She posed some questions last week regarding sock knitting history, and I am only getting around to posting my answers now. Yeah, I'm a day late and a dollar short I know...LOL!
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I started making socks in January of this year (2006). I had been wanting to learn to knit socks for awhile now, but was scared to - they looked so hard! I bought some sock yarn and used the pattern on the wrapper. I also used a couple of online sources for the whole kitchener stitch experience.
What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
These are my first socks, over to the right. I love the colours, especially the purple. They've held up not too shabbily, though to be honest I've only worn them a couple of times. You see, the first one of the pair was knit inside out! Yeah, common mistake I was told. Anyway, when I turned it right side out and put it on (the tutorial I was using said to continue knitting it inside out and then turn when finished), the seems showed - enough so that it was extremely noticeable (even though inside out the seems would have been fine). Also, somehow on the heel flap, at the beginning, I messed up and it ended up with the first row purled. However, I have worn them in sneakers a couple of times and if I showed them to anyone, I made sure to show them the one that was fine - the second of the pair).
What would you have done differently? Well, I would not knit a sock inside out and expect it to look fine. It doesn't. I would have also used a smaller needle (these were done on the 3.0mm stated in the pattern).
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? Well, I have only used Patons Kroy, which I liked; Bernat Sox, which was also nice to work with; and Knit Picks Memories (to be honest, I only have one sock completed with that so far), which I also like.
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I have never crocheted socks. I don't think I would like to either, because I like to knit them, and I also like the look of the knitted sock. I use DPNs, but would like to try the two socks on two circulars as I have a DVD for it and would like to try that sometime soon. I've never tried the Magic Loop method.
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) I have never done a short row heel, but I do enjoy making the heel flap. Some time I might have to try the short rows though.
How many pairs have you made? Since I learned this past January, I have made 11 1/2 pairs of socks - not all for me either.
15 comments:
Good to see your history! Your first socks look pretty good from here!
LOL great sock history! i am sure you're upsed about the whole inside out thing.. that would make me mad too! thanks for the comment on my blog i was just checking to see if you'd posted!
I'm on my third pair of socks. My first pair are slightly baggy, but nice and warm.
My second pair are HUGE for my son, who has large feet, black and plain and very boring. He needed black and plain for work.
I'm now using Opal Dreamcatcher in Apricot and grey colourway, and Jaywalker pattern and I'm loving every minute of it.
Your first pair look much better than my first pair do.
i love reading everyones sock history! yours is great!
I had fun reading your answers. I also knitted my first sock inside out . . . and held the work upside down - with the work on TOP of the needles. It was also my first time using the dreaded double points and I didn't have a clue!
Thanks SOOOOOOO much for the links to the those cool blog skin sites! They are so cool! Now I just have to pick one.
Oh, I'm really enjoying the Knittin' Mittens KAL!
I'm impressed that you've knitted so many socks already! Enjoy!
wow you've made alot of socks!! and i think i only have 2 1/2 pairs under my belt. not including my very first sock, which was such a fugly big disaster. =P
i can see you are now a sock addict. ( i would be, but the needles are so darn small)
To be honest, only 4 of the 11 pair are adult sized. The rest are either children or baby sized...but hey, those count too! LOL!
Isn't it astounding how many "sock knitting addicts" there are all over the world? And that we can share our experiences (whether they are good or bad)in a way that we can encourage and enlighten one another. It's wonderful "knowing" so many of you.
That's a lot of socks, Shelley! I'd like to try the 2 circs method, too. You'll have to let me know how you like it. :0)
Hmm, maybe one inside out sock and one right side out sock will become the fashion. You never know -- they were wearing their sweatshirts inside out in the 80s!
That aside, I think your first pair of socks look great! I love the contrasting heels and ribbing.
Wow ... 11 1/2 socks since January is pretty darn good. In fact it's GREAT! Okay so they were mostly baby size ... there's still heels, turns, & toes to do on all of them, LOL.
I enjoyed reading this!Wow...11 1/2 pair, thats great. I remember that you shared some of the 'how to's on your blog..I always appreciate that. A few weeks ago I taped a segment of 'Knitty Gritty' that showed a sock being knitted, so I'm hoping next time I get going to try again, I will have success.
It's getting cooler in the UK so knitted socks would be great to keep the toes from turning blue! :)
In Jesus,
Maria Toth
www.inhishands.co.uk
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