December 31, 2004
Sockenstein
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino in its humble beginning on (can you believe it?!) size 0's at 7sts/in
What I now know first hand from attempting to knit a sock.....
(please note: i did not say sock knitting as i don't have a sock yet)
1) the needles (currently using us 0's) really do feel like they are going to snap at any minute especially when working a k2tog or ssk
2) big needles go click clack, small needles go tick tack
3) it can warp your needles and i'm a loose knitter or at least i was (and on my first sock?), i've got to loosen up my hands are achin'
At one point I thought wow, only reducing a few stitches helps out a lot only to realize that 6 stitches had fallen about 4 rows. Now that does loosen it a bit which leads to the next bit. I really should get a crochet hook smaller than a size 5. It may not help my sock to pick up 6 stitches several rows with a size F5 hook when knitting on needle size 0. And another thing, what does a knitter do that usually has to go down two sizes on pattern written for US 3-7's do when a sock suggest a size of 0? Oh, and I just love those instances when it gets extremely tight to knit and then I notice there are two extra needles in front of me (how'd that happen) Dont know why I can't just knit. Must save multitasking for after first sock has been completed.
4) you can really put an eye out if you don't watch what you are doing(not that I know what I am doing to know what to watch for) but really, those needles have tapped my eyeglass lenses a few too many times now (now goggles formerly know as glasses)
5) its hard to get far fast on a sock when you keep misplacing that sliver of a needle (at one point i thought it had surely gone down between the rows of keys on my keyboard) yeah, knitting and bloggin'
6) they ARE addictive (i don't even know what i am doing and have already started another one) i'm hoping that the sock fairy will smile on the fact that i am using actual sock yarn this time and cut me some slack. i never thought i'd be saying this, but i'm using larger needes on this sock. they're on us 1's.
7) and you know those needles really are the size of toothpicks
Note to self:
On next sock don't tear up every room looking for that 5th dpn and get frustrated, go online to order ANOTHER pair only to see that there were only 4 in the package to begin with! DUH! (i really would prefer a set of 5 though)
now meet sockenstein
And to think I was feeling pretty good about the gusset (minus the little hole at the top of decs, how do i get rid of that?) and heel. But it was pretty obvious early on that this sock was not going to work for me. Now to what went wrong..I'll start with the obvious. I only meant for the heel and toe to be white. The colors don't currently work for me and my gauge between colors appears to have changed (from what i can see). The bottom half is knit much tighter. Maybe I was concentrating on all that turning the heel business. Somehow I knew the heel wouldn't require this much white yarn (was to busy concentrating to notice I guess). But I just couldn't stop until I got to the knit in straight St. st for the desired foot length to stop. Couldn't put those needles down. Figured it would be good practice anyway. And I'm not crazy about that wacky line between colors. The thickness of those two colors seems to be very different, though it may just be in the knitting (or shall I say knitter, hee, hee). If you any of you sockaneistas see anything that I need to know to change(lots i know), feel free to holla. For some reason though, I am feeling proud of my sock attempt and feel one step closer to being able to knit one. It was much easier than I ever imagined. I was even considering taking a class, but knew I would be able to wait for one to start. I'll get there...
Anyone have any tips for an aspiring sock knitter? Or any beginner proof pattern suggestions?
Well until I'm ready to "tick tack" again, I'll work on Bright Autumn. Its really nice to wear her and knit her at the same time. And I have to say Happy New Year! It's been so nice to meet such to wonderful knitters this past year who are so generous with their talents and kind, helpful words. I wish you all the best in 2005!
Posted by froggy at December 31, 2004 05:44 AM
Wow - socks! Looking good there, Froggy. When I knit my first sock I genuinely could not 'read' the pattern in order to understand where it was going and was thrilled to find it suddenly turn into a sock! There are loads of different methods out there and a whole shelves of books and just think of the sock yarn - so many possibilities!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Anita x
I am itching to try out a pair of socks, but mid summer just isn't the time to start. I am sure I will be back looking at this post in a few months time though... It's very cool to read about someone else's first sock! Personally I think your sock looks great, but, given I have never even seen a hand knit sock in person, let alone made one I probably have no idea what I am talking about...
