Socks often hold an aura of mystique and difficulty to knitters who have never attempted them before. Double pointed needles, extra-fine sock yarn and techniques such as turning the heel or grafting the toes with kitchener stitch are all part of the sock-knitting experience, but can be tackled successfully by a knitter with a good grasp of the basic knit and purl stitches and the confidence and sense of adventure required to learn new skills. Here are some tips to help you knit a successful first sock.
Choosing Sock Yarn and Needles
Worsted weight yarn is a good choice for your first pair of socks. Worsted weight socks will knit up quickly and it is easier to see the shape of your stitches as they are formed because they will be larger. Get a nice set of double pointed needles that feel good in your hand and that you enjoy working with. Bamboo is a popular choice because stitches tend to grip bamboo better and are less likely to fall off the needles as you are working. Slipprier materials such as steel, aluminum or plastic can be frustrating to work with and you may spend more time picking up dropped stitches.
Choosing a Sock Pattern
Working from a clear, well-written pattern will help keep your confidence up instead of dampening your enthusiasm with confusing or unclear instruction. Choose a simple sock pattern instead of one with complicated stitch patterns or color work, and if you will be learning by yourself at home it is helpful to have some pictures to illustrate skills such as kitchener stitch. A wonderful free online sock tutorial can be found at Silver's Sock Class. A book such as Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd [Interweave Press, 2007] can also help give visual aid to those who learn better by seeing clear, detailed illustrations. Socks can be great beginner knitting projects for those knitters who have a good grasp of the basic knit and purl stitches and want to learn new techniques.
Socks are great knitting projects for a knitter on the go who wants to be able to take a project on the bus or subway with minimal fuss. A pair of socks makes a great gift, there is a rainbow of beautiful sock yarn available and they tend to be quicker to knit than big projects such as sweaters. There is also a large dose of knitting magic to be found in the process of turning the heel or shaping the toes, and when that moment happens and the shapeless fabric on your needles suddenly takes form as a sock, you may just find that you can't stop knitting socks!
