I would not have guessed two years ago that I would fall in love with sock knitting. Why would I want to spend hours knitting something I can buy for $3, and no one's really going to look at anyway? Well. Maybe because handknit socks are simply not the same thing as store-bought cotton socks. They're not meant to be hidden inside your tennis shoes -- they are an accessory!I made my first pair back when I was still fighting PPD. Last year was a slow year for knitting, but I finished the above pair right after Christmas. I'm working on another pair in the same yarn for my middle sister, 'cause she liked it so much.
Scott gave me two skeins of really soft wool/possum sock yarn for Christmas, and I'm halfway done with the first sock in the brown/orange/purple colorway below. I'm still a pretty lazy knitter. Give me some pretty yarn and a simple pattern -- I'm too easily distracted by my noisy children to follow anything too fancy. Just a basic ribbed cuff, thanks.
The nice thing about knitting socks is that you can tuck a ball of yarn and some little double-pointed needles into your purse, and get a lot done while at the dentist's office. I've been at the dentist a lot recently, if you hadn't noticed. A few minutes in the waiting room, a few more in the office while the assistant sets things up, twenty minutes while the novacaine sets in... and you have a few inches of sock knitted.
Last weekend my friend Marlene and I headed downtown to our favorite local yarn shop to take a class on knitting socks from the toe-up. So far, I've done the traditional ankle-down variety. I'm not sure yet that I like knitting up any better, but there are a few advantages. For one, you can see exactly what size the foot is as you go. And I suppose it'll be easier to gauge when I'm halfway through my skein so I can get the longest cuff possible.
I'll let you know how the toe-up ones turn out when I'm finished.
I also started a little knitting project for my baby's third birthday. It's from this issue of Living Crafts. I LOVE that magazine! I'll share more as it comes together. And I'm wondering what this hat would look like on me in that blue/green/brown colorway in the picture above. My youngest sister gave me that for Christmas, and I haven't decided what to make yet.
(P.S. This is the Knitty.com article that got me started knitting socks!)
18 comments:
I've only made one pair of socks so far, for my husband, and it took forever. I was working on a pair of stockings for myself awhile ago, and I think it is around here somewhere, but I got bored with it.
Could I please place my order for a pair of those cute socks, please.
I think that if I could knit, I'd want to knit socks as well!
Very cute!! When I was little, my Grandma taught me how to knit the chain stitch, and I used to do that for hours, making these long chains, that I never did anything with, hehe.
Makes me wish I could kit, but I can't and people have tried to teach me and it ain't happening. :) I will stick with painting striped socks.
Cute socks! I just learned how to knit in January, but my goal is to be able to knit some socks by the end of the year.
I just bought a pair of hand-knit socks for the insane price of $20, because I was given a pair from the same store as a present about 3 years ago, and those socks are still going strong. And, while I like the idea of supporting a local sock-maker, I think I like the idea of making my own even better!
Thank you for the inspiration, I must say your whole blog supports the lifestyle to which I aspire :-)
Karen
Love your socks! One of my knitting goals for this year is to try socks. Thanks for the inspiration:)
I just started knitting socks late last year, and I love it! Quick and small. And such a luxury.
CUTE!
I clicked onto your blog today and saw the pictures of your socks. I am knitting with the very same sock yarn right now!! I think they look like pirate socks.
Socks are the greatest to knit! I also love mitts, hats, and teddy bears. I knit my first sweater (a baby one) in January.
Your blog is great! I am so glad I stumbled across it!
***gasp***
you're making socks! that is so cool! i thought they were going to be too difficult to attempt, but your thoughts have changed my mind. i think i'm gonna try it!
sidenote: i too love living crafts magazine. i am a new subscriber, but with only 2 issues under my belt i already love it!
Those socks are awesome. I will be learning to knit for sure if only for just nice warm wooly socks.
They are soooo cute! And they look warm...hmmmm....I think you need an Etsy shop!
i love these. stripes make me so happy!
Funny we are getting addicted to socks at the same time... LOL
The reason I love socks is because is almost instant satisfaction, you can just finish a toe and already can start trying it on... The other reason is a little secret I learned from Wendy Johnson's blog, if you knit toe up you can divide one single skein into two equal balls by weighting as you make the second ball, so you knit the sock until you are out of yarn and you already know for sure you will have enough for a matching sock. This is a good reason to knit toe up, because you can make one skein socks. Usually they come out like ankle socks specially if you have a big foot (wink), but they are still very cute and comfy!
Most of all I knit socks because I feel like a million bucks when I wear them!
Welcome to SKA! (Sock Knitting Anonymous) LOL
Thank you for all the compliments! It is so funny how popular sock knitting is!!
These are just so CUTE!...I guess I'm going to have to branch out from the dishcloths I'm knitting :)
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