Knitting Socks

Benefits of Knitting Socks

• Low cost
• Small, portable projects
• Quick to knit
• Lots of scope for customizing, adapting or creating individual patterns and methods

How Socks are Knitted

There are many different ways of knitting socks. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong', and most knitters develop their own style over time. Socks can be knitted 'top down' or 'toe up', worked ‘in the round’ on double pointed needles or ‘flat’ on two needles. Socks are knitted with different heel styles, and these can alter the finish of the sock. Generally when hand knitting socks, the socks are worked with a turned heel, giving the sock its classic ‘L’ shape.

Sock knitters are forever coming up with new and exciting methods for knitting socks. Some more experienced knitters knit two socks on the needles at the same time, or work on two circular needles instead of double pointed needles. It is hardly surprising that many sock knitters describe the craft as addictive!

Sock Knitting on the Internet

There is a wealth of information available on the Internet about sock knitting. There are discussion groups and forums dedicated to sock knitters, such as the Yahoo Group Socknitters. Many free patterns and instructions for knitting socks are also available. Online knitting and crochet magazines often publish patterns and articles about sock knitting, and these can be found in their archives.

In addition to finished patterns, there are also a number of ‘sock calculators’ available to use online or to download to a computer. These range from free online programs to purchased products. A sock calculator allows the knitter to create a sock that is completely customized. A few specific measurements are taken, fed into the program and a pattern is calculated and available for print. An example of a sock calculator is the Arachne Sock Calculator.

Sock Yarn

Sock yarns have become much more interesting over recent years. At one time, sock yarns were only available in single, muted colors. Today, there is a plethora of choices. One of the most popular yarns used when knitting socks is self-striping or self-patterning yarns. These clever yarns give the illusion of Fair Isle or other patterned stitches when worked. These are great fun to work with and give the opportunity to make brightly patterned socks without worrying about changing color or following complex patterns.

Sock yarn is otherwise known as ‘super fine yarn’, as defined by the Craft Yarn Council of America. Super fine yarn also includes fingering and baby weight yarns. These could be substituted for sock yarn as they will knit to a similar gauge.

There are many different types of yarn, wool being one of the most popular. Luxury yarns such as cashmere or cashmere blends are available and increasingly popular. However, it is important when choosing a yarn to consider the ease of looking after the finished item. Some luxury yarns have to be hand washed, making them impractical for socks.

Many sock yarns are made from ‘superwash’ wool, which means that it has been preshrunk. Thus, no fears of your socks shrinking or felting, and they are suitable for machine washing.

Needles

The knitting needles used for knitting socks are normal knitting needles. They are either double pointed needles for knitting in the round, straight needles for knitting flat, or circular needles for those knitters who like to work with two sets of circular needles.

Whilst any needles are suitable, many knitters like to work their socks with wooden or bamboo needles. When knitting on wooden or bamboo needles, the knitting is less likely to slip or fall off the needles. This is an important feature when knitting in the round and allows the knitter to work faster.

Tips for Making Socks

• Start with a simple pattern, with basic shaping.
• Join an online forum where you will meet lots of like minded people who are willing to share advice, experience and general support.
• Consider joining a ‘knit along’. These are when a group of people take part in knitting an item at the same time, and keep the group updated of progress on a forum or blog dedicated to the knit along.
• Keep a look out for free patterns and instructions from reputable websites. For instance, Interweave Knitting has a free pattern which includes illustrated instructions for the Norwegian Cast On and Kitchener Stitch used to graft the toes of the socks.