How hard is knitting socks?

[LunaLoveg00d]

I would describe myself as an intermediate knitter. Confident with all of the basics and with some of the more advanced stuff like following a chart, fair isle style knitting, lace work, cables etc.

Really fancy having a bash at socks. I know I'd need double pointed needles, everyone I speak to says "oh socks are SO easy" but I haven;t a clue where to start!

[CatherineDeB]

Sorry link

[CatherineDeB]

Craftsy have got a free 'Knit along 2016 - socks' class - more than two hours long and can be downloaded.

Still not sure I am taking electronics as I am not sure I want to be a) contactable other than in an absolute emergency (when DH's phone will do) and b) bothered with charging said electronics.

I am not leaving for a week so might actually get to grips with it, haven't done anything but wind my wool due to second migraine in two weeks.

Might be useful for other sock beginners.

[tribpot]

Vanilla is the New Black has a great heel that avoids picking up stitches - you have to do short rows, though, there's no getting away from that really.

You might also want to look at the German Short Row heel or the to avoid picking up stitches. You can also avoid this bit if you do toe-up socks instead of cuff-down.

[anorakgirl]

Shaping the heel made me cry last night, I couldn't get down to the right amount of stitches! Dreading picking up round the edge as it's not my strong point but I'm determined to give it a go.

[CatherineDeB]

Thank you Polter. I can knit in the round. I have bought the book, I buy too many books anyway so one more doesn't matter.

I probably won't take any electronics thinking about it, DH will have his phone and I can just take this book and a novel.

[CatherineDeB]

Oh no! How hard can they be? I don't knit anything too tricky generally, This was my last knit.

My internet connection at home is sloooow! I live a mile and a half down a track, engineer due tomorrow as we have no internet connection right now but even when we do it is crap so videos are not my favourite way to learn anything tbh.

[tribpot]

Liat Gat (knitfreedom.com) does actually do a video tutorial that you can download, if you want to take a look at that. It's not cheap (c. 20 quid) but I fear you may be struggling if you don't at least start before you disappear offline.

[CatherineDeB]

I really like winding wool, glass of wine, the bbc drama last night and my swift/nostepinne ..... No thought required.

I need to work out how to work the prime lending library and I will be off!

[WinwickMum]

Nice yarn to knit with, but you definitely need to wind it! I'm on a mission to get more sock yarn into yarn shops and the more people who knit socks and ask for it the better - plus it's all good for our farmers, mills and LYSs not to mention us! :)

[CatherineDeB]

Thanks, I have got Prime so I will do that. I have got a skein of Rowan Fine Art sock wool, the only sock wool in the shop I was in and a very bright colour, literally, one skein in the whole shop!

[WinwickMum]

No, the tutorials are just online but you can download the pattern which at least is something. There's a paperback and Kindle book version available on Amazon which contains the same information though set out by needle type rather than by sock section, and if you've got Amazon Prime you can borrow it for free. Have you bought a skein of yarn if you're just about to wind it?

[CatherineDeB]

Well, I have tried to post this without success but have got dpns for casting on and a tiny circular, wool that I am just about to wind!

I won't have a reliable internet connection though as we are cycle camping - is it possible to download the tutorial?

An too old for Facebook ... Not really but am not on it .

[WinwickMum]

Generally, for a 4ply sock you need 2.5mm needles which are too small to be included in the interchangeable sets - the thread is too tiny for the cables - so you need to use fixed circulars. My preference is for a 30cm needle, but you can use an 80cm one for magic loop instead if that suits you better.

There are free Sockalong tutorials on my blog (and thank you to everyone for the recommendations!) which cover everything from choosing the yarn and needles to knitting the sock and creating seam-free toes. If you're on Facebook we've got two lovely groups, one for support in knitting the basic sock pattern and the other for knit n natter chat - you can find those at Winwick Mum Sockalong and Winwick Mum Knit n Natter (imaginative, eh? ;) ).

Sock knitting is great, and socks are the perfect project for carrying about to after school clubs and if you don't get much time to sit and concentrate. Once you wear your own hand-knits, you'll never want to wear bought socks again! :)

[CatherineDeB]

My needle came today, 30cm circular stainless steel, I can't believe how tiny it is!

[amarmai]

Love knitting striped socks for cc to use up left over bits. I use any wool not just sock wool.

[CatherineDeB]

So, I have now bought dpns, a small circular and wool! I quite like these

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermiones-everyday-socks

Think I will be better off with a small circular when cycle camping, just in case!

[PurpleFrog]

My socks from Winwick Mum's pattern:

[CatherineDeB]

I bought some sock wool, really lovely, Rowan Fine Art.

Will look at videos when I get an Internet connection.

The lady in the wool shop told me that Rowan have gone bust! Sad news for a British firm.

[tribpot]

Nope, you can do the heel on a circular needle. No need to switch to DPNs.

[blackheartsgirl]

With the cicular needles don't you need to change to dpns at some point when you do the heel? I have tried and tried with dpns and I can't do it

[StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine]

I found mini circulars really hard on my hand - have some 40cm ones for hats, but really prefer 80cm for socks!

I have a high instep so knit a longer heel flap - it just means more rows of counting and decreasing for the wedgy bit! You can also adjust the toe decreases to suit the shape of your foot, trying on (and making notes) as you go along.

Hobbycraft sell the regia, if you're passing one.

I knitted my first ever pair in dark purple yarn. Made me realise it was time for varifocals!

These were the mostest beautifullest socks I ever made, from a Cokie A pattern. Unfortunately, what made them so beautiful (and snuggly) was a luxury cashmere blend sock yarn which felted just a little bit more every time I sneezed. Eventually gave up, put them into a hot wash and turned them into a valentine card!

[RachelLynde]

It's a lot of fun! Once you get going you'll find the sock grows quickly, it's very rewarding. Make sure you buy sock yarn though.

[LunaLoveg00d]

You don't need dpns or magic loop, you can buy mini circulars. They're only 23-30cm long.

My lovely DH bought me a very swish set of circular needles last Christmas, the sort with various lengths of cable and interchangeable tips. Sounds like they might do the job. I am shipping the kids off for a few nights next week to granny's so will spend some time on youtube then and see what I can manage.