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.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?