Lolly posed some questions about our sock history, so I thought I’d take stock in my socks.
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I learned to knit in the fall of 1997, and I made my first sock in early spring of 1998. It was meant for my then-husband, and it had a cheerful red ribbing, heel, and toe, with a multi-colored "body." I never made its mate, and when we separated, I threw out the sock in a fit of, well, purging. It was a really nice sock that deserved a mate and someone to wear it. I followed my knitting teachers instructions: just do the next thing the pattern asks you to do, and you’ll be fine. She kept me from fearing the heel turn before I even knew it was something that might intimidate me.
What was your first pair? I guess the single ex sock doesn’t count as a pair, now does it? But let me answer what I would do differently: not have thrown it out. That was dumb, dumb, dumb.
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? I like knitting socks in heavier yarn because I find it satisfyingly speedy.
Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? Although I’m not opposed to dpns, I love, love, love two circs.
Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) My favorite heel so far is the Eye of the Partridge. I think mostly because it’s an adorable, perplexing, mysterious name for a heel. I want to learn to make a short row heel, too.
And, as I mentioned yesterday, I want to do the damn toe up socks for once and for all. Can’t wait to get going on those.
I’m sure you other sock knitters feel the same: there is so much to learn about knitting socks, so many techniques and yarns to explore, and on top of that, they’re uber portable. Hence my current adoration for all things socky.
Is it just me or do men get in our way when it comes to knitting plans?
/bitter
You will love toe-up socks!
When you’re ready, try the Widdershins pattern from Knitty.com. I’m doing my 2nd pr of toe up Widdershins on 2 circs. You just have to decide about the top(instep) and bottom(heel) parts of the sock before you start the gusset and then mark your starting point(s) so that it makes sense to you. It has a nice short row heel, too. You turn it before you know it! Zip-zap, it’s done. Brook now comes to Napoli on Saturdays. :0)
Jeannie
Me too. I am about to start some halloween socks! Hee hee hee. Just sockatta in orange, black and white. So fun.
I agree, the sock possibilities are endless; the yarns, the patterns, the heels, the toes. Oh, gotta go, the stash is calling!
We can sing sock praises together! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your history, Bev!
I totally did not expect this sock knitting thing to become so big for me, but I’m now totally addicted! :0)
I’m loving reading everybody’s sock his/herstories! They’re all different and yet, similar. When I wear my own socks, it’s like a secret to me. Like how you feel wearing your favorite undies.