Want to knit socks?
I’ve had some questions so I thought I’d post my answers in case anyone else was curious.
First, I wasn’t a complete novice knitter but had only done some really simple things (scarves, hats, baby afghans) and hadn’t done much knitting at all in the last 3 years.
I taught myself to knit about 4-5 years ago using one of those “teach yourself to knit visually” books.
I bought several books on sock knitting when I decided I couldn’t resist any them any longer but the books by Antje Gillingham have been the ones that I’ve learned how to knit socks from.
First I bought the book – Knitting More Circles Around Socks: Two at a Time, Toe Up or Cuff Down – thinking I was going to knit toe up socks but quickly decided that it might be easier to learn cuff down socks. I did knit my first pair from the instructions in this book as she has instructions for both.
The book I’m mainly using now is Gillingham’s first book Knitting Circles Around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles and it’s the one I’d recommend unless you’re planning to do Toe Up socks.
I’d never picked up stitches in knitting before and obviously hadn’t closed the toe of a sock with the Kitchener stitch and found a couple videos that helped with those parts. These video’s use the Magic Loop technique but they were still helpful.
I’m using two circular needles to knit and bought my needles and sock yarn at Knitpicks.com.
Finally a lot of people mentioned that they’d tried two socks at once and spent more time untangling yarn than knitting and there was one suggestion to put the yarn in separate baggies but I’ve got to say, I’m not having any problems with tangling — I just set both skeins in my lap and watch how I turn my work.
If you’re new to sock knitting — I suggest you do like I did and knit one sock at a time for the first pair or two until you’ve got a little experience under your belt before trying two at once.
So if you’ve been wanting to knit socks you should go ahead and try. I’m having a lot of fun with them.
Thanks for explaining everything, and your socks still rock!
Hi, first of all, I love coming to your blog. You have great quilts and stunning socks. I don’t know how you manage to finish everything so fast. May be your day is longer then mine. lol.
The Idea of knitting two socks at once is totally new to me. I have to check those books out. The only way I know how to knit socks is with 5 needles. Thanks for the tips.
Kerstin
That’s the key: just watch how you turn your work. Don’t you love Knit Picks sock yarn? I do.
Your tempting me again. Got to be strong and resist. Need to finish my hexagon quilt first. Ain’t I been good. haha.
Dear Mary, I think we must be twins separated at birth! LOL! Your experience with sock knitting is EXACTLY like mine, down to the letter! I bought that same book (KCAS II) and tried the toe up, gave up and went to one sock at a time, next did 2 at a time using the magic circle, and now doing the 2-at-a-time cuff down on 2 needles. (I really like this method the best.) I also ordered my yarn from KnitPicks. I’m working on my 3rd pair now… I have yarn for (gulp!) 7 more pair!! I think I have found a new addiction… yarn and sock knitting!!
Kat
Yay, socks! Who says you have to stick to just one thing?
Thank you so much!
There is a great online tutorial here:
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/
I learned to knit on both dpns and 2 circs from this tutorial.
Thanks for replying to me Mary-I know how busy you are-will look for the book you used-absolutely love your website and especially your blog and hearing about Chesty.