When I finish this post, I will do a second post with the link box for your socks. This one is going to be long enough that you won’t want to scroll all the way through it to get to the link box.
Here are the socks I’m wearing today!
Sockotta Socks
These are the very first socks I ever made and they’re over 6 years old! They’ve faded a bit but otherwise, they’re in excellent shape. In this blog post, I talked about my beginning efforts at sock knitting. I still think of Susan every day — either because I’m knitting socks or wearing beautiful socks I’ve knitted. As much as I wanted to learn to knit socks, I’m not sure when I would ever have taken the time to do it it but when Susan sent me that package and said “Do it!” . . well, I had to do it! You never know how some small thing you do for someone might be a life changing event and though it isn’t like curing cancer or anything to that degree, knitting socks has been a wonderful experience. I love knitting them. I love wearing them. I love giving them as gifts and . . I love shopping online for sock yarn! Thank you again, Susan!
There’s hardly a day that goes by that someone doesn’t write me and say they want to knit socks. Here’s my advice: It’s yarn and needles! It’s not brain surgery. If you try and you don’t like it or you mess up, no one is injured or scarred for life. You can throw it all in the trash or give it to someone else to try.
There are so many you tube videos that will help you get started, help you turn the heel, do the kitchener stitch . . there’s no reason not to try it if it’s something you think you want to do.
Be prepared for failure .. maybe! I had not knitted since I was in college and I made so many mistakes. I didn’t know how (and still don’t) to unravel back to a mistake without unraveling the whole thing and starting over. I’ll be I ripped the first sock back to the very beginning and had to cast on again at least 10 times. I was better by the second sock and probably had to rip it out maybe 3 times. I remember getting so frustrated and Vince saying “Please . . just give up. You’re not ever going to get it!” Oh . . that was all he needed to say. I knew I could . . I just didn’t know if I had enough years left.
This yarn is so durable . . it was ripped out and re-knitted so many times and it’s held up through over 6 years of wear.
If you’re one wanting to knit socks, tell yourself right now that you’re going to do it! You’re going to somewhere before the weekend is over and get some yarn and needles or you’re going to order what you need to get started. As far as beginner yarn, the Sockotta that I started with is good. The Opal is good and there’s still some on sale at Simply Sock Yarn.
Say you decided to go with this yarn. In the description, you will see that it knits up to 8 stitches per inch on a U. S. #1 needle. That is a 2.25 mm, which is the needle size I most often use with sock yarn and I would order these.
As far as patterns, I like the Socks for the Family booklet by Yankee Knitter. There are many basic patterns out there. That’s the one Susan sent me and I’ve stuck with it all these years. You can knit toe up or cuff down. You can use double point needs, or various methods with circular needles. There are so many options!
It’s kind of a guessing game to start with until you know how tightly you will knit but just do something and get started and then show us your pictures!
I love to see your. Jeans, I live in them, dressing up to cords occasionally. They are just perfect for everyday living. And your socks are a perfect “go with”.
Thanks Judy for encouraging us to just do it. I’m getting closer with each attempt. I’m going to set sock knitting as a goal for this year. I’d like to knit some for my sister who has cold feet year round. Hand knitted socks make lovely gifts.
Funny, I was wishing yesterday I could pick your brain on how you started knitting socks! Thanks for the encouragement. I will start this weekend.
I started knitting socks (toe-up, two at a time) after one of your blog posts and now I’m addicted! They are so much fun, to make and give as gifts. The patterns are logical, once you get the hang of them.
I keep a basic pair on the needles when visiting relatives. While we’re chatting, I knit round and round. By the end of the visit, I might have a gift for our host!
Thanks for your nudge to knit socks!
Joanna
I struggled at first as well – but after FOUR YEARS I finally knit TWO PAIR OF SOCKS in 2012. I was so elated. The PROBLEM is that I won’t wear them…..I just LOOK at them……….isn’t that crazy????
sao in Midlothian, VA
You are in my head again, Judy! I was reading my sock knitting book last night and seriously considering giving it a shot. I am determined THIS is the year I knit socks!
It is just weird how you talk about things I am talking about or thinking about. Freaky weird!
I started knitting sock about 3 years ago.
I was never sure about working with 4 DP needles at once.
But thanks to thinking “if Judy can do it so can I.”
I have knitted 10 pairs of socks so far. I am currently working on the match for pair 11. (I have yet to knit a pair for my self)
It still takes me 3 or 4 tries to get the sock started, but I figure maybe after my 20th pair I’ll get it right the on the first try.
I have knitted baby sweaters for all the new baby’s in our family for the past 32 years, but I have found knitting sock’s more relaxing. I always wounded why my Grandmother always had a pair of socks going now I understand.
My biggest disappointment is in colour choices. I’m allergic to wool. I have found some nice non wool yarns but the colors are nothing compared to the color you find in yarns made with wool.
I signed up for a beginning knitting class today. Hopefully, I will be able to knit socks soon. Everyone’s socks are so cute.
I’ve knitted 3 pair of socks and love them. But the first pair wore out in the heel very quickly and I’m afraid to really use the others. Do you do anything special for the heel?
I learned to knit socks as a very young girl, then picked it up about eight years ago (for a while), and then started again when you started blogging about it. I love knitting socks! This last Christmas I made nice comfy wool bed socks for all my siblings — and they loved them. Thanks for getting me back into sock knitting.
Thank you for the encouragement Judy!!!!
Can’t wait to show my first pair of socks!!!
You got me knitting socks! I hadn’t knit anything in decades, but I was reinspired by reading your sock posts. Now, I am hooked and my bank account is much smaller! LOL!
I will finish a pair for my husband tomorrow. Can I post a picture of HIS feet in his new socks? ROFL!
Ha! We just watched a movie, and I had my ‘puter open on my lap the whole time. Now I have a long list of a “wish list” at the Loopy Ewe, I have signed up for their newsletter, etc… I’m looking for a place in Portland, Oregon, to take a knitting class…
Thanks… A LOT!
LOL!
BLM
Judy, just found this post since On this date I was at a quilting retreat. I knitted 4 pair last year and have a pair of tube socks on the needles right now. They are the first tube socks I have tried and it was a free pattern from Patrons? You have inspired me alot with the knitting so thanks. Have you knitted tube socks, someone said they might not stay up. Let me know, thanks Paula in KY