It’s been a while since we had a book review, so let’s rectify that right this minute. (I suppose it’s also been a while – an infinite span of time in fact – since we had a squirrel review, but that might have to wait for another day.)
Under the literary magnifying glass this time is Rachel Boulahanis’ Farmhouse Socks, a self-published hardback bursting with 15 sock patterns inspired by the author’s time on her grandparents’ farms. I like to knit something from books when I review them… but that’s the main reason why I’m so behind with my book reviews, so today I decided to just dive in and have a look around.
Rachel is based in the US, and was raised by parents who were both from farming families, so grandparent-time involved plenty of agricultural shenanigans. (I can relate to the appeal of this, having spent my teenage years in close friendship with a farmer’s daughter who lived in the very misnamed village of Ugley: the adventures we had on her farm would doubtless make a modern Health and Safety Executive weep – it’s slightly surprising that we’ve both still got four limbs and well over 30% of our sanity.)
Anyway.
Before I get to the contents of the book, let me say a little about its author. You don’t need to spend long on Rachel’s website – knitwearby rachel.com – to realize that this is a woman who most definitely knows one end of a sock from the other… and one end of a knitting needle from the other, too. She’s hot on the technical specifics of perfecting your knitting and approaches to design. For this – plus her love of growing and preserving food – I suspect that we could be friends, were it not for her being so wildly inconsiderate as to live on the opposite side of the planet. (Honestly, some people are downright unreasonable, but if she ever wants to join our knitting-in-the-pub night on a Tuesday in south Oxfordshire, UK, she’s welcome.)
Let’s have a tour of the book. The patterns comprise everything foot-related from slippers to half-way-up-the-calf socks. Each uses just one shade of yarn, because her focus is on cables, ribbing, and lace. (I’m quietly hoping that there’ll be a Volume 2 and that it’ll comprise a lot of stranded colourwork, but that’s just me and my extremely personal biases.) Patterns are presented clearly, with a section later in the book offering larger-size charts for people whose vision demands clarity. But this book isn’t just about the patterns. There are anecdotes too, weaving memories of farm-time with the author’s grandparents amongst the knitting patterns.
Sizing for all of the socks is inclusive. Some patterns extend from the babiest of babies to the most expansively-footed of grown men, and every pattern has a decently wide range of size options. Some are top-down, some are toe-up. One of the things I like about this book is the sheer variety of techniques you’d use if you knitted all of its patterns – different cast-ons, different stitches, and so on. I think that completing all the patterns in these pages should qualify as some kind of socky apprenticeship.
There are useful practical touches, such as ‘notes’ pages and metric/imperial rulers beside each pattern. And there are detailed photo-tutorials of important techniques, and two pages where you can record the measurements of your favourite people’s feet. (That’s a lot less weird and dodgy than it sounds.)
If you want a photo-glossy slick compendium of coffee-table artwork with a graphic design budget of squillions and a celebrity on the cover, then this is not the book for you. But if you’re a serious and curious sock-knitter, then you could do much worse than put in an order for 150 pages of Rachel’s wisdom. This is a woman who Knows Her Socks and frankly, I can’t think of many higher complements that one could pay a knitter.
Happy knitting (and crocheting), my fine fibrous friends. May your socks turn out perfectly, every single time.
Phil x
Given that energy prices are going through the roof, I suspects we’ll all be knitting more of the practical garments, etc. I’m beginning to regret getting rid of the bedroom fireplace! The pages you show depicts lovely, comforting and down-to-earth patterns….just what we need to hug body parts!
Yes to all of this! (But how could you possibly have ditched the bedroom fireplace? Such a feature sounds like heaven!)
I loved the book review! I will also be waiting (not holding my breath) for the squirrel review. I so wish I could join in your local knitting club, and hear more of your yarns in person! Thank you for this posting! Hoping you are all well and mostly happy!
Oh goodness, I’m going to have to start posting squirrel reviews now, aren’t I?
Ain’t never knitted no sock. Also, ain’t never goin to. The problem for me is totally shapeless ankles, very high insteps and W-I-D-E feet. In other words, no sock design is ever going to fit me; and I can’t even begin to think of the adjustments to any “fairly close” design that I’d need to make. What I consider totally unfair is that the loss of 25 kilos has made ZERO difference to my ankles, which remain stubbornly fat, swollen and shapeless. I can add only (on this topic !) that it’s just as well I’m ancient and uninterested in developing A Relationship; for anyone would espy my ankles right away and head off in the direction of someone whose ankles are narrower than their shins. Life. It’s a brute.
