Knitting Book Review: The Sock Project by Summer Lee
Colorful, Cool Socks to Knit and Show Off
Summer Lee’s The Sock Project arrives like a basket of hand-dyed sock yarn in full sun — vivid, cheerful, and packed with promise. A blend of practical guidance and bold design, this book stakes its claim as both a knitting textbook and a pattern playground for sock lovers everywhere.
📚 What’s Inside
Lee structures the book like a year’s worth of sock adventures — beginning with the basics and gradually stepping into more textured and colorwork-rich territory. You’ll find:
18 or so fresh patterns spanning simple ribbed socks to lace, cables, Estonian inlay, and stranded colorwork.
A skill-building progression that takes you from humble cuff-down socks to more ambitious motifs.
Bold photo examples whose palettes feel more festival than minimalist studio.
Lee’s voice leans friendly and encouraging, as though she’s right beside you, guiding your needles through the twists and turns of sock construction.
🧶 The Good Yarn
What knitters love about it:
Inspiration galore: Bright, joyful designs spark ideas for customizing and remixing your own sock wardrobe.
Accessible for beginners: The step-by-step flow from basic socks into more complex techniques resonates with newer knitters eager to expand their skills.
A sense of author personality: Lee’s humor and warmth come through, making sections on technique feel less like dry instruction and more like spirited companionship in craft.
🚧 A Few Tangled Stitches
Not every knitter’s path through this book is perfectly smooth. Some reviewers on community forums have flagged areas where:
Instructions or counts in a few patterns felt unclear or contained typos.
Errata weren’t published quickly, leaving readers to troubleshoot on their own.
Method preferences differ; for example, knitters who favor toe-up socks or German short rows might find themselves wishing for more coverage of those techniques.
These aren’t deal-breakers for me or many, but they’re worth knowing if you’re a perfectionist about pattern precision or strictly follow one sock-knitting philosophy.
🧵 Stitching It Together: Who This Book Is For
Perfect if you’re craving:
A book that feels part encyclopedia, part inspiration album.
Profuse colorwork ideas and fresh approaches to a classic knit.
A learning path that grows with your confidence.
Maybe skip or supplement with another resource if:
You need chart-heavy patterns or very rigorous technical detail.
You love experimenting with every sock construction method under the sun.
⭐ Final Verdict
The Sock Project is a spirited celebration of sock knitting — equal parts art and apprenticeship. It might not be the only sock book you ever need, but it’s definitely one you’ll return to when you want your feet wrapped in color, your needles dancing, and your stash inspired to new life. 🎉
Have you knit from this book yet? Share which pattern was your favorite or what yarn you paired with it! 🧶💬