Knitting Scandinavian Slippers & Socks by Laura Farson, Martingale & Company, 2012, 80pp.

Looking for a collection of patterns for gifts that have a high glory to work ratio that will satisfy both process & product knitters?  Here you go!  (And I bet you keep at least one pair for yourself.)

Laura has designed a collection of 19 slipper (or what I’d call house sock) and sock patterns, done in twined &/or stranded knitting.

The slippers are all done in worsted weight yarn, and thus should work up relatively quickly.  The sock patterns are worked in fingering weight yarn, but on US4 needles.

Patterns are written for one size only, but she notes the slippers, especially, are very stretchy and can fit a wider range of sizes.

Pansy Slippers © Martingale

Laura includes short chapters on techniques required to work the patterns:  different techniques for casting on with 2 colors, knitting in the round, twined knitting, stranded knitting, add’l technique, felted insoles, etc.

The stitch patterns (colorwork) are all charted.  The charts are easy to read.

The directions are concise, referring knitters to the basic sock or slipper pattern as needed.  These patterns are suitable for confident intermediate to intermediate+ knitters;  you must be comfortable working from charts, working with multiple colors, etc.

The motifs are mostly traditional motifs (or inspired by traditional motifs) from Scandinavia (and one from Estonia).

Norwegian Star slippers        © Martingale

I met Laura at the Winter TNNA.  She’s incredibly sweet and modest, and it was lovely chatting with her! I received my personal/review copy from her, and an additional copy from Unicorn to give away.

Leave a comment on this post on my blog with your favorite pattern from the book by midnight PST, April 5 2012, including a way to contact you. I’ll draw a winner via Random.org the next day.