This expanded edition includes Anna's toe-up, free-sole sock design. With stranded patterning on the top of the foot and a plain sole, it is elastic, easily reinforced, and easily repaired - wherever and whenever the inevitable happens. No longer are color-patterned socks too much work for too little wear.

Mar 10

Magnificent Mittens and Socks- you're not kidding! These are awesome! The mittens, oh how I love mittens, are styled like gauntlets leaving loads of potential for colour, pattern, flamboyance, fun! There are lots of possible combinations to make something really personalised and I love the way Anna Zilboorg the author, challenges that mittens have to match each other-even more potential for quirks. I cannot claim that I have grabbed for my double ended pins, I am not an experienced enough knitter on those- but I did reach immediately for the phone to call Mum and tell her to make sure she packs hers next time she comes to stay because I have to have a 'pair' of these beauties. There are very clear instructions at the beginning of the book and I wonder if I could manage it if I had a pot of tea, good light, radio 6 and a quiet house, if there is one thing that would persuade me to give knitting with double pins a serious go, these absolutely fantastic mittens would be it.

Nov 10

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.

June 10

Some see Anna Zilboorg's mittens as a joyful series of notes on colour and pattern whilst others appreciate their structure. With stranded patterning on the top of the foot and a plain sole, it's elastic, easily reinforced and effortlessly repaired. This expanded edition also includes Anna's free-sole sock design. No longer are colour-patterned socks too much work for too little wear. Fully illustrated, the book includes step-by-step instructions for the basic mitten method and for knitting 42 charted mittens in two colours. There are interchangeable cuff charts, 13 edge finishes for cuffs, 7 embellishments to add colour and texture, luxurious linings and dye recipes for Anna's mitten colours. Outline charts are included to design your own mittens plus step-by-step instructions for socks using the mitten chart. There are some fabulous ideas and charts for transposing the Fair Isle knitting on to garments.

Now an Anglican Solitary living the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ann Zilboorg has traveled from the Orient to Turkey to Armenia reseraching ethnic knitting.