The Little Box of Socks is not a bulk hosiery product. It is a, well, little box, but full of knitted sock patterns. Socks are a staple of every knitters repertoire: they knit up quickly, are easily portable, and are easier to fit than a sweater.

This set is a perfect gift – if you can bear to give it away. Contained within the sturdy box are twenty cards, each with an individual pattern on it. Each pattern is written clearly, with all appropriate charts and pattern notes. The color photo for each sock is clear and well shot, and a close-up of the pattern is included as well. One of my favorite features is that each pattern includes a difficulty meter. Sure, you can read through a pattern and think, “piece of cake” – until you get halfway through and realize you have no clue what you are doing. An extra card includes instructions for special techniques that are not frequently used.

The card system is great. Rather than dragging around a huge book for one little pattern, you can just slip a card into your knitting bag and go. The cards are laminated for durability. This might be problematic for knitters who like to make notes on their patterns. I find a Post-It note fixes this problem.

There is a good variety of patterns here. Some are slight variations of standard patterns. Rib patterns with a twist are prevalent here, but there are also new takes on cables, basketweaves, zig-zags, and intarsia. Novelty socks include athletic socks, ruffled socks, and yoga socks. You should be able to find something for everyone in this set – man or woman, of any age and almost any foot size (you might need to do some math if you are knitting for Shaq, but standard sizes in this set go from child’s small to men’s large).

While socks are not the place for a first-time knitter to start, it is a good way for a knitter to start building their handmade sock wardrobe. Throw in a ball of sock yarn and a pair of needles, and you have the perfect gift.