We Have Sock Off! (Edited To Add Picture)

Woo Hoo! I have finished my first ever sock, and it is off the needles!!!

I am so proud of myself. I never once felt like giving up, even though I know that there are several mistakes in this sock - I goofed up a couple of times in the ribbing, didn't pull my stitches tight enough in a couple of places, down by the heel on one side I somehow didn't join it quite right because there are a couple of little holes there, and I think I grafted the toe area just a tad bit too tight (I managed to drop a stitch and only noticed it after I had done the grafting and had to somehow pick it up and sew it so that there wouldn't be a hole there, so there is a little bump in that part). Also, I wasn't sure how exactly to end the grafting so I tied a knot that I am hoping will stay and threaded the yarn back through. Honestly, if I were to put it through the wash, I don't know if it would stay together LOL (that's one of my biggest fears of anything I make though). Oh, and after turning the heel, I somehow mixed up the needles and I thing I ended up with the seams backwards, but I don't know for sure.

I suppose I shouldn't be telling all my mistakes, but what can I say...I'm honest! Also, I think it's important that we talk about our mistakes and share what they are so that other knitters who are just starting won't feel so bad when they do the same things. We are all human and our first socks are not going to be perfect. To be honest, for a first sock I am quite proud of the way it turned out, mistakes and all. I know it is something I need to work on to improve, but for a first attempt I don't think I did all that bad.

Oh, and I discovered I was knitting backwards and inside out! Can you believe that? I am still really a novice with the dpn's (double point needles for those who don't know), having only knit a couple of mittens and they both were the same as the sock. I found out that I was starting at the back and working around counter clockwise instead of starting at the front and working clockwise...so, this might account for some of the mistakes I made. I also had to, after I was done, turn the sock 'inside out' so that the outside was on the outside.

Thankfully, I was checking out the Socks 101 link I have on my sidebar as I was working the sock and saw what I was doing wrong. I also credit that site with helping me to graft (I have never done that before, but still not entirely sure I did it the right way...might have mixed myself up with it some, but that is my fault and not the site's). So, if you are looking for a good link to help in making socks, check it out. As I said, the link is on my sidebar.

Ok, I have edited this post to add in a picture of the sock I have completed! I spotted another mistake at the heel...it shows purling instead of knitting because of the whole "insideout/backwards" way I was doing it. Really, I should have purled instead of knitted that row like I did with the bottom part of the heel. Live and learn I suppose, hehehe.
Like I said, for a first sock I am pretty pleased with it, mistakes and all.

I have also been working on the second sock, this time doing it the correct way and hopefully it won't be inside out and backwards...though if it is the right way, it shouldn't. However, I am finding this way VERY awkward and the seam between the first and third needle doesn't seem to be as tight as it should be. I guess it will take time to relearn how to hold the needles and use them the correct way. Once I get over that, it should go well...I hope. But, I am still not going to give up! Off to work on it some more...

Happy knitting!