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Attention All Sockknitters….

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OK. I need some encouragement here. Sock knitting is all the rage, has been for quite awhile. Not one to be left behind, I went to the LYS and found some really cool sock yarn ( I won’t divulge the brand name – it’s a pretty sure bet that this failure didn’t have anything to do with them). I already am in possession of at least 17 of each size needle in any length and configuration available so I didn’t need those, and I signed up (or verbally agreed to) the Knit A Pair Of Socks A Month program that a friend and I thought up. How hard could it be?
You know the routine, went home, hunted up the needles, and cast on.
Aprox 6 years later I had a pair of socks. They did not fit but I wore them anyway, after all they were handmade and all, not to mention the most expensive pair of socks I’ve ever owned.
And then I washed them.
And then I wore them (repeat no more than 6 times). And then the holes appeared. They were wearing thin in the heels. After 6 wearings. What did I do wrong?. Anyone? Why did they wear thin? I used sizes 1 and 0, why was the fabric all stretched out and not tight? (I do actually get the concept of “gauge”).

So, I’d like to try again. I’m nothing if not persistent and banging my head against the wall is one my favoite things to do.
And also because I found Flat Feet Yarn that looks good enough to eat! Seriously, have you seen it? Its by Conjoined Creations although You can also get it at Knittingzone.com and Paradise Fibers.net too. Bet it would even make an awesome bag! Have you seen this stuff? Go to Ravelry to see some of the outrageous designs!

 

So, your turn. Steer me toward the perfect pattern, perfect technique and perfect yarn. Give me hints, tips, techniques.. Anything. Talk me into trying again because I don’t have enough projects going yet.

I’m waitin…..

Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/

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Comments

  2. After 40 years since I last knitted a pair of socks, I have just finished a pair for my hubby. This time I made them without a heel, I guess you would call them tubesocks. But these are with a twist literally, they are spiral socks as the pattern spirals around the sock and so makes the sock fit perfectly. With the leftover from the ball I made a pair of baby spiral socks for my future grandchild. I will post that pattern tomorrow, but for now you can find the picture and pattern at my blog: http://dappledair.blogspot.com/2008/08/spiral-socks.html
    It is fun knitting socks, especially when watching TV.

  3. Thanks for letting people know about Flat Feet! We just got in the new Flat Feet Sock of the Month. We aren’t allowed to post pictures of it on our website. You can see pictures of it on Ravelry though. If you’re interested in the sock of the month give us a call 888-320-7746.

    Sara

    PS love your website 🙂

  4. Could be the yarn. I’ve had two pairs of socks that wore out within a few months and one pair that’s lasted for years. I also think some of us are harder on socks than others. Mine wore out while the ones I made my husband and son are still going strong.

    You can try reinforcing the heel with sewing thread while you knit it. I’ve heard it helps. You can also buy reinforcing thread.

  5. I absolutely love the Monkey Socks designed by Cookie A. from Winter 2006 Knitty, you can find the pattern here: http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter06/PATTmonkey.html
    It’s knit on 5 needles which I don’t normally like but this pattern is so well designed and written that even with what appears to be an intricate pattern they are a very easy sock. I am enjoying them very much. And I will make the pattern again.
    If you consider yourself an beginner/intermediate knitter then you can most definitely make these socks and love them all the way!
    Also I hear the “RPM Sock” from Knitty is also a very good pattern, but I have not yet tried it – it’s on the list!
    PS – flat feet are AWESOME too, great for knitting on the go because you don’t have to wrestle with a ball that can get all tangled in your bag.

  6. I will definitely try the monkey socks, they look like it would be an easy pattern to master, yet not boring.

    Thanks for sending the link!

    Terrye
    knitting.craftgossip.com

  7. I knit at bulletproof gauge (9st/in on US1 needles) and haven’t had any wear through problems, could be your yarn. MimKnits Boudica socks are a great pattern, so are Hedgerow socks

Have you read?

Make Your Knitting Machine Scarves Better

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve shared any patterns for our circular knitting machine users. I know these devices aren’t for everyone but even though I much prefer knitting by hand, it is kind of fun to crank things out on these machines.

One of the most common early projects for a circular knitting machine is a scarf. Which makes sense, because it’s just one long tube and you can make it as long as you like.

One problem that comes from knitting scarves on the circular knitting machine, though, is that it can be hard to know how to finish the ends of the tube so that it looks like a finished scarf and not a tube of knitting.

If you’re not a knitter or crocheter, the most basic way to finish a circular knitting machine scarf is just by cinching up the ends and maybe adding a pompom to each end to cover up any hole that might still be visible at the end.

But if you have a little knitting or crochet skill or are willing to learn, there are a lot of different options for closing up the ends of a scarf. And this would also be true if you hand knit a tube scarf!

I recently wrote a post over at Our Daily Craft that includes five different ways to close up the ends of a tube scarf:

  • the simple cinching method mentioned above
  • sewing the stitches together
  • three needle bind off
  • grafting
  • crochet bind off

Grafting is my favorite because I feel like it gives the cleanest, closest to a seamless look. If you’re a knitter you may already know how to do it but even if you don’t it’s not that hard to learn.

Do you knit tube scarves by hand or machine? I’d love to know how you like to finish them!