Fun
It’s Here! MDK Field Guide No. 11: Wanderlust
With all the joy in the world, we bring you a little book that we are uncommonly proud to present.
MDK Field Guide No. 11: Wanderlust.
The essential introduction to one of knitting’s greatest pleasures: the handknit sock.
Nothing fussy, nothing hard—Field Guide No. 11: Wanderlust is portable joy to take with you on whatever journey you have planned. Available here in a print edition with Ravelry download code on the inside back cover, or as an ebook.
Our Tour Guide?
From the master of mix-and-match design, Wendy Bernard, comes all you need to knit beautiful socks. When you hit the road, be sure to pack this little book and a skein of delicious yarn.
Consider this the only book of sock patterns you’ll ever need. After making more than 100 pairs, Wendy Bernard knows a ton about the construction of socks—and she knows what we don’t need to know, as we begin our sock-making adventure.
Like a sculptor honing away all the excess, she distills her deep knowledge into everything you need to know, and nothing that you don’t.
Which Direction Will You Go?
These are sock designs that let you begin at the toe or the cuff.
You can work a pattern all over the sock, in a panel down the front, or—our favorite when the yarn is wild—a perfectly simple stockinette sock.
Toe-up or cuff-down, with a baker’s dozen of stitch patterns that will give you plenty of beautiful, distinctive designs for every mile of your journey.
The 13 stitch patterns are all modern, clever, and add a little zing to your sock making.
You will be dazzled and astonished at how a few simple knits and purls will create beautiful textures that are perfect for socks.
Sock knitters know that socks tend to beget more socks. The more you make, the more ideas you have for the next pair. This Field Guide makes it incredibly easy to scheme up your next pair of socks—even as you crank away on your current pair.
The Yarns
We humbly submit that sock yarn is a big part of what’s fun about knitting socks.
With that in mind, we have worked like squirrels to bring you yarns for the most delicious socks. Today we launch four collections that allow you to knit socks at whatever level of exuberance you like. There are 31 shades here. We don’t think 31 pairs of socks is too many. We call that a good start.
These are dyers who are working at the top of their game.
Barnyard Knits Sock/Fingering
Nature in a skein, with astonishing depth of color and surprises.
Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock
Lichen and Lace is a bestseller at MDK. Now, we welcome Megan Ingman’s subtle, sophisticated semi-solids in a fingering weight that will make for truly delicious socks—and exquisite shawls, accessories, and sweaters, too.
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock
Spectacular! These are the first variegated colors we’ve brought in from Karida Collins. We can all make socks that let us carry her dazzling way with color wherever we go.
These dyers inspire us with their hard work, their focus, and (of course) their extraordinary eye for color. When you order up their yarns, you’re materially supporting what they do.
You are also setting yourself up for some glorious knitting.
The Plan
We will announce a fantastic summertime sock knitalong next week. Whether this will be your first pair of socks or your hundredth, you’re going to have a good time with us.
We’ll have plenty of how to, tips, and hacks in the weeks to come.
At the moment, we encourage you to nourish your own wanderlust by ordering up MDK Field Guide No. 11 and a few skeins of this glorious yarn. It is going to be a beautiful summer, and socks are going to be our way through it.
Thank you as ever for your support—we are grateful.
Are there different sizes or just S,M, L?
There are 4 sizes, s – xl
Is there an electronic version of the book?
Never mind….i’m Still partly asleep.
That’s it! I’m going to finish my first pair of socks this summer. (I think you had me at Lichen and Lace.)
Oh, no! You had me at socks. That’s my default knitting.
I’ve knit socks before but they always wear out so soon in the heels. Is there a fix for that?
You could do an afterthought heel. Then when it wears out, you just rip it out and replace it (maybe this time with a contrasting color of yarn).
Thanks Judy! I’ll give it a try
My socks are about ten years old and still going, my constant footgear. Fine gauge – finer than usually recommended on 1’s or 0’s. Yes. And, a carry-along of silk buttonhole twist or comparable at the heel turn. Works for me, and, that afterthought heel can be a very good thing, indeed. Good luck!
Thanks JDU. Great suggestion and I will do this on the next pair!
Well, you’ve convinced me to try my first pair of socks! Off to pick a yarn!
You guys are working so hard! The book and yarns look great!
I just ordered the book — it’s socks for everyone for Christmas this year. I especially love the rose-colored one and the bright blue. The colors call to me. I can’t wait to get my needles started on them.
Looks wonderful! Do you include instructions for magic loop knitting for the patterns as well or just DPNs?
Beautiful! I especially like the name “Wanderlust”. I have not knit socks for many years, and I think I will start again. I already asked my LYS to place a copy on hold for me and I will pick it up next week.
have already subscribed to your newsletter would apreciate it if I didn’t have to have your subscription notice pop up every time i look at your site for info thanks
I agree, that pop up for Snippets, when you already receive it, is very annoying!
Sorry about that. Shouldn’t happen unless you’re using a new browser or device to access the site, or you clear your cookies. Once in a while I get the pop up and I’m all “do you know who I am lol?”
I also get the pop-up on every page, every time, FWIW. I didn’t realize you guys didn’t know?
I get it every time on every page. Perhaps it’s time to try a new method of attracting subscribers anyway? Mentioning it in the articles themselves is more likely to work. Most people just click any popups away on instinct thinking it’s a pointless advert.
I also get the Snippets popup every time, even though I’m already subscribed. It never knows who I am!
