Book Review: 2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern! by Melissa Morgan-Oakes

I am an experienced knitter who has made dozens of socks using 4 knitting needles method. When I saw a book by Melissa Morgan-Oakes in the local library I was intrigued by the possibilities of making two socks at once so I would not need to keep track of the design to repeat it perfectly on the second sock. However, after spending several days I was disappointed in the technique. It is much more awkward and time consuming than the 4 needle method. I had to spend a lot of time fussing with my work, my hands were at much higher tension and were tired (which I never experience with 4 needle method).

Because I am an experienced knitter I thought instructions did not seem right and looked up errata for the book, and found a very large number of corrections (I am including them at the end of this review). A less experienced knitter would just be left frustrated.

I LIKED:

1. The book has spinal rings and lays flat easily
2. The book has nice photographs
3. I like trying new techniques and even though I went back to the old method I am glad I now know how this method works

I DID NOT LIKE:

1. The technique itself is awkward and fussy
2. The book is 143 pages, but the explanation of the technique is only 17 pages. I did not find the instruction easy to follow and had to re-read them many times despite being an experience knitter. I attaching a photo of a sample page.
3. The book contains a large number of mistakes in the instructions (see errata below).
4. There is only one method for turning the heel. The short row heel technique (the look of which I prefer) was not shown.
5. Most patterns are shown in 3 sizes: women medium, women large/men small, men large. I wear women small and was disappointed to see very few patterns shown for women small size.

ERRATA FROM STOREY PUBLISHING

Corrections

2-at-a-Time Socks
The following revisions should be applied to all patterns:
Page - Knitting the Legs

The Note should read: "End ready to begin sock A heel . . ."

Page - Turning the Heels

The Note should read:
"Turn the heel on each sock separately, working in rows and beginning with sock A ."

And in the last 2 lines of that section:
" Sock A heel now has. . ."
"Follow directions above to turn sock B heel ."

2-at-a-time Technique
Page 15 - Dividing and Joining Sock A

Step 5. . . with your working yarn by knitting into the first cast-on stitch .

Page 16 - Dividing and Joining Sock A

Step 7. . . Now, work the remaining 16 stitches of sock A in K1, P1 rib .

Page 19 - Working the Heel Flaps

Caption of 2nd photograph should read: "completing row 2 of heel flap A"

Page 20 - Working the Heel Flaps

Caption of 1st photograph should read: " purl row of heel flap B"

Step 17. . . End having just worked a right-side row of heel flap B. Sock B will be a row shorter than sock A, but that's okay.

Page 21 - Turning the Heels

Sock photos should be of Sock A and therefore blue

1st paragraph:
"For the 2-at-a-time method, you work each heel turn separately, beginning with heel flap A. "

Step 18. . . On heel flap A , K10, ssk, K1, turn.

Page 22 - Turning the Heels

First sock photo should be of Sock A and therefore blue. It's caption should read:
"completing sock A heel turn"

Caption of 2nd photograph should read: "completing sock B heel turn"

Step 22. . . you have 10 stitches for the heel flap of sock A .

Step 23. . . Move to sock B , slip stitch. . .follow short-row heel-turn direction for sock A. You'll end having just worked a wrong-side row.

Page 24 - Picking Up Gusset Stitches

Caption of 3rd photograph should read: "picking up gusset stitches of sock A "

Step 29. . . Pick up and knit one stitch between the sock B instep and heel flap. . .Work across the heel stitches of sock B and down the left heel flap. (Adjust needles so that the cable loop separates the instep stitches of sock B from the newly picked up gusset stitches.)

Page 25 - Working the Gusset Decreases

Caption of photograph should read: " decrease round completed, next round begun "

Page 27 - Shaping the Toe

Step 36. . .On sock B, K1 , ssk, knit to the last three stitches of sock B, K2tog, K1.

Step 39. . . Work three more decrease rounds, with no even rows between

TABLE OF CONTENT


THE SECRET REVEALED 2-AT-A-TIME TECHNIQUE (17 pages where the technique is explained)
2-AT-A-TIME PATTERNS (17 patterns)
Berry Season
Spice
Be Mine
Varsity
Belle Epoque
Frolic
Coquette
Socks for Aidan
Twilight
Sugar Maple
H Sock
Athena
Emily's Socks
Sailor's Delight
Pitter Patter
The Classic Sock
Ragg Hiker
APPENDIX
Glossary
Pattern Stitch Key
Abbreviations
Standard Sock Sizes

You can find this book on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