Good on you Kavitha for giving newbie sock knitters some encouragement!! As well as guidance for how to get the fit of their sock dreams! I have always been activated by a challenge. So, socks were a 'Got to try that!' soon after learning to k2p2.😃 Back in the day - that meant learning to use dpns (and then finding shorter dps and not being afraid of dropping stitches). And of course, I had to add the challenge of knitting a pair of argyles! Luckily I had some very good instructions, and my biggest challenge was getting comfortable with the needles and learning how to prevent laddering while keeping even tension. I do think making heavier weight socks are easier when learning to do these things. Now a days, I like to save old pairs of hand knit socks by saving the leg parts and remaking the lower foot part. It goes surprisingly fast by opening up a row a little above the ankle and threading the stitches on to your needles and reknitting a new foot! For fun I sometimes make the foot bright yellow or red because these colors seem to 'feel' warm. 😄
Thank you so much for your kind words and sharing your first sock experience, Sandy. Argyles for the first pair sounds amazing, but that's what sock knitting does to us, right? We want to try everything right away. 😄 Omg, I have only recently found 5" dpns and I am so happy to be knitting with them. Lately, I was not loving all the sliding needed for magic loop. Wow, you just blew my mind with "saving the leg " and re-knitting the foot idea.
Yay!! I am so glad you liked the graphic and the post. That's excellent. All the very best for your sock knitting and don't forget to show us your lovely makes!
That’s such a helpful and interesting read! I was very relieved to read that the first pair of socks doesn’t fit well, I thought I was the only one. I later unravelled that first pair and re knitted it and it fitted perfectly thereafter. I have come a long way since, I now knit socks for my entire family, ( I maintain a knitting journal with everyone’s foot measurements and other details of every pair of socks that I knit) colorwork ones too and they all love them. As you say it’s a perfect on the go project and great for TV knitting too. It’s nice to knit a pair of socks after any complicated design that one knits. All in all knitting socks is fun!
Oh, thanks for weighing in Navneet! I wrote that sentence about first pair not fitting and was concerned for a bit too. Am I really being encouraging to others here? 😅 But then sometimes it helps to hear the real facts as they are. It relieves us of high expectations and perfectionism which can completely stop us from even trying! Omg, your journal sounds so detailed. I'd love to see it some day.
Would love to show you my journal; maybe someday we shall meet. Rather than being discouraging I feel being realistic takes the pressure off a newbie where knitting the first pair is concerned.
This is such a helpful breakdown! I'm relatively new to knitting, and while I feel like I've mastered the basics and can knit flat projects with some degree of confidence, I'm not sure how to jump into more complex projects like socks and sweaters, which I'd really like to do. Do you have any suggestions for in-between kinds of projects that could teach me some of the skills (like knitting in the round) to help me learn what I need to know, or should I just pick a simple sock or sweater pattern and jump in?
I am so glad it is helpful. Thank you for letting me know! I'd suggest a a simple cowl project to learn knitting in the round. Or a hat where you would practice decreases as well. Tackling these would be helpful before you attempt small circumference knitting (socks, mitts, sweater sleeves). For sweaters, you could try a baby garment to practice a few skills before attempting it on adult size. Good luck with your knitting journey.
hee hee - Let me clarify. Doing argyles came a little later. That would have been overwhelming to begin with. I hear you on using the shorter dpns. Once we have grown use to them, we don't even think about them anymore. Accept perhaps making sure that we don't lose one! Where is that other needle ....? 😊
Good on you Kavitha for giving newbie sock knitters some encouragement!! As well as guidance for how to get the fit of their sock dreams! I have always been activated by a challenge. So, socks were a 'Got to try that!' soon after learning to k2p2.😃 Back in the day - that meant learning to use dpns (and then finding shorter dps and not being afraid of dropping stitches). And of course, I had to add the challenge of knitting a pair of argyles! Luckily I had some very good instructions, and my biggest challenge was getting comfortable with the needles and learning how to prevent laddering while keeping even tension. I do think making heavier weight socks are easier when learning to do these things. Now a days, I like to save old pairs of hand knit socks by saving the leg parts and remaking the lower foot part. It goes surprisingly fast by opening up a row a little above the ankle and threading the stitches on to your needles and reknitting a new foot! For fun I sometimes make the foot bright yellow or red because these colors seem to 'feel' warm. 😄
Thank you so much for your kind words and sharing your first sock experience, Sandy. Argyles for the first pair sounds amazing, but that's what sock knitting does to us, right? We want to try everything right away. 😄 Omg, I have only recently found 5" dpns and I am so happy to be knitting with them. Lately, I was not loving all the sliding needed for magic loop. Wow, you just blew my mind with "saving the leg " and re-knitting the foot idea.
I adore your learning curve graphic! So clever and true. I'm about to dive into the world of sock knitting, and your post was timely and encouraging!
Yay!! I am so glad you liked the graphic and the post. That's excellent. All the very best for your sock knitting and don't forget to show us your lovely makes!
That’s such a helpful and interesting read! I was very relieved to read that the first pair of socks doesn’t fit well, I thought I was the only one. I later unravelled that first pair and re knitted it and it fitted perfectly thereafter. I have come a long way since, I now knit socks for my entire family, ( I maintain a knitting journal with everyone’s foot measurements and other details of every pair of socks that I knit) colorwork ones too and they all love them. As you say it’s a perfect on the go project and great for TV knitting too. It’s nice to knit a pair of socks after any complicated design that one knits. All in all knitting socks is fun!
Oh, thanks for weighing in Navneet! I wrote that sentence about first pair not fitting and was concerned for a bit too. Am I really being encouraging to others here? 😅 But then sometimes it helps to hear the real facts as they are. It relieves us of high expectations and perfectionism which can completely stop us from even trying! Omg, your journal sounds so detailed. I'd love to see it some day.
Would love to show you my journal; maybe someday we shall meet. Rather than being discouraging I feel being realistic takes the pressure off a newbie where knitting the first pair is concerned.
This is such a helpful breakdown! I'm relatively new to knitting, and while I feel like I've mastered the basics and can knit flat projects with some degree of confidence, I'm not sure how to jump into more complex projects like socks and sweaters, which I'd really like to do. Do you have any suggestions for in-between kinds of projects that could teach me some of the skills (like knitting in the round) to help me learn what I need to know, or should I just pick a simple sock or sweater pattern and jump in?
I am so glad it is helpful. Thank you for letting me know! I'd suggest a a simple cowl project to learn knitting in the round. Or a hat where you would practice decreases as well. Tackling these would be helpful before you attempt small circumference knitting (socks, mitts, sweater sleeves). For sweaters, you could try a baby garment to practice a few skills before attempting it on adult size. Good luck with your knitting journey.
Thanks! I have a baby due this fall, so sounds like a baby hat and sweater will be good projects to try next!
hee hee - Let me clarify. Doing argyles came a little later. That would have been overwhelming to begin with. I hear you on using the shorter dpns. Once we have grown use to them, we don't even think about them anymore. Accept perhaps making sure that we don't lose one! Where is that other needle ....? 😊
I went around the house looking for my 5th needle just yesterday. 🤦🏻♀️ So grateful for Brittany dpns that had 6 in a pack. 😅