Photography by © John Gruen, from Toe-Up 2-at-a Time Socks by © Melissa Morgan-Oakes, used with permission from Storey Publishing.
Sock knitting just got a whole lot faster with the new book, Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oaks. You’ll learn how to use an adaptation of Judy’s Magic Cast On which allows you to cast two sets of stitches (one for each sock) onto one long circular needle. Pretty amazing, huh? The socks are also knit toe-up, so you’ll be able to try on the socks as you work on them allowing you to ensure fit. Also, here’s a great way to use up your yarn stash and know you have enough yarn to complete a full pair! The book contains 15 patterns for men, women, children and babies with detail instructions and charts to help you complete each pair of socks with success. The spiral bound book also has a handy instructional and sizing index in the back too. A must have book for any sock knitter!
Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT reades will win a copy of Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks. Just tell us why you would like this book in the comments. All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Monday, July 19, 2010. The lucky winners will be chosen randomly and announced later on the site. Good luck!
Photography by © John Gruen, from Toe-Up 2-at-a Time Socks by © Melissa Morgan-Oakes, used with permission from Storey Publishing.
264 thoughts on “Book Review + Giveaway: Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks”
Comments are closed.
I would love to win this book. I just learned the basic toe-up technique, and this book would help so much! Socks are my absolute favorite thing to knit.
I would love love love this book because of my horrible habit of knitting exactly one sock and then losing interest. I am inundated with one-socks and they constantly reproach me with their one sock glare. I need a book where I can knit two at a time because the oppressive weight of sock guilt is almost too much to bear!
I would love to win so I could learn to knit 2 socks at a time.
I’ve got a toe-up sock book, a 2-at-a-time sock book, and have bookmarked tutorials on Magic Loop. What a fantastic hybrid of all those great techniques in one volume! Thanks for a chance to win.
I rarely finish a pair of socks… or if I do, my second one is a different size because I took so long to get to it! I forget stitch counts or where I wrote stitch counts… I wanted to learn the 2 at once method, but I prefer toe-up. This would be a great book! Great giveaway :)
I have been knitting on a 2nd sock for over a year!
I have always wanted to learn to make socks! Pretty please with sugar on top??? ; )
I’ve always wanted to try knitting socks two at a time. I have serious second sock syndrome! And I LOVE the toe-up method. Thank you for giving these copies away!
I have always wanted to learn to knit socks! Pretty please with sugar on top??? ; )
It will be years before I finish my next pair of socks. I have knit only one pair of socks, a beautiful size 13 for my husband. It took me over a year to knit the two socks, a beautiful wool silk stripe. I gotta make more socks!! Two at a time please!!
I love knitting in the winter (too busy grubbing in the garden in the summer!) – and the one thing we could most use are MORE SOCKS!! Hard to have too many socks!!!
Wow – I think that this looks SO cool, pick me, pick me, pick me! It’s SO cold here at the moment, that knitted socks would be FAB. Hugs from NZ :)
Last year, my mother gave me my first pair of hand knit socks for my birthday. I am still new to knitting and so I made it my 2010 New Year’s Resolution to learn how to knit socks and I know this book will help!
Thank you!
I literally dream in socks… different styles, colors, patterns. However I’ve always been way too scared of the undertaking to try to make a pair. I’d love to finally be armed with the tools I need to make it happen, and this book seems perfect! Please help me out!
I would love to win this book because both my mom and I would love to learn how to knit toe-up socks. I have never knit socks before, but would like to learn. My mom is a veteran sock knitter, but she has never knit toe-up before. We could learn together, which would be fun.
I just taught my library’s teen knitting group how to knit socks and I’d love to show them how to knit toe up, but I haven’t learned that yet. This book would be perfect!!!
i’ve been wanting to try out knitting socks from the toe up and knitting 2 socks at one time. i’ve only knitted socks from leg down and 1 at a time. and i love melissa’s patterns.
I would looove this book because I have tried many times to knit two socks at once, but have never been able to get the hang of it :( I bet this book would help :)
Then I’d be able to speedily increase my stash of lovely handmade socks which would be very exciting.
I just learned what this meant a short time ago: Two At A Time. I have had socks on the brain for awhile and I’d love to learn this technique! Thanks for offering this giveaway!
