I loved the authors first book, Socks from the Top Up so much that I bought it for keeps. When I saw this one I quickly borrowed from the library to give it a try. I am sad to say I was not impressed. It was a lot of the same info from the first book and the patterns were not as interesting to me. It is not a "keeper" but it is a good go to book for beginner to advanced sock knitters. ( )

Wendy D. Johnson designs beautiful socks, and to the joy of Kitchener-stitch-avoidance knitters everywhere, every pattern in this book is knit toe-up. Her lace and cable designs are very good, and I also really liked the design some of her more complex color-work patterns. The book includes two designs sized for men's socks (one cable and one argyle), and two designs sized for children (one lace, and one with a row of cute, stranded-colorwork critters at the top). The remaining 18 patterns are for women — there are 21 women's patterns in all with one pattern presented as a thigh-high and as a knee-high, and two more patterns for mid-calf socks offering a knee-high option.

Johnson includes notes at the front of each section with special instructions for each knitting style (lace, cables and colorwork), and her conversational style makes the design process feel fun and approachable. She also offers some good sock-knitting tips in the front of the book with more details on essential techniques at the end of the patterns. (It's definitely not an instructional book, though — it's a great pattern book for knitters with a little experience in sock-knitting. People who want to learn to knit socks would do better with Ann Budd's "Getting Started Knitting Socks.")

Overall, a great design book, and one I'll put on my wish list for great patterns like these:
• Lacy "rosebud socks" (on the cover)
• "Laurel socks," a leaf-and-lace combo
• "Dainty anklets," the other cover sock, which I'd be happy to give any of my nieces
• "Manly Aran socks," which I may size down for myself, in addition to giving as gifts
• "Diamonds and cables socks," a lacy twist on fisherman knits with eyelets added to the traditional diamond motif and an eye-catching thick-and-thin cable down the front
• "Sanquhar socks," a black-and-white stranded pattern based on traditional knitting from the town of Sanquhar, Scotland
• "Norwegian rose socks," another stranded knit with a striking stylized rose as the central motif on both front and back ( )

Acclaimed knitter, author, designer, and teacher Wendy D. Johnson is back with the perfect sequel to her hit book Socks from the Toe Up. In Toe-Up Socks for Every Body, Wendy shows knitters, whether they’re knitting their first or hundred-and-first sock, how to use the toe-up technique to get the perfect fit. Not only that, she shows you that even seemingly complicated patterns are still knit just one row at a time. Go ahead! Turn your favorite knee socks into thigh-highs. Knit that special someone classic argyles. Put even the wiggliest of toes in their first pair of lacey anklets. With Wendy’s help, there’s nothing you can’t try from the toes on up.

These 21 patterns cover everything from basics like materials and tools, to delicate lace, intricate cables, and fancy colorwork. Use these techniques and patterns to create beautiful socks for yourself and everybody in your life—friends and family, young and old. With the lovely photographs, helpful illustrations for cast-on, toe, heel, and bind-off options, and all-around expert advice in Toe-Up Socks for Every Body, you’ll be a well-heeled and warm-hearted toe-up knitter. ( )