Soooo, should I try and knit some socks? i feel intimidated...

[jobnockey]

... but i feel i should try. How hard is it? I have only just got my head around using a circular needle and have always been a bit scared of usings DPNs...

Shall i give it a go or will it drive me round the bend? (I am a novice/intermediate knitter... trying to be more adventurous than hats and jumpers...)
Tips and encouragement/discouragment welcomed!

[jobnockey]

ooh just logged in after the weekend away. I am taking the plunge right now and will report back one I have cast on...

[BornToFolk]

Don't be Daisy! Sock yarn doesn't count. It's similar to how Fun Size chocolate bars contain no calories...

What did you buy?

Go jobnocky!

[Daisybell1]

It counts, its DK

It's King Cole Moods - I got the red, brown, black and blue to make a pair each for my family

[FlamingoBingo]

Finished my Dad's Christmas present socks! Just got to finish MIL's now, and then I'm done for Christmas sock-making...as soon as I've got everything else done, I'll be back on socks for definite! I love them!

[TwoJackRussellsandababy]

I'm going to slightly cheat in that i want to finish up some socks I've been pottering away at since the summer, but they are socks so that should count yeah?

[KnottyLocks]

You lot are pesky! Got bloody socks on the brain now

[droitwichmummy]

of course they count! We all have lonely socks waiting for a friend

[FlappingToad]

How do you know which size of circular needle to use, please?

Inspired by this thread, I would love to have a go at knitting huge fat socks out of chunky wool.

[MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain]

The needle size will depend on which wool you use, and what gauge you get, Flapping Thicker wool will need bigger needles but you might want to use a slightly smaller needle than you would use to make a jumper out of the same wool, IYKWIM

eg for standard sock yarn/4ply you would usually knit a cardi on 3.25mm but probably use 2.75 for the ribbing/edges. Socks you would generally knit on 2.75mm in this wool but you might need different size if you knit very loose or extra tightly.

[jobnockey]

Okay, well im twelve rows in to my ribbing and so far so good. Dpns are easier than a circular I reckon! Only problem is how bloody fiddly it is on these tiny needles. Last few things ive knitted have been really chunky so it feels very different. However, my socks have begun... Huzzah!

[FlappingToad]

Thankyou MoaningMinge. I will have a bash on different sized needles. If it all gets out of hand then they will do for Christmas stockings.

[MintCakeMavis]

Right, you've convinced me that my life is missing knitted socks.

I have 2 hour and a half train journeys on Thursday and no children, husband or friends with me so I've printed the ribbed sock pattern linked above and dug out 100g of 4ply from my stash and I will attempt socks.

I may have to curb the amount of swearing that usually accompanies new knitting techniques as I'll be in public but I can make up for that on something else.

[jobnockey]

Sock news: I am about a third of the way down the main body of my first sock. Very impressed with myself so far. have read ahead in the pattern however and feel a bit scared about the next stage, hopefully a sock expert will be around here to talk me through it...

[MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain]

I did manage to turn the heel on my one sock I have knitted before.

All I would say is, don't think about it too much, just follow the instructions, it will be fine. I am now doing two test knits on Rav so a bit tied up for now They are beginners/easy patterns though.

[MintCakeMavis]

Good sock news here too. I've got 2 inches into my first ever sock and learnt the magic loop method with no swearing or anything. It was v satisfying. But I must finish DDs jumper before any more sock knitting otherwise it will be too small.

I think next year everyone will have socks for their Christmas presents.

[Daisybell1]

Am onto the foot of first sock. Heel successfully turned but ribbing has ended up lop-sided so have a big lump of knit on one side, and a lump of purl on the other side. Will have to knit 2nd one the same way so they match...

[sunnysunnyshine]

Sounds like everyone's doing well with their socks! :)

I'm about to start the heel. Been looking at YouTube tutorials for wrap and turn but I'm still a bit confused. Guess I should just go for it!

[MrsHoarder]

Turn is easy. You just stop and go in the other direction. Like you are at the end of the row.

I'm nearly at the toe on my stocking. With minimal frogging [bsmile]

[FlamingoBingo]

Have now completed MIL's socks too! I am a happy sock-knitter...except that I have no more socks planned for Christmas so none on my needles right now . Looking forward to having done all my Christmas knitting so I can cast on another pair of socks - one for me this time I think!

[Wolfiefan]

Oooooh socks on MN. Reigniting my passion after a pair that went pear shaped for my sis and suffering second sock syndrome for my pair!

[sunnysunnyshine]

Stupid question alert!...

I'm shaping the heel (w&t) and pattern says to work 1 stitch fewer every 2 rows.
If this means every other row then surely the decrease will just be on 1 side only?
Or can someone explain when exactly I should be decreasing my stitch? Is it the end of every other row? It can't be can it?

Help pleaseeeeeeeee!

[Viviennemary]

That seems like a very unclear instruction. What pattern are you using. If nobody on here can help, I recommend Phoenix Knitting Forums. Somebody will always answer a question and they have a whole section on sock knitting.

[FlamingoBingo]

That does sound very unclear. What does 'w&t' mean? What sort of heel are you doing? Do you have a link to the pattern?

[MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain]

w&t is usually wrap and turn.

So 1 st less each row means, for example,
sl1, p11
Sl1, k11
Sl1 p10
Sl 1 k10 there should be a k2tog or a p2tog at the ends of some of those I think, the 2 together is one of the stitches you are working plus another from across the gap, IYKWIM

[FlamingoBingo]

That's a short row heel then, isn't it? Same as yarn over? Odd that it says at the end of every 2nd row. Is it a free pattern? Can you copy and paste the actual instructions? Or link to the pattern?