Knitting socks has always freaked me out, because after I finish one, I still have to knit another one — that actually matches — before I’m technically done! (This applies to gloves too.)
Knitting the socks two at a time would definitely help give me the courage to tackle the sock-phobia.
while i never win anything, i never give up trying either. i would love to win this book because it would hopefully alleviate the one-sock syndrome. also i’ve tried cuff down, never works for me, toe up is sooo much easier!
I’ve always been intimidated by knitting socks. So much so, that I’ve never tried even though friends have told me it’s not that bad!
I’d love to win this book so I could expand my knitting skills and learn to knit socks!
I have always been intimidated by knitting sock. So much so that I have never knit them even though my friends have told me it’s not that bad!
I would love to win this book to expand my knitting skills and finally tackle socks!
I knit more socks than anything else… but I haven’t yet figured out two-at-a-time! Toe-up socks are great for me ’cause I have really long feet and I’m always worried about running out of yarn before I get to the toe, when I work cuff-down. It’s happened twice now. :(
These patterns would help to alleviate the dreaded one-sock syndrome, which is something I am SO guilty of! That’s my main reason that I don’t knit socks very often. Completing both of them at the same time would be great! Thanks for the chance to win.
I have never knit toe up , 2 at a time and would love to have this book for the opportunity to knit socks toe up. I knit socks all the time top down 2 at a time now it would be great to learn the reverse.
I would like to win this to continue to learn to knit socks. I have made a few socks but I would like to learn toe-up and two at a time.
I’ve knit all kinds of things, but I’ve yet to make a sock.
So, two at once would be a great way to get me started!
I need this book because knitting socks is my very favorite thing to knit. I’ve always wanted to learn how to do toe up socks! I need this book!!!!
And not for lack of trying. The patterns look so pretty and that would be extra motivating!
I absolutely love to knit and have found it to be very relaxing. I have made mountains of sweaters, scarves, hats, and mittens, yet have never ventured into making socks. The thought of being able to knit two-at-a-time has really grabbed my attention, and I would love to be able to knit socks not only for myself but for gifts to others. Knitting two-at-a-time definitely would speed up the process and I already have plenty of circular needles and yard. I just NEED the book. :-)
And not for lack of trying. The patterns look so pretty and that would be extra motivating!
I have never knitted any socks and I do not want to become a victim of one sock syndrome.
This would be a great addition to my knitting club’s library.
Two socks at a time? Makes sense! Can’t just have one!
This book would be an excellent addition to my knitting library!
I’m a few months away from having use of my hands again and knitting is the FIRST THING I’m going to do. In a fit of pique late last year I threw away all my knitting books and this would be a great start on the new collection. :)
I’m a top-down sock knitter and have such a fear of trying any other way. I hope this book can help me!
I’ve knitted many a sock, but never toe up, and never two at a time. This book will teach me both – yay!!!
I’ve got a couple of sock-knitting books, but I totally prefer knitting toe-up and I still haven’t perfected my understanding of when and how to turn a heel. I’ll bet this book would have great instructions to get me over that hump!
I’ve tried other methods of sock knitting. DPNs are way too fiddly for me. Knitting one sock at a time usually only gets me one sock. I love knitting my socks 2 at a time and toe up. It would be really great to not have to modify sock patterns written for other knitting methods and hope I can make them work. A book of patterns written for my fave sock knitting method would be awesome!
i spend entirely too much time knitting socks one by one. just think, if i had this book, i could whip out socks twice as fast thus more people i know & love would receive hand knit gifts. it’s a win-win all around!
I have only ever knit one pair of socks. Getting the second sock finished was excruciating. If I could have knitted both socks at the same time, I think I would have tried it again. I love hand knit socks. The Toe up method sounds great, too, but given the aforementioned problem, I’ve never tried it. I’d love to try the method in this book.
but the second one is always so snoozy. I would love to learn how to knit both at once!
I’d love to knit socks for my twin boys for Christmas, but 2nd (3rd, and 4th!) sock syndrome might put a damper on those plans! This technique might help!
I learned how to do this- two toe up socks at a time on one circular but I don’t understand how to translate what i learned into different patterns of socks. I’ve been dying to make more socks, but I want to use this technique! I’ve actually been eyeing this book for awhile and would love to have it!
