Handy Tips for Choosing the Right Sock to Knit

Sock knitting is so fun. They’re great travel projects and I like to have one on the needles all the time to work on wherever I am.

But one thing that can be tricky for people who are new to sock knitting is choosing the right size to make a sock that will actually fit your (or the desired recipient’s) foot. When I knit my first socks I just assumed the pattern would make a good size for me but they came out way too big.

Kate Atherley has some great tips to help you choose the right sock knitting pattern (excerpted from Custom Socks at Interweave). It even covers the problem I had — assuming that one size fits all.

She runs through the basics of how to measure your foot and what you should look for in a sock pattern that will actually fit your foot, as well as when to be wary about a sock pattern.

Do you knit socks? I’d love to hear your sock-knitting tips!

[Photo via Interweave.]

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.

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