Getting Started Knitting Socks. This is an excellent new book devoted to making socks and veteran sock knitter Ann Budd shows you how in Getting Started Knitting Socks. Each step—from casting on stitches for the leg to working the Kitchener stitch at the toe—is broken down into its basic elements and illustrated with over 130 clear photographs and drawings. Learn the sock knitting basics, a variations for similar results, and a dozens of time-proven tips to ensure success.  Socks in 5 different gauges and 5 different sizes, 8 sts=1" to 4sts=1" knit in solids, many variations of stripes, ribs, cables, and lace.  No toe-up sock instruction, but the bibliography lists several alternative sock knitting method resources, including two-circular needle (Socks Soar), and one-circular needle (Magic Loop) socks, and knitting two socks at a time.

It's time to knit socks! and soon you’ll have made your first sock . . . then its mate. Then, before you know it, you’ll be a happy-dancing sock-knitting machine! ($18.95US, Paperbound, 8 x 8, 136 pages.) 2007-08-03 SBD HK

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters: A Knit-to-Fit Workshop. The Twisted Sisters have created a step-by-step workshop text that teaches "any knitter to easily adapt sweater patterns to *his* or her own measurements and chosen yarn."

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters illustrates how to adapt the same basic sweater pattern to many different styles, and introduce the basic elements of garment re-styling through increasingly challenging projects. There are 10 projects including sweaters, coats, vests, pullovers, and jackets each giving the knitter confidence to alter commercially available patterns to their needs, even when those patterns aren’t offered in their size. Learn to change yarns, proportions, neckline styles, sleeve length, color and stitch patterns, add collars and edgings, and much more.

Lots of schematics, illustrations, and beautiful photography will help you get the custom fit and style you want in your sweaters.

*his* Although the technical information provided in this book can be easily adopted to designing and knitting men's garments, TSKS nowhere provides photos of men's garments, nor do they provide detailed information about doing so.  Men are invisible in the world Twisted Sisters, and men will have to look elsewhere for their pattern, design, and style inspiration. ($24.95US, Paperbound, 8˝ x 9, 144 pages.) 2007-08-03 SBD HK

Knit Kimono: 18 Designs with Simple Shapes. Interweave Press. Vicki Square's latest effort, Knit Kimono offers 18  interpretations of a style or feature of a traditional kimono. Projects are based on simple rectangular shapes which require very little shaping, and are plainly ideal first-garment projects for knitters wanting to venture beyond scarves. Varieties of styling include: short to long, rectangular sleeves to shaped, straight to overlapping front opening, with sleeves or without, casual to dressy. Information related to the specific kimono on which the designs are based is included with each pattern.  However, as with many of today's knit design publications, this book is strictly directed to women's wear, assumes there are no male readers by writing style, and most sadly, there is neither attention to children's kimono or men's kimono paid nor mention of the vastly inspiring color and design of the uchikake, furisode, tomesode, tsukesage, or haori, or yukata types of kimono.  RANT: Today's knitters are more experienced, interested in design and color, and include many more men and children (for making of patterns) than writers (or editors?) are permitting themselves to accept exist. Too much reliance on marketing information has limited the scope of this (and many other publications, and Knit Kimono reflects those deficiencies. As for the basic shapes, this is a great introduction to pieced garment design and will suit well the beginning knitter. ($24.95US, Paperbound, 8˝ x 9, 128 pages.) 2007-07-11 SBD HK