Knitting Rules!
I have always wanted to try the two-socks at a time and toe-up are my thing; this book would be the encouragement I need!
My gauge always seems to shift a little by the time I get to sock two…This would be the perfect way to get two identical socks! PLEASE enter me!
Thanks,
Laura
okay, so I’ve tried top-down socks and just don’t like them that much, because I can not try them on as I’m knitting them. I would love this book because although I am a beginning knitter, I am also quite adventurous. And I would love to experiment with knitting two socks at one time! That would be so much fun!!!
au revoir,
~j.b.
I’m a great fan of toe up sock knitting. I’ve become a great fan of two at a time knitting, whether it’s socks or sleeves or mittens — if I don’t do it that way, the second item never gets finished!!
This looks like a neat book. I’ve been thinking about trying toe up socks and this would be a great way to learn.
I haven’t bought a pair of socks that actually fit in years. And I’ve always been stymied by having to knit two socks in succession that truly match. This would be the perfect kick in the pants to get me started…
I’ve tried to use the sock size DPNs I inherited from my grandmother, but my hands just are too chubby and clumsy. If I could learn socks on a circular needle, I would feel like I was following in her footsteps.
After many failed attempts, Melissa’s first book was the only thing that allowed me to complete a pair of socks. Huzzah! I can’t wait to check out her new book and try out some toe-up socks.
I have knitted several socks from the top down, but have yet to attempt the reverse. I would love to have a book that steps me through this wonderful experience and could only imagine how wonderful it will be. To be able to knit without having leftover yarn!
Thanks for the chance to win this book!
I have only knitted socks from the top down, but the idea that I might run out of yarn before I have finished the socks is one of the things keeping me from using my parts of my yarn stash for sock knitting. Having this book would let some of the yarn that have been locked in a closet for a long time live up to it’s potential and become something beautiful!
I would love to win the book because when I knit socks I usually give up after knitting the first sock, or I can’t quite remember exactly how I made it. Knitting two at once really seems like the best, and only, way to do it. I also would love to give knitting toe-up a try, looks like a lot of fun.
Not only is the idea of knitting a sock toe-up a brilliant one, but the concept of knitting two socks at once is so fascinating I just _have_ to know how it’s done! The logistics of the thing is mind-boggling. And another advantage – when you have cast off there’s no need to cast on and do the whole thing over again – you’re actually done!
I would really love this book. I hate knitting just one sock only to have to do another one! This book will solve my problem and help keep my feet warm! Thanks for the chance to win.
I have recently taken up knitting socks and if I am lucky enough to win this book, I will be able to knit two at a time which means there is more chance of me knitting two exactly the same!!
I’d LOVE to win this book! I could really power out some Xmas gifts! :)
But I own too many knitting books, or rather, I have PURCHASED too many knitting books. But if it’s free….
Thanks for this giveaway. I’ve only knit a couple of pairs of socks, after fighting with those skinny dpns.
I would love to have a great book to teach me how to do two at a time AND toe up is a bonus!
It would be cool to win.
In fact, anything cool at all, would be good these days. This has been a muggy Northeast summer so far.
This entry immediately caught my eye! I’ve recently started a job creation and empowerment program in one of the slums in South Africa and we have been focusing mostly on sewing but are finding it hard to access enough machines so thought knitting would be perfect as you need very few materials to get started and they can even do it at home to stay with their children! And socks are just the icing on the cake as it is now winter here and we are all freezing so selling them would be super easy because everyone needs them! AND two at a time means more socks in less time so more money per hour for these incredible ladies. We would really like to help more women stay off the streets and I really believe this is the perfect avenue to do it! This book would be such a blessing to jumpstart this side of our empowerment program. Thanks!
I am not particularly happy with my job or the city I am living in at the moment. I have just started knitting socks and have fallen in love. It brings me a great break and great relaxation in this stressful time. I looked at another book about knitting 2 socks at a time and it was so badly laid out! I didn’t stick with it. However, I am so keen to try again. I love magic loop and I love knitting socks. I know I would love this book…for my sanity :)
I have knitted socks on double points and have thought about trying this method but the books I have seen have been confusing and intimidating. This one might just be the one to get me started!!
and my grand daughter would love it!!
