astitchisastitch posted: " Knitting socks is not a bad thing to know how to do. They make cute gifts, they don't take forever, and as with everything handmade, you have some control over quality and individual sizing. Not everyone enjoys knitting " A Stitch is a stitch
Knitting socks is not a bad thing to know how to do. They make cute gifts, they don't take forever, and as with everything handmade, you have some control over quality and individual sizing. Not everyone enjoys knitting them, some find working with 5 double-pointed needles cumbersome, and some may simply feel intimidated by the HEEL, the TOE, the whole PROCESS. Don't. I've taught it to friends before, it's not witchcraft, and entirely doable. So I thought I'd start the new year with producing some useful content ;-).
Now, don't go expecting a professional tutorial, okay? Writing tutorials isn't my specialty by any stretch – I feel much more comfortable around a recipe. Also there is tons of material online, fantastic books, videos etc. This method that I've been using for decades was explained to me over the phone, one winter night, by a classmate's mom, when in middle school. Go on, give it a try!
Utensils I'm using: Double-pointed knitting needles in 2,5mm and a rather skinny 4-ply sock yarn that I love. It comes in amazing colors, and the quality is really soft and a dream to knit with. For casting on, I always use four 2,5mm and one 3mm needle. It makes for an elastic, but not too loose border. For the rest of the sock, I will use five 2,5mm sock needles.
I've cast on 15 stitches on each needle, and am knitting a couple centimeters rib of 1 knit into back loop, 1 purl. Knitting into the back loop gives the rib a neat 3-D effect.
Above you can see the rib and the length of the sock on the calf, down to the ankle and heel. After the rib, I've decreased 1 stitch per needle, so as not to have the sock be too loose - rib fabric is obviously tighter than the stockinette, and losing 1 stitch will balance that out. 1 per needle!
Next, you make the heel. You will now knit only 2 of the needles, make an edge stitch at the beginning and the end, turn the work and purl on the wrong side, as you can see above. You will do this until you have 8 selvedge/edge stitches on the sides, see above.
On the second of the two wrong side needles, purl 6 stitches, then purl2 stitches together and turn the work to the right side. This will result in your continuing to knit the first of the two needles til the end. You will see a little knob forming – this is the beginning of your heel. On the second needle, knit 6 stitches, then knit 2 stitches together, and – you guessed it – turn the work to the wrong side.
Continue in this manner until you've created the heel, and there are 7 stitches left on both your needles. Work only on the right side from now on.
Now you will pick up the edge stitches from before. It creates a neater fabric if you twist the stitches when knitting them. Knit the two needles that remained unworked while you did the heel, picking up a stitch on each side to avoid holes in the corners. Don't worry, you will decrease these again later when making a small gusset on the ankle.
Pick up the edge stitches on the other side, and knit with a twist. Depending on the shape of the feet you're knitting for, you either need 14 or 15 stitches per needle. For this sock, I've gone with 14, same as for the calf part.
Knit in the round until you've reached the ball of the foot. If in doubt, make it a couple rounds longer. You don't want to make uncomfortable socks, quite the opposite in fact. Then, decrease for the toe.
1st needle: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit until end of needle. 2nd needle: Knit until last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1. 3rd needle: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit until end of needle. 4th needle: 2nd needle: Knit until last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1. That was your decrease round. Next, knit 4 rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 3 rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 2 rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Now, repeat decreate round until you have 2 stitches left on each needle. Knit 2 stitches together, drop 1 needle, knit 2 stitches together, drop 1 needle and pull the 1st stitch over the 2nd stitch, knit 2 stitches together, drop 1 needle, pull the 1st stitch over the 2nd stitch, knit 2 stitches together, drop 1 needle, pull 1st stitch over 2nd stitch until you have 1 loop left. Cut yarn and pull through last loop.
Congratulations: You have made a sock! Darn in threads, and cast on for the second sock ;-)).
This lovely chestnut specimen will go (as will the corresponding second one) to my young friend T, who asked for brown socks, to go with her chic new corduroys ;-)).
As for the holidays: I hope you had a lovely time and were able to get some rest – I know I did. The Christmas break was badly needed by all, and there was lots of hanging out in PJs, watching movies, cooking and eating, and taking advantage of the odd day of sunshine, and even catching a little snow. I feel ready for new challenges, and am eager to take on my next projects.
I wish you good health, happiness and joie de vivre. For the world in general there can only be one wish: Peace.
Thank you for checking in, and please let me know what you thought of the sock description?
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