I’m waitin…..
Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/
Patterns, projects and techniques
, by Terrye. 7 Comments
I’m waitin…..
Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/
While many knitters will make a scarf or a washcloth as their first knitting project, once you have the basics down you might want to add some shaping. There are lots of different ways to increase (and decrease!) stitches in knitting.
Usually a pattern will tell you which increase you should use, and the designer will have chosen that one for an aesthetic reason. For example: yarn overs make holes. Make 1 looks different from knit in the front and the back, which looks different from just casting on an additional stitch.
So, if the pattern you’re knitting calls for a particular increase, be sure to use that one.
If the pattern doesn’t give you a specific increase to use, you can use the one that you prefer. Knit in the front and back is usually a good choice, but it does leave a little bump so it’s not as invisible as a make 1 stitch.
I wrote an overview of all the most basic increase methods and why you (or a designer, which could also be you) might choose one over another, which you can read over at Our Daily Craft.
If you’re just learning how to knit and how to do these increases, working through each of them in a swatch like I did for the photos in that post can be helpful because you can get practice and see how the different increase compare visually to each other.
I admit it in that post but if a designer doesn’t specify what increase to use or if I’m just making something for myself and I don’t want to put too much thought into it, I’ll use a backward loop cast on stitch in place of a regular increase. They’re relatively invisible, totally easy to do, and you can do it anywhere it a row or round with no problems.
Do you have a favorite increase method? I’d love to hear about it!
Purl Jam says
Sorry no encouragement here .. socks stink literally!!
Marlies Cohen says
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.
Sara from Paradise Fibers says
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 🙂
Nancy says
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.
Denise says
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.
Terrye says
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
Ali says
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