I’d love to win to knit some socks for my brother’s birthday! He’s going away to school soon to a very very cold place.
I have been afraid to make socks. I have tried to start a couple of times, but never actually casted on. This 2-at-a-time seems like the best approach, because when you are done, you are done with the pair! Brilliant! I don’t know this technique, but I would really like to learn it. Plus, you can never have too many craft books…
:-)
Is this the magic loop technique? I’ve only heard about it but never actually tried it. It would be interesting to see.
OOOHH, what a fabulous looking book! I really do not need any more scarfs, shawls nor afghans. It’s time to learn something new which would be so much easier with this book!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I’ve always been too nervous to try knitting socks, because I’ve heard absolute horror stories about it being really complicated.
And I just know that if I made it through one complete sock, I’d lose steam and never get around to making the second one, so knitting two at a time would be amazing! I admire anyone who can knit two things in one go!
Also, I have a huge stash of beautiful hand dyed madelinetosh sock yarn, and nothing to make with it! I’ve always wanted to knit a pair of socks.
I would love to win this book so I could knit some cute socks for this fall.
A lot.
I love to knit socks two at a time, but I’ve only ever done it top-down. This would be the perfect way to get started toe-up!
Besides, I can’t just learn to knit. I need to have an angle. Two at a time and the utility of socks makes this a book I have to have!
I’ve been knitting for more years than I want to remember, ever since my grandmother taught me when I was a young girl, but I’ve never had the nerve to try socks. This book looks like the perfect one for a beginner, and the idea of knitting both at the same time is ideal. Please help me to get over my sock phobia and start knitting socks for my whole family!
I would love to try this technique; I might learn to like knitting socks!
I enjoy knitting socks and always the second sock is the most boring. Would love to try it this way. Hope I win. Thanks for the offer. Doti
I enjoy learning all aspects of knitting techniques and this book will help give me an edge to sock knitting!
I would love to learn how to knit two socks at once. How fun! Thank you for the giveaway! :-)
I would love to win this book because I signed up to take this very class at my LYS, but apparently I signed up for the wrong class… I learned how to knit one sock at a time on two circulars… bummer…
I would Love to win this book!!!!
Thank you!
JoAnn
I love knitting and crocheting, and always have a ton of leftovers of a dozen or so different colors. That book would not only give a lot of inspiration for new projects but it would also give a perfect solution to the leftovers :)
I would LOVE this book! I’ve only knit one pair of socks in my knitting life and it wasn’t pretty. I think if I could knit both at the same time and from the toe up I might have more success!
I have taught myself to knit and crochet over the past few years. Making socks has been on my to-do list for some time, but it a very intimidating project to me. This book would help me break through that barrier. Thanks!!!!!
I taught myself to knit a few years ago, then taught myself socks. Next was toe-up, then back to cuff-down with two-at-a-time magic loop. For 2 years I wished this book would come out – and from what I see, it’s got “heel-flap” heels! I would LOVE this book (although my sock yarn budget probably won’t).
I have the first book and loved it but I prefer them toe-up! I have little feet and am not much good at using up scrap yarn so I’d prefer to use it all up as much as possible. Plus there’s the added benefit of tall winter socks. Not even my fav Smartwool tall ski socks can beat a good hand knitted sock!
I’m planning on knitting socks for 13 family members for Christmas ranging in age from 6 years to 37 years both male and female. Obviously I’m going to need some help in getting these done in time and 2 at a time will really help!
Hopefully I’ll win the book and zip right along! Thank you for the give-away!
Charyl
This is the way to knit socks! No second sock syndrome! My hubby will only wear green socks, which are hard to find, so knitting him socks is something I do from time to time. And toe-up lets me know that the socks will actually fit him.
I have seen two at a time sock books but this one looks especially good as it is toe up. Love the idea of finishing both at once!
This book looks extra useful because of the whole two-at-a-time thing. Love to have a project all done at once!
This book may just be what I need to overcome my fear of the orphan sock syndrome and finally join the ranks of sock knitting enthusiasts!
I would love this book! I love Melissa, follow her blog and facebook, she’s so awesome and if anyone can get me sock knitting, it would be her!
princesspeanutsmommy@gmail.com
I took a class in this technique–but then didn’t try this method again for a few months–and couldn’t quite figure it out..so maybe this book would help me! I hope I win it….it was quite fast to knit socks this way.
