Magnificent Mittens and Socks

by Anna Zilboorg

      There are forty-two variations on the basic mitten pattern in here, embellished in many interesting ways. There are also several pairs of imaginatively decorated socks to enliven your winter. The author has obviously fallen in love with the idea of mittens and has charted these amazing projects, which are aimed pretty squarely at intermediate knitters. You won’t find instructions on how to learn to knit in here, but I think that it is pretty obvious even from the cover that this is not that type of book. Some techniques needed are shown however, as well as ways of finishing edges and at the beginning you can learn how to make the basic pattern and attach it together. Each pattern is a mixture of charts and written instructions, together with a whole-page photograph of the item in question.

This is a handsome book, landscape rather than portrait shaped so the pages flop open obligingly for ease of working from. As an extra bonus you can even read all about where the pictures where taken. A series of natural textures playing foil to the colorful mittens and socks. There is also a section on dying yarn yourself using a certain type of dye and blank charts for charting your own patterns. The writer of this book has certainly thought of just about everything, including a couple of US stockists. Anybody who wants to accessorize their winter wardrobe with lots of colorful mittens and socks will find plenty of patterns and inspiration in here.