I signed up for the newsletter quite a while ago and get the reminder every single time I open one
wow, i didn’t know that. i never clear cookies and am on every day. i always get the pop-up, too. i also have to give my info every time i want to comment, even though i tell it to save my info so i shouldn’t have to fill in. i’ll double check my settings on my 3 devices, but isn’t that weird?
p.s. love this new Field Guide
A summer of sock knitting! I’m on it. I’ve been knitting socks for several years now and Barnyard Knits is my very favorite. Kim is a natural. Can’t wait to get started.
You don’t say if these yarns are superwash or not. Could you?
If you click on the yarn name, it gives more details and close up photos of each color. According to the descriptions, they all are superwash.
Yea,socks. I like the toe and pattern options. Can you tell us about the heels?
Very cool! I have completed two pair of toe-up socks all alone (sounds sadder than it was, lol) in my knitting life and enjoyed them once I got the hang of it! Looking forward to more with this fun and lively virtual bunch o’ knitters!
I am SO on this! I knit a lot of socks (don’t even need a pattern), but I’m always interested in new tricks, especially a heel that doesn’t schlump all over the place. (So far, afterthought heels fit the best, but I’m always up for learning a new heel technique.) Also the KAL — I usually don’t participate, because I just want to knit what I want when I want, but I think I will learn some things from this. Thank you
Yeah!! I’m so looking forward to this field guide. I’ve always wanted to learn how to knit socks but have been putting it off as I wanted to finish all of my in progress projects. I know that once I start knitting socks I won’t stop!
Each skein is more beautiful than the next! How to decide?!
My thoughts exactly!
I have several lifetimes of sock yarn in my stash. After all, it’s so beautiful, it’s only one skein, it’s souvenir vacation yarn, it’s so soft, a knitting biddy has some and I want some too, etc. we all have the same excuses. Then there is the sock pattern book diet……well, this book is just too wonderful to pass up! It’s one I can pack to go with me anywhere, along with my beloved dpn’s! Thank you!
Isn’t the size of these books just perfect? Travel size book for travel size project. I too have a tub full of sock yarn. The perfect souvenir and often irresistible in one skein bites.
Sorry….should be knitting buddy
Ordered! I used to knit socks all the time, but for some reason, I’ve stopped over the last few years. And that’s too bad, considering the size of my sock-yarn stash. So I’m sure this will inspire me to get back at it!
A bold choice, all one thing! I never got bit by the sock bug, have made several pair but it just didn’t do it for me, so it looks like I’ll have a gap in my Field Guide collection. Looks like a great variety of patterns and methods for the multitude who do love sock knitting, though!
You didn’t mention if there are tips to knitting a custom fit sock in the book. Does it include all the info for measuring and then knitting a well fitting sock?
Website won’t let me check out my shopping cart. Have backed out and reordered twice with same result.
Wondering if it is one skein per pair of socks? And will there be a choice of techniques? I’ve tried before without getting hooked, but I’d love to love it ……
Hi Ann! A skein that’s 360-400 yards will make a pair of socks sized s, m, l, or xl. Of the four yarns we’re offering, Spud and Chloe comes in 200-yard skeins–which means you can order two different colors and have fun making striped socks, or colorblock toes and heels.
I’m in. I just ordered my copy which will be on its way soon. I love the thought about attending KAL, too. I have never entered one but I think I could handle it if it socks.
I’ll wait for the next guide. There is no fun in sock knitting. First of all you have to make two. Second, they hurt my feet anyway.
they are a little smoother on your feet if you knit the foot inside our – knits inside and purls on the outside.
Sock knitting it total fun! I’m looking forward to getting the publication. I wear handknit socks every day if the year!
Oh, I wish I liked knitting socks! This whole little sock book sounds just wonderful. But I’ve tried and it’s just not for me. However it will bring a whole lot of joy to whole lot of people and those sock yarn colors just sing!
Cannot resist this one! No.1 I love sock knitting and No. 2 I am xoming off of a sweater coat project!
Love to knit socks and these are great patterns. Will definitely add this book to my collection. Also wondering if MDK has an actual shop in Nashville. Planning a trip there and would love to stop.
Hi Pat! the MDK Shop lives only on the internet–no physical shop. That way, we are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
Wanderlust looks wanderful! Did I miss the answer about if the instructions are for magic loop in addition to double points? Thank you!
I don’t think so – I’m looking forward to an answer to this question as well 🙂
I, too, am waiting to find out if there are directions for Magic Loop. I HATE to try to knit from a pattern for one-at-a-time sock patterns, with all the different sizes listed, and try to translate to ML at the same time. It’s what has kept me from really getting into socks.
And I would love to use 2 circs. I just received my Wanderlust Field Guide, which is terrific, but was disappointed to see that it specifies dpns.
Yippie, socks!! Love ’em and can’t hardly wait to join in with my favorite dpns.
Heels? Looks like only one….
It’s just sad that the beautiful yarns cost as much money as they do. It isn’t that I do not understand why; I really do! Still, they are priced beyond my budget. I wait for you all to de-stash
Could you please tell me how many pages are in Wanderlust, I live in Australia and wondering if I should download or buy hard copy.
It will print 23 pages in the ebook form and the hard copy has 40 pages. The pages for the ebook print on a horizontal sheet with 2 pages from the book on each. I hope that helps!
Getting ready to start my first pair of socks on Monday! I know it’s really about gauge but for the needle size fit says size 2 or 2.5mm. But my size 1.5 needles are 2.5mm and my size 2 needles are 2.75mm. Do you recommend going with the metric size?
Have made one pair of socks recently. Plain stockinette. But garter bumps under sole of feet are not comfortable for me. Any suggestions for a sock newbie to have more comfortable inside sole? Used Sz 2.75mm needles, Muse yarn 75%superwash25%nylon, average tension. Would softer yarn work or a pattern change? Am I the only supersensitive Cinderella? Help!