Book Review: Knit 2 Socks in 1

The idea of second sock syndrome is kind of a cliche among knitters. The idea is that once you’ve knit one sock you lose interest in the pattern and never complete the second (or have to force yourself to complete the second).

I will admit I’ve gone years between knitting the first and second sock of a pair, so I can relate.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are several methods for working two socks at a time, often on multiple needles or one long needle. While these options are great they can be a little mind boggling.

Safiyyah Talley has a better idea. Her approach to knitting two socks at a time involves making one long tube with strategically placed lifelines so you can turn one tube into two socks.

You start by casting on the cuff for the first sock, leaving a lifeline for the heel and toe, knitting on through the second sock, leaving another lifeline for its heel and finishing off with the toe of the second sock. Once the knitting is done you separate the socks, knit the heels on both, the toe on one and the cuff on the other and you’re done.

The method is much more intricately described, with a bunch of patterns to get you started, in her book Knit 2 Socks in 1.

The great thing about this method is that you can use any technique for knitting socks that you like — double-pointed needles, one or two circular needles, magic loop — and you can just knit on without many interruptions through the legs of both socks.

It seems like this would make the knitting go a lot faster because you’re not pausing to knit a bunch of short rows or a heel flap. The heels are shaped just like the toes, no gussets or short rows required, which makes this method great for those new to sock knitting as well.

The book offers general instructions for a plain pair of socks, as well as guidance on how many stitches to cast on for different sized socks in different gauges so you can chart your own path. Talley then offers seven different stitch patterns, each shown on three different socks to give you an idea of how stitch patterns can be used on different socks in different ways.

For example a lacy rib stitch is used as a cuff on shortie socks, on the leg of a standard pair of socks, and on a pair worked with two different colors of sock yarn held together.

The book is really about getting you comfortable with the techniques and helping spark your own ideas for making socks that you will love to knit and to wear. I definitely want to try it, and I think you will find it a fun and fast way to make socks for all feet.

About the book: 142 pages, hardcover, 21 patterns. Published March 2022, Storey. Suggested retail $16.95.

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Once you get past the rush of the holidays, it’s time to focus on yourself and your home and what’s going to make you feel good for the rest of winter. For me, that’s having a homemade blanket in every room. I’m currently working on a granny stitch crochet blanket, but I wanted to share some cozy knit blanket patterns with you in case you’re on the lookout for something great to knit yourself or someone you love.

I have really been enjoying log cabin projects lately because they’re a great way to use stash and I love the connections between knitting and quilting. This log cabin scrap blanket pattern is free from Very Pink, and it includes a video tutorial if you haven’t done log cabin knitting before. It’s worked in garter stitch and has blocks that are connected by borders in a single color.

Speaking of scrap busting (since that’s on my mind all the time, but particularly when New Year’s resolution time rolls around), the Hue Shift Afghan by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence is worked in a huge array of colors in garter stitch mitered squares. The pattern has options for working with sport weight or worsted weight yarn, and the blanket is worked in quarters and then sewn together, but the individual squares in each section are worked off each other for minimal finishing. Get the pattern from Knit Picks.

If you’re looking for an easy pattern that has a lot of texture, this quilted knit throw from Mama in a Stitch is a great choice. It uses chunky yarn in a single color to make a simple knit and purl pattern that looks like diamonds. The designer notes that a lighter colored yarn is helpful for making the stitch pattern stand out, but you can try whatever color you like.

Or go even simpler with the Bella Vita blanket from Christaco Design. This one uses super bulky yarn (or make it a stash buster by holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together). The pattern has a seed stitch border and allover knit and purl pattern, and includes sizes from baby blanket to California king.

If instead you want a project that will challenge you and occupy your mind as well as your needles, try the Aran texture cable afghan knitting pattern from Pattern Professionals. This gorgeous design features panels of cables and other textured stitches, and the pattern is originally form the 1970s. It uses worsted weight yarn and each pattern strip is worked individually and sewn together (though you could combine them into one big panel if you’d rather).

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