Books 50 Socks – 50 States plus designs for Canada, Mexico & the US Territories
| 50 Socks – 50 States plus designs for Canada, Mexico & the US Territories |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Author: Dr. Laura Andersson, Editor Date Published: 2009 Review Date: March 11, 2010
Who is this book for? Remember the summer vacation car game when you recorded sightings of license tags from all 50 states and the Canadian provinces? If you were lucky, you’d spot Hawaii or Mexico. To sock knitters’ delight, Laura Andersson collected sock patterns representative of every state, including our neighbors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Territories. Multiple designers contributed to the project, ensuring a range of patterns as diverse as the continent’s geography
What Yarns does it Feature? Crystal Palace provided yarn to all the knitters.
What’s Inside? For extra fun, and a short history lesson, the states are arranged in order of their admission to the Union. You’ll have to hunt around to find “Ohio” if you don’t know that it was admitted in 1803, the 17th state. Most of us know that Alaska and Hawaii are the 49th and 50th states, respectively, but do you remember the last states to be admitted before that were New Mexico and Arizona, both admitted in 1912? After you contemplate the historical expansion of the US, you can pick any state, click on it and move to fun facts about each state. Learn the state motto, origin of the state name, see the state quarter, and link to the official state website. Interesting fun facts are presented, too. There’s a photo of the sock pattern representing the state, and a link to the complete knitting directions. As a bonus, there are also pages for Washington, D.C., Mexico, Canada, U.S. Territories (again in date order), and “State of Mind” by the author.
Each designer tells you a little about the inspiration behind their design, and writes the pattern in their own words. The format and skeleton outline for each page is the same, but you’ll find variety in both the patterns and the way they are presented. For example, many of the socks feature lace but not every designer includes a chart. This collection is a trove of information covering heel styles, sock knitting advice, and designer tips.
Using It The user-friendly CD format is logical and intuitive. You can navigate to the patterns in multiple ways, and links are easily identifiable. Each “state” page is arranged using the same layout. Once you’ve scoped out a few pages, you’ll be very comfortable navigating your way around the CD. You can print individual patterns or read them from your PC. Experiment with using your PC as an electronic reader. Enlarge the font and pattern graphics for easy reading from a distance. At your option, you can print just the pattern that you’re working on, too.
Each page includes lots of detailed photographs showing heel, cuff, or stitch pattern close-up. Expensive color printing is carefully allotted in printed publications. Not so in the CD format where you’ll find a generous number of color photos to help you follow the pattern.
The introductory section includes a glossary of abbreviations, a cable tutorial and brief biographies of each designer. Read about the clever knitters who brought you these extraordinary designs. You’ll find links to their blogs, shops and home pages. Part of the purpose of this project is to bring all knitters closer together. Take the time to read about and “connect” with the women who share your passion for yarn and knitting.
There are sock patterns of every kind: cables, beaded, cuffed, Fair Isle, Gansey, and lace styles. Some are knit top down, others toe up. Some use dpn’s and others utilize long circular needles. You’ll find socks sized for men, women, infants, and kids in all weights of yarn from fingering to worsted and for all skill levels.
Best Advice The wealth of information on this CD will keep you busy.
Recommendation If you love socks, you won’t find a bigger or more diverse collection of socks. The CD and handy .pdf file format for each pattern make this huge collection manageable. Besides the patterns, there’s a wealth of fun facts to boot. Now you can amaze your friends and entertain yourself with facts, trivia and knitting. This CD is part travelogue part history book, and lots of knitting. Plug in and enjoy the knitting. Overall Recommendation This collection deserves to be in your knitting. It rates #9. You can purchase a copy of 50 Socks – 50 States plus designs for Canada, Mexico & the US Territories from Yarnmarket.com.
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