I would so Love to win this book! I have just started knitting socks and would love to be able to make a pair at a time rather than have one lonely one waiting by itself!! Thanks!
I’d love this! I keep meaning to make socks and I just haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe I just need some inspiration. =)
I’ve knit a couple of pairs of toe-up, 2-at-a-time socks using the magic loop and Turkish cast-on. I’ve been doing 2×2 ribbing on the top of the foot and the leg – but I can’t seem to come up with any new patterns! I need to expand my horizons with respect to sock patterns.
This book looks cool.
I haven’t conquered socks for two reasons:
1) the idea of finishing one and having to do the other means that the projects would just sit forever for me (same with gloves), and
2) my one attempt was cuff down and they were turned into mitts because they couldn’t go over my ankle.
This book would solve both problems and help me be a sock knitter once and for all!
Tattooed Knitter,
not a quitter;
Oh, But….those little singles–
they do not mingle!
TAAT-TU Socks.
Now, That just
Rocks!
I would love love..absolutely love to win this book so I can learn to knit 2 socks at the same time. I’m awful at not finishing projects. If I had both socks going at once then voila..they’d get made and completed together. What a dream. I can make one but can’t seem to get motivated to make the second on. So…pick me, pick me!!!
Great book for a giveaway! Socks are my go-to knitting item. I’ve been working on my first two-at-once pair for an embarrassingly long time. ;) But since socks are my comfort projects, the ones I reach for in between other knitting or when I need a break, I suppose it’s a good sign that I’ve had the patience and time for trickier knitting projects. Now if I could just score this awesome book, I could infuse my comfort knitting with a little kick! Thanks for the chance to win.
I can honestly say I’ve never read this book, but I think I need it. As my coworker would say, I have second sock syndrome, or SSS. It’s not a dangerous syndrome, but it’s contagious. Once you skip one sock, you start missing sleeves and leaving homework unfinished. I’m on a slippery, slippery slope here folks. There’s nothing more comfortable than hand knit socks on my tired toesies, but I’ve had to depend on my sister to make them because of my bout with SSS. If I get this book, I may be able to overcome it and my toes with be enshrined in homemade wooly goodness. Thanks!
My hope is that this book would have techniques applicable to many many designs for socks, and I could share it with my Knitting Goddess buddies at our next retreat.
I would love to win this book so I don’t have to keep borrowing it from my library!!!!
I’m a new knitter and socks have been on my list to learn. I would LOVE to have this book in my arsenal of knitting books.
I love socks and have bought so many books trying to find the right technique for me. I would love to win a copy of this book to learn a new technique!
Hi, there! I’ve recently finished my first pair of socks and got totally addicted to that! I was even researching for a book about socks, and this is one of the chosen books in my Amazon list!
I love knitting socks, but my preferred method is using DPNs. I’d love to be able to try a new technique, like this.
I heard about this giveaway on Ravelry and had to come over! I love the TAAT original book. I suffer severely from Second Sock Syndrome, and I also suffer greatly from Colors-Must-Match. Two-at-a-time makes my conditions manageable!
I love to have taller socks, but worry about not having enough yarn. TAAT Toe-up would be another cure for me!
I’d love to have this book to renew my interest in knitting socks (which is why I relearned to knit in the first place). Besides, who can resist those adorable baby socks!
I’ve made socks for several people as gifts, and want to make more for myself. I have Ms. Morgan-Oakes’ first book on 2 at a time socks, which is awesome, but I still find myself getting bored and stuck mid-sock. Being able to try the socks on while knitting would be a great way to keep my interest, as well as decide when is really the best time to stop – by how long the sock is while worn rather than by how much I wish I was done!
I’ve made socks for several people as gifts, and want to make more for myself. I have Ms. Morgan-Oakes’ first book on 2 at a time socks, which is awesome, but I still find myself getting bored and stuck mid-sock. Being able to try the socks on while knitting would be a great way to keep my interest, as well as decide when is really the best time to stop – by how long the sock is while worn rather than by how much I wish I was done!
My stepmom is one of those awesome people who knits things for everyone in the family, does a bajillion different kinds of crafts, teaches yoga, and goes to school all while raising my amazing 2 pre-teen siblings (and my dad.. Did I say that?).
