Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Sockupied

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sockupied giveaway

Judith is the winner!

I spent a fair bit of yesterday knitting the heel flap, turning the heel and working the gusset on a sock I’d neglected for more than a year. I’d knit the leg a long time ago and just moved on to other things, as will happen, but I’m trying to finish some things before the end of the year and it felt like a good place to start.

It reminded me how much I love knitting socks, especially that particular part I did yesterday, where the magic happens. It finally feels like you’re knitting a real thing when it curves into a sock shape, and I think that very part may be one of the many reasons so many of us like to knit socks so much.

Whether you know that feeling or have yet to knit your first pair, this week’s giveaway is designed to encourage the sock knitter in you. Sockupied: 20 Knit Projects to Satisfy Your Sock Obsession, edited by Anne Merrow, features patterns and advice from the “pages” of the digital magazine of the same name from Interweave. It includes 20 patterns from basic to slightly mind-blowing, as well as advice on things like working stranded colorwork on socks, casting on, binding off and shaping toes.

Check out all the patterns on Ravelry, and if you’re interested in winning this one, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Dec. 4. I’d love to know how many pairs of socks you have knit and/or your preferred construction method. I usually go with top-down but my toe-up ones are probably my favorites to wear. Go figure.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. I have still never had the opportunity to knit socks. These models are very beautiful and I would like to try!!!

  7. I have knit zero pairs. I am intimidated by socks!
    BUT my goal is to conquer sock knitting in 2017!

  12. I’ve knit 12 (!!!!) pairs of socks this year! I prefer the toe-up construction and a Fish Lips Kiss heel. My favorite pair so far is a No Purl Monkey pattern from Cookie A. It was free on Ravelry and has been a real pleasure to knit with the partridge eye heel. I like to try new construction and the last pattern I knit was a Vanilla Reversed sock.

  14. I have one sock that needs to be finished! just 2″ to the toes and my socks will be complete! Help me finish knitting that pair of socks! Its Christmastime, and my Carolina Panthers aren’t winning!

  15. I love knitting socks. I’m not sure how many I’ve made, but my favorite construction is toe-up. I even make toe up baby socks for new parents!

  16. I am very lucky my sister knits all of my socks for me. I think she prefers the top down version. I know she does both top down and toe up. I would love to win this book for her.

  19. I’ve knit at least 50 pairs, I still love them and have 2 drawers full. I also have 2 drawers full of sock yarn that need a little inspiration.

  24. I knit a pair of socks every month to month and a half. They’re my go-to-meeting knitting, mindless and portable, and my job sadly requires quite a few meetings. I have at least 20 pairs now. I normally do toe-up with a gusset and heel flap, but love exploring different construction techniques.

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.