Socks

[Kellyh_01]

I'd like to knit socks.  I have yarn, patterns, and how-to books, but it still looks quite intimidating.  So even if I can figure it out, do people even like them?  A couple other women I've asked say that they're not very comfortable.  Are they a luxury or not worth the time?  

[zebra15]

I have 'fat feet'  I would love nothing more than a pair of house sox that fit... socks that dont dont cut off the circulation to my ankles.. socks that are wide enought to go over my legs...  YES I WOULD LOVE CUSTOM SOCKS

BTW I live in AZ so I would only need sox for about 6 wks of the year lol...

[mary3mama]

When I started knitting (only 2 years ago this month) I heard/read over and over that socks were 'so hard.' I was intimidated.

But you know what I discovered? They are not hard. 

Yes, it is more complicated than a scarf....but most everything is more complicated than a simple scarf. :D

Socks are knit from the same simple 'building block' stitches and techniques that are used in other projects.

Can you knit in the round -- either with double-pointed needles or circular needles? (I use magic loop and one circular but that is not a requirement to make socks.)

Do you know how to do short rows?

Can you do a kitchener stitch? 

You'll probably be instructed to use kitchener to close up the toe if you do a 'cuff-down' pattern.

I prefer toe-up socks...which I just learned how to make last month.

I find that the toe is much more durable (my husband keeps stressing his toes too much and popping that seam) with toe-up as there's no seam.

So if you want to do toe-up then you need to learn one of the cast-on techniques for that. I prefer 'Judy's magic cast on' which is illustrated beautifully by Cat Bodhi in a video. 

I posted a pattern for the toe-up socks I made for my daughter's birthday last month. I include the link here because it also includes a link to the video for that specific cast-on. Toe-up socks.

Lastly, you asked if handknits socks are comfortable. YES!

Well, like everything else, it depends on the yarn, the person and the finished product.

I am wearing these absolutely dreamy toe-up socks I made for myself a few weeks ago. They are made from a hand-painted, washable wool. The yarn itself was a dream to work with...felt like silk even though it was mostly wool. And, as expected, the socks feel as awesome on my feet as they yarn felt when it was passing through my fingers.

If the yarn feels good to work with, it is more likely to feel good when you wear the finished product. 

Also, I have found that the smaller the needle I use the more comfortable the socks are. Larger needles (though knitting is faster) create larger stitches and walking on those bigger 'bumps' isn't always as comfortable. 

Sorry for such a long post. I am just a big fan of handknit socks and wanted to help set you up for a better chance of success.

I've committed to making myself 1 new pair of handknit socks a month for this whole year. I like them that much.

Of course my whole family loves my handknit socks too....so I may not get much else done for the next few months. ;)

[Shantimama]

I love knitting socks - and I love wearing handkint socks too!

The hardest part of sock knitting is getting started. Those first few rounds can be awkward but once you have an inch or so of knitting on the needles it is fine. None of the steps in sock construction are difficult, there are just several to remember. Having a good pattern or instruction book beside you makes it straightforward.

Handknit socks that don't fit are uncomfortable but it isn't hard to make them fit properly. The biggest mistake I made at the beginning was making them too big, without any negative ease, so they were floppy and loose. Now that I make them at a tighter gauge they not only fit better but they last longer!

There are hundreds of gorgeous socks yarns available. Knit Picks has several inexpensive sock yarns if you want to give them a try without investing $20-$30 in a pair of socks.

Making a mini-sock by only casting on 24 stitches will give you a chance to try all of the techniques without using as much time or yarn. You can always give them away as a newborn gift when you are done!

[bandyr]

I was REALLY intimidated by sock knitting for years.  Even after taking a class - successfully! - on knitting a complete sock.  One thing that helped was to take a simple pattern and look at each component.  I realized at each step that, yes, I could do that!  The first socks I've knit were children's socks with a worsted weight yarn using a very basic pattern.  You can do it!  The more involved parts of the pattern are now the fun parts - the rest is boring unless you doing some kind of lace pattern.  Go for it! 

[34me]

I love knitting socks. So far I have only done a basic pattern but I've done it 8 times . If you google "silver's sock class" she has a wonderful step by step tutorial on her blog. You too can feel the sock love!

[Kellyh_01]

Thank you all so much!  I feel excited to try it now.  I'll let you know how it goes...

[hhmomma72]

Sock knitting rules!  I taught a class a few times and it's so exciting to walk a person through their first pair of socks...

[Knittin Mama]

Socks are waaaay fun, and comfy too!  I'd recommend Toe up 2 at a time by Melissa Morgan Oakes, fun patterns, great instructions as well as photos as you go along.  I wholly agree with the small/infant/test sock plan, and Cat Bordi is a genius!  Check out her videos on Youtube, it's the only way I can keep short rows straight in my head.  I got a little behind on my knitting this year and instead of socks, like I had planned, everyone just got to preview their pretty sock yarn with a promise of socks to come later in the year.  Ah well, we still have a few months left of cold weather here so I'm good to go!  Have fun!

[Shantimama]

Socks are nice to knit in the summer when you don't really want a sweater in your lap but you still want to keep knitting!

[tabstha]

I know this is an old post but.....

I love The Yarn Harlot's Book called Knitting Rules *I think.  My sister, mom and myself all have a copy and her basic pattern is one I use all the time.  It's good!  We all love it.  :)