Every year I’d go and visit them in Canada (I’m American), we’d always pick some craft project to make. She taught me how to knit in the round, inspired me to keep crocheting, and even how to modify a pattern to make it into something else I wanted (specifically, turn a gorgeous lace shawl pattern into a circle sweater).
Her big thing to knit is socks. I haven’t tried socks mainly because I’m one of those people who when I finish an item, I’m done, and don’t want to touch it again outside of wearing it. The thought of going through all that time knitting one sock, just to have to do the SAME thing a second time makes my skin crawl.
A friend of mine recently told me about this book and it sounded perfect for my attention span and knitting style. Now that you guys are giving away a copy of this book seems even more perfect, so I thought I’d give you my story.
Why I would like this book… do I really need to say anything more than “Socks!” Or maybe I’m just weird. In college my mom used to send my care packages with a few random things, a pair of fun socks, and toothbrush/toothpaste (she’s a dentist). So I blame my love of fun socks on her. :)
I’d like to win the book because I love the socks pictured on the front cover and it makes sense to knit any item that comes in pairs (socks, sleeves) both at the same time so they are sure to match.
I find the cover photo, with the knitter’s hand through the end loop of the knitting, rather intriguing!
I’d like to win the book because I love the socks pictured on the front cover and it makes sense to knit any item that comes in pairs (socks, sleeves) both at the same time so they are sure to match.
I find the cover photo, with the knitter’s hand through the end loop of the knitting, rather intriguing!
I’ve been coveting this book ever since I bought it as a gift for a friend’s birthday. I have Melissa’s first book and I love it. Would love to have this one as well! I must also add that I love the way these books are bound. I wish all knitting books had a hard cover and were spiral bound – it just makes sense.
It`s getting really cold here, so I need to knit some socks.It looks like a great book!
I wear hiking boots on the farm and I ONLY wear hand-knit wool socks with them. I also spin yarn and sometimes when I buy yarn there are fewer yards…so the concept of knitting two at a time, toe up seems like the perfect solution for my sock knitting…and the added benefit is new patterns! What more could a girl ask for? Please choose me for the free book!
I just knit my very first pair of socks using the 2-at-a-time book, and I’d love to learn how to knit them toe-up and 2-at-a-time! :)
I reeeeealy want to learn this technique!! Such a smart way to knit socks!! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I would love to learn this new technique. Melissa’s last 2-at-a-time socks book is amazing so this new one toe up 2-at-a-time socks has to be fantastic. This new way to knit socks is the next best thing since sliced bread!!!
I would love to learn this new technique. Melissa’s last 2-at-a-time socks book is amazing so this new one toe up 2-at-a-time socks has to be fantastic. This new way to knit socks is the next best thing since sliced bread!!!
I can’t seem to knit socks that fit – and the toe up technique would FINALLY allow me to keep some of the socks that I knit!!! Which would be nice for me but maybe not so nice for my friends, lol.
Please pick me because I would love to learn how to knit two socks at the same time. The first sock usually goes really quick and then it takes months to finish the second one (if ever) if you go with the “one at a time” model.
I would love to win this book! I have always wanted to start knitting socks, but have been afraid of the dreaded “second sock” syndrome!
I would love to get this book so I can learn to make socks. I have been knitting for about 8 months and I am now ready to start knitting socks. I have been looking at different books and found a couple I have liked. But it would be awesome to knit two socks at once to speed up the process and I love using circular needles.
I love knitting socks, but I suffer from two main issues–2nd sock syndrome (SSS) and the fact that my socks never match up–one is always floppier or longer than the other. Learning how to make two together would fix my issues!
I love the idea of fishing the pair at the same time. I have a fear of succumbing to the dreaded SSS (second sock syndrome).
Man, I always have such trouble starting the second sock! this would be great! thanks for the opportunity!
I just taught myself magic loop. I’ve knit 2 at a time on two circulars, now would like to do it on one circular.
I have the top down and now I’d like to learn toe up. Thanks.
Oh, I’d love to win this book! I’m a novice knitter and have never knit socks before. I’ve seen videos with Magic Loop & knitting socks from the toe up so I’d love to give this a try…