Lovely post, Phil: I do hope this lady knows about it !!!
😀
Are you sure? Socks can be fairly forgiving beasts. In other news, you lost 25kg???? That’s… some way beyond impressive. Respect to you (as always). px
Yer a Good Woman,
I’m so not, but let’s pretend. Thank you.
I love the idea of a self published pattern book, such a great idea! Love all the socks you showed and it sounds very inclusive! Thanks
You’re welcome. It’s an impressive book.
Love this post! Love your writing. Love knitting socks! Thank you!
As for squirrels, my favorite thing about them is this poem by David McCord. Enjoy!
Joe
We feed the birds in winter,
And outside in the snow
We have a tray of many seeds
For many birds of many breeds
And one gray squirrel named Joe.
But Joe comes early,
Joe comes late,
And all the birds
Must stand and wait.
And waiting there for Joe to go
Is pretty cold work in the snow.
By, David McCord
Oh my goodness, I LOVE this, so thank you for sharing! I very rarely (maybe twice a year?) see a squirrel here, but this poem warmed the chilliest corners of my heart.
Phil, do you really have a Tuesday knitting club at the local pub? I’m there if I ever feel safe to travel across the pond again (Covid covid go away!). On the other hand, brilliant to add the notes pages and sizing, then you never have to worry about misplacing your notes about a pattern!
Great reads (you and the book)
Yes we really do, BUT we’re utterly flakey – especially since covid – and cancel more often than we meet. We need to get back into regular meetings. Visitors from across-pond are always welcome.
Will this book be available in uk?
Good question. I’m not sure about bricks-and-mortar bookshops, but evil-Amazon definitely has it. (Don’t worry, I don’t have any affiliate links or any other way of benefiting.) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Farmhouse-Socks-Rachel-Boulahanis/dp/108799652X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TSI6VZE5MIN9&keywords=farmhouse+socks&qid=1644781771&s=books&sprefix=farmhouse+socks%2Cstripbooks%2C59&sr=1-1
Yay! Purchased! Can’t wait, I am crazy about sock knitting, this will be such a good read! Thanks for the heads up. Love your musings btw, delightful reading!
Enjoy! (And thank you for your kind words.)
Thanks for posting this. As usual, a good one.
And – not for the first time – thank you for your generous response.
Squirrel review? You want a squirrel review? How about this then?!: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/rare-albino-squirrels-spotted-on-school-run-262376/
I have a mental picture of these colourless squirrels running around the graveyard wearing tiny little stranded knitting socks in many beautiful colours! Their lives would be so enriched… They would no longer be outcasts in squirrel society… Ok, that might be going a bit far, as they’d be the only squirrels ever known to wear socks, but I’m sure you get my drift 😊. I hope the soles would felt for hardiness; and can you imagine the teeny weeny socklets their babies (kits?) would wear? Soooooo lovely!
Oops, I’m getting carried away now; I’d better do the washing up instead.
I thoroughly enjoy your blog and your (uniquely?) English humour, which, I think, I share; something in the upbringing, presumably; and I’ve only ever knitted one sock that is recognisably a sock, which is hung on the Christmas tree each year because being elf-sized, that’s the best place for it; and my adventures into stranded knitting have been very modest indeed, resulting in a two-tone woolly hat (handspun!) which I am inordinately proud of and is now temporarily misplaced, unfortunately (but may possibly turn up on top of the Christmas tree in December); so thank you for being you and knitting your wonderful creations and writing your delightful and real blog, and long may you continue. Blessings!
Lovely book and a very helpful review, Phil.
I hope you have been feeling well.
Ooh! This looks like a Must Have book! Thanks for the review and recommendation.
As always, your post is incredibly readable and always elicits a smile. If I ever find myself anywhere in the vicinity of the Oxfordshire on a a Tuesday night, I’ll be intruding, quite rudely, on your knitting in the pub group. As for squirrels, I noticed you mentioned in a response that you rarely see any where you live. That’s too bad. I see multiple squirrels while on my daily walk, and I have to rein in my wild beasts from a merry chase. The beasts pout for a while every time I do that!
As for sock books, I have purchased several and not found anything as enlightening as this appears to be. It is now in my Amazon cart, where it awaits patiently for payday! LOL!
Thanks for the review, Phil!