New! Sock Formula here!
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New! Sock Formula here!
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7
Are you intimidated by double pointed needles? Does the thought of turning a heel make you tremble? The prospect of doing Kitchener stitch to graft toes makes you break into a sweat?!
Don't fret -- help is at hand. Read on ....
Because I thought it important to have good quality, clear photos, these pages are very graphic-intensive. Please have the patience to wait for them to load. (thanks)
Disclaimer: This is how I knit socks. While this may not be the "proper" method and I may not hold my needles the way some of you do, this is what works for me. I prefer to work with four needles, that is: three that have stitches on them, and one working needle. I'm not going to document a specific sock pattern, although if you're interested in the one I've developed and use for socks, it can be found here. I thought it would be useful to see, step by step, the mechanics of sock knitting and construction.
Once you've decided on the pattern and yarn of your choice, it's really not that difficult to get the sock started. For the sock I'm making here, I used Plymouth Galway Highland Heather 100% wool in a lovely green, and 3.5 mm needles.
Following your pattern, cast on the required number of stitches. I find it easier to cast the total number onto one needle, then arrange them on the remaining dp needles.
Start moving the stitches onto the other needles. I find it easiest to start at the opposite end of the needle, away from the "working yarn" and move them off. You can rearrange the needles as shown in the photo below so that the needle with the "working yarn" is in the proper place:
Here the stitches are distributed on the three needles, and ready for you to pick them up and start knitting!
Okay, here we go. Pick up the needles and hold them in a way that is comfortable to you. I know, it feels really awkward at first, but as you work with them, you'll find a way to hold them so that they aren't falling from your grasp or poking you on the inside of your palm.
This is how I hold the needles. Here is a close-up view of the needles ready for the first stitch (how exciting!).
A little tip: when making that first "joining" stitch (which joins the work in the round), if you knit the first stitch holding both the working yarn and the tail of your cast-on stitches, you eliminate the little "jog" or gap that sometimes materializes otherwise. Just make sure that when you continue knitting the rest of the stitches that you are using the working yarn and not the tail!
How your needle looks after a few stitches have been made. The way that is comfortable (for me) to hold my needles. Pausing mid-round, with stitches on all four needles.
Following your pattern, work the ribbing area, then continue working on the "leg" part of the sock. Congratulate yourself, you're doing a super job!! Next, we will tackle the heel flap and heel.
Click here to continue your sock-making odyssey!
Copyright © 2000 by Terri Lee Royea. All Rights Reserved. Images, text and html coding belong to the author. These pages are intended for your own personal use and may be distributed FREELY as long as proper attribution is made.
