Ready, Set, Knit! 321: Kathy talks with Andi Smith
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Guest: Kathy talks with first-time guest Andi Smith, designer and author of Big Foot Knits. Originally from Yorkshire England, Andi has been knitting and crocheting for as long as she can remember. 10 years ago she met Shannon Oakey of Cooperative Press and on a drive back from Rhinebeck they talked about socks,how they didn’t fit, what Andi had been doing to alter sock patterns so they would fit and the book idea was born.
The first section of the book is all about helping you to make socks that really fit you. There is some math involved with figuring out your specific measurements and your gauge but then you are ready to make all kinds of socks that fit you well!
Copies of the book are available through Cooperative Press and Ravelry. Comment on this post and tell us why you need Big Foot Knits to win your own copy! Comments must be posted by 11:59pm EDT on Monday, August 5, 2013. 2 Winners will be chosen and will be announced on the show next week. Please make sure to include your e-mail address in the comments so we can contact you if you’re one of our winners!
Steve’s Yarn Picks
- Universal Yarns Jubilation Kettle Dye
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Upcoming Events:
Stitches Midwest is happening NEXT weekend! August 8-11 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL.
We will have yarn and hat samples from Schachenmayr yarn’s new My Mountain collection at our booth. We will also be partnering with Dream in Color yarns to offer a shawl kit to benefit Chelsea’s Light. Check out the recent podcast from Ben Levisay, The Fiber Hooligan for more details.
Registration has opened for our 7th Annual Bus Trip to the NY Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck!
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Tags: Chelsea's Light, Dream in Color, Fiber Hooligan, knitting, knitting books, knitting patterns, knitting tips, Stitches Midwest
August 3rd, 2013 at 10:56 pm
I have a big (size 11) foot and it has a very high arch – socks never seem to fit unless I knit a plain ribbed sock (that still isn’t quite perfect). I would love to knit something more fun!
August 3rd, 2013 at 11:17 pm
I’ve been fudging sock patterns to accommodate my size 12 tootsies (and less than slender ankles and calves) for a while now, not always successfully and could use some help. 🙂
August 3rd, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I would love to have this book because I am trying to knit some pairs of “stump” socks for a friend who is an partial foot amputee. The problem is that most socks, no matter what he does to them, end up with him walking out of them till they are scrunched up at the end of his special shoes. I am hoping a hand made sock, to his specific measurements and with a turned heel will eliminate this problem for him. I think the lessons in this book about fit could be very helpful since his feet are size 17. Those are big feet!
faenster on ravelry.com
August 4th, 2013 at 5:14 am
My feet are as wide as long and though new to sock knitting, I would love to read this!
Bonnie at
bonnielart12@yahoo.com
August 4th, 2013 at 8:19 am
I could really use a copy of Big Foot Knits because my husband, daughters, and I all have abnormally long toes. It would be great to know how to modify socks to fit more comfortably!
August 4th, 2013 at 9:50 am
I have super high arches so that limits the number of sock patterns I can use. and it’s always frustrating to find out (after I’ve knit one sock) that they aren’t going to fit. It would be really nice to be able to make socks that fit right the first time!
August 4th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
I really want to be able to make socks that actually fit my feet. I get close, but I’d like to get better.
August 4th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
I have short little duck feet: size 5 wide, with a narrow heel. I also have short, wide calves, so I need quite a bit of shaping to get socks that don’t pinch or fall down. Then I need to knit 10 wides for the hubby. I’d love to get the stats figured out, so every sock isn’t trial and error.
August 4th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
I have hybrid duck feet with monkey toes and need to learn how to makes socks that actually fit me… 😉
August 4th, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I have long, long feet, and wide ankles – so I could really use a copy of this book!
August 4th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I love knitting socks and I have just worked out how to make a sock fit myself… ish. Now I am knitting socks for 5 people (to be given at christmas)! They have all different sized feet and some have pretty wacky (unusual) foot measurements. I really want this book because I could use some help with sock fitting!
August 4th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
I’d love to win the book so I can learn how to come up with own vanilla sock that fits me to a tee, and how to modify top downs to toe ups, and how to switch out heels without changing the fit.
hotknitter on rav
August 4th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Because I collect GOOD sock books. 😉
August 4th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
I would love to win a copy of Big Foot Knits because like Andi Smith I get the annoying red line on my thick calves when I wear conventional socks. I also have a wonderful friend with similar dimensions who I can gift these handknitted socks.
August 4th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
I have a teen daughter with size 12 feet. I love to knit socks, and so far haven’t knit any pretty ones for her because most “girlie” sock patterns srent sized for her. I would love a copy of this book !
August 5th, 2013 at 8:20 am
I haven’t been able to knit a sock that fits yet. It’s so frustrating to follow the pattern and hit gauge and STILL the sock doesn’t fit! Big Foot Knits would help me be a better so k knitter in SO many ways!
August 5th, 2013 at 8:40 am
I’m gearing up to learn how to knit socks but they’ll have to be quite customized. I have fairly long feet (ladies size 9) but they are narrow (only four toes per foot) which means my the ball of my foot and ankle are not the same (9″ foot and 10″ ankle). Adding to the challenge, my non-standard feet are attached to sturdy German calves that are about 13″ around by the time you get about 4″ above the ankle. Sounds like this book would be perfect for me. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. My fingers are crossed.
August 5th, 2013 at 8:44 am
I have 7 kids (11-25) who are all requesting I knit them a pair of socks….needless to say I need lots of inspiration & instruction to fill these requests! : )
August 5th, 2013 at 10:19 am
I’ve recently started to learn how to knit socks for babies. I’d love to learn for myself now.
August 5th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I love knitting socks and would like to know more of the math behind the design.
August 5th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
iI would love to have aa copy of the ebook. Learning to size feet correctly would make sock knitting much more fun! I have knit a few I couldn’t get on my feet! teresafussell@yahoo.com
August 5th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
I’ve never made socks before… but with Size 10 feet, I want those socks to fit!!
August 5th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
I have heard Andi speak a few times regarding this book now, and I am more excited than ever to try her method. I would love to have a copy!mthanks for the opportunity!
August 5th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
I would love this book: hubby has huge feet and fitting tips would be helpful.
August 6th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Although they are average-sized, I have Fred Flintstone feet… wide, slightly flat, and rectangular. And my ankles are thin and beautiful (I love my ankles).
August 6th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
Because my husband loves the socks I make for him. At 6″2 with diabetic feet it not easy to keep his feet as snug as he keeps my heart! I would love to have a copy of the book.
August 6th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
This would be a great book to have since socks need to fit well. With the measuring instructions that have been discussed in interviews, I think there would be a better chance of them fitting.
August 7th, 2013 at 7:17 am
I love trying new sock patterns and it would be fun to use some creativity to modify some of my favorite patterns or even try designing new ones. The book sounds amazing.
August 8th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
I am a constant tinker type knitter so this will expand my horizons and fix my heel issues