tube, high, baseball, mens, womens, kids, hiking and more.

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