The knitting of socks takes discipline. You can jump into it all willy-nilly without a care or a plan. I’ve done that. It doesn’t turn out well. I’m picky about how my hand knit socks fit on my fit. Actually I’m very picky. Among the 7 billion people who live on this planet, there are probably at least four who never notice when their socks slump down or sag in the toe or bind on the instep. I’m not one of them. And when I’m knitting socks for myself I want them to be just they way I like.
Getting socks just they way I like takes discipline. None of that wily-nilly stuff. None of that grabbing any old yarn and any old needles and letting the stitches fly. Save that attitude for when you make a scarf. For a nine year old boy. Who won’t notice anything besides its color.
In The Discipline of Knitting Socks there are a few steps to take before you actually start knitting socks.
Step 1) Get the right pattern.
Did I hear you say “hmmmm”? Yeah those are pretty interesting. There is some definite sock-itechture going on there.
This is Skew. Its a free pattern by Lana Holden. The whole sock is knit on the bias and that heel is something I simply have to try.
Step 2) Get the right yarn
Did I hear you say “oooohhh”? Yeah its crazy beautiful hand dye that a friend of mine made. If she ever gets off her butt (she reads this blog, btw) and starts selling her stuff (and I’m taking this opportunity to nag her) then I’ll be sure and let you know.
Step 3) Get the right gauge.
Did I hear you sigh? Typical! lol Gauge haters are everywhere.One time I was sitting at the class table with a knitter, who had just described her efforts to test-cook in advance every single dish that she planned to served to her family for Thanksgiving Dinner… tell me she couldn’t bother with knitting a little swatch before starting her sweater.
I don’t get it.
But gauge is key to getting a sock to fit right, so I swatch. If you are at all open to the idea of spending 30 teensy-weeny minutes to get the right gauge before launching on a week or more of knitting… be sure to knit that swatch in the way you have to knit the project. I’m making my socks in the round (obviously!) with magic loop. So my swatch has to be in the round, magic loop.
Step 4) Break the yarn into two balls.
I make socks two-at-a-time. Always. Its the only way I can get a pair done. For these socks I’m magic-looping so I’ll have both socks on one set of needles. But even when I make socks on double pointed needles, I make them two at a time. I have a sock going on one set of dpns and a second sock going on another. So the yarn has to be rewound into two half-balls and that’s okay because winding yarn is fun!
Okay. Now I can get started actually knitting socks.
It might seem like a lot of fuss and botheration but knitting socks is serious business. You’re with me on that, right? Right.
"There is no failure. Only feedback." - Robert Allen
18 Comments on "The Discipline of Knitting Socks"
Hi Jenn! I made these socks two at a time. BTW, you will need to separate them and knit each one separately through the heel part. Each of the socks twists a different direction, I couldn’t figure out how to do both heels at the same time without getting the yarrn all confused.
On the Trickery – I was the one done with the wrap a couple of weeks ago. I’ve since had it blocked. I don’t currently have a Ravelry project page, but I’m working on it so that I can share the finished project
I did notice that there are separate instructions for the right & left heel. No biggie. if I have to move a sock over to dpns to turn the heel I will. I’m sure when I get to that part I’ll be knitting at home, behind a closed door where bad kitties and the rest of the world can’t get to me. Thanks for the heads up.
And I’mm looking forward to seeing your Trickery.
Absolutely – I am a sock making newbie but really there is nothing better!
No there really isn’t. Once you had a pair of hand knit socks on your feet the store bought ones are just never good enough.
Those socks are to die for! I love socks almost as much as I love hats. Since I don’t currently knit I’ve been seriously contemplating trying to crochet a pair. Been studying some patterns. I know you are primarily a knitter, but have you ever crocheted a pair of socks? I have some sock yarn in my “inherited” stash I think I’ll play with before I make a serious investment.
I have tried several crochet sock patterns. I didn’t care for them and its one of the reasons I learned to knit in the first place: to make better socks.
But here is a basic pattern for toe-up crochet socks in sock yarn that I think is the best out there. You have to be diligent with markers as go go because its based on short row shaping. But give it a try and let me know what you think.
http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/89746.aspx
Oh wow great pattern! I will be trying those socks. Thank you so very much for the link. I like the toe up construction and stitch markers are just a necessary evi with some crochet patterns. I’ll let you know they turn out. Too many irons in the fire ….not enough time lol.
Happy to help!
1. I am one of those “we don’t need no stinking swatch” people. I just change the needles or stitch count to get to what I know usually works. I figure if there is a big fail they will be gifts or bed socks.
2. If you make both socks at the same time how can you wear the first one while you knit the second?
3. I was a problem in school too. 🙂
Yes but you can get away with that attitude because you are a very fast knitter! lol I’ve read your blog ya know and I see how quickly you can crank out a shawl. But when you’re as slow as me, ya gotta make every stitch count!