I'm about to start my first pair of socks - eek! If mine looks as good as yours, I'll be feeling pretty fine!
Good morning Miss Froggy! I haven't forayed into socks much myself, but I have some good links:
http://www.socknitters.com/FAQ/FAQ_how.htm
http://www.woolworks.org/sockposts.html
You can do it!!!! xox
I wish you and those you love an happy and sweat new year !!
Man, you're scaring me! I don't have needles that small. I just bought some sock yarn - thought I'd try it out - maybe not. I'll wait to see how you survive. Good luck!
PS - I'll be looking out for that easy pattern, too!
Happy New Year!! I'm knitting mittens using US2 bamboo for the cuffs and even a couple of them are looking like spaghetti -- I think it's the nature of the beast. I couldn't believe how quickly they bent. Wishing you a great '05!
Hey Froggy- don't feel too bad about the bending- I actually BROKE 3 out of 5 Brittany Birches on my first (okay, second) pair of socks.
Yours are looking good. Best of luck.
Who makes the blue green yarn on your other pair of socks? Now that holiday knitting is done I can get back to making other stuff, like socks!
You may want to try Bryflex DPN needles if your wood ones are bending or breaking. Plastic, but much easier on your finers and wrists.
Happy New Year!
I love Crystal Palace DPNS! They seem to hold up much better than the Brittany needles and I knit really tight.
I don't know that I'd use the Baby Cashmerino on 0's. How about trying regular old sock yarn instead? (Even if you are loose, because I am also and I usually use 1's on sock yarn).
I hope your Christmas was all you wanted it to be.
Happy New Year.
Lisa
Your socks are looking great Froggy. Love the colour combo!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! All the best!
i'll be following your blog very closely as i am attempting my first socks too -wendy's toe up pattern. keep up -all- the good work.
Congrats on the socks! Socks have long been my favorite quick, portable knitting project. Great work so far.. and you've given me an idea of what to do with my leftover cashmerino baby. Thank you!
If you can deal with metal needles (I don't love them for dpns, but sometimes you need them) Susan Bates makes a sock set of 5 sizes (sets of 5 needles - thats 25 needles) starting at size 1 and going down to 000. If you really need something smaller than a zero they're great. And the metal doesn't bend.
Happy New Year!
Your first sock is coming out great! Hang in there getting the colors the way you want them. Otherwise, it really looks perfect. Happy new year!
Please, Sockenstein, don't hurt us!!!
Your sock is looking great. Have fun with it. You'll probably find the pair you've started out of actual sock yarn is easier to knit. If I were going to knit socks with baby cashmerino, I'd probably use #2s...
Happy New Year!
Hee! I think you may be a candidate for metal dpns or socks on two circs!
Wow! You've made great progress on you socks. I told you I do not like dpn's so I've mastered knitting socks on 2 circs, which is not difficult at all. It is very addicting, and now I'm going to cast on for a red pair of socks.
Also, please check out Sally Melville 'Purl' book. There's a simple sock pattern in there as well. And her explanations are very easy to follow.
hi froggy, the elf bootie yarn was art yarns museum. i tried dpns, magic loop and two circs on that project. two circs was my favorite. it was a good way to work up to a sock project, they were what gave me the nudge i needed to go ahead and buy some sock yarn.
Happy new year, Froggy! Good job on the sock....I want to learn how to master them at some point. Knitting on size 0 needles looks hard.
Happy New Year, Froggy! I can't wait to see your Bright Autumn--I think this is a lovely pattern.
hi Froggy, I am also a HUGE fan of 2circ sock knitting... I wouldn't try dpns for nothing now (though I haven't tried knitting them on anything smaller than 3s yet) There is a great web tutorial over at http://www.socknitters.com/2circs/ but I broke down and took a class. I have also become a fan of (but have yet to truly master) the short-row heel. All my heels and toes are in a contrasting yarn, and this makes it easier. Plus the fit is usually better for me than the heel flap method. The simple Socks Plain and Fancy book is great for explaining short-rows.
Good luck and happy New Year!!
Your post had be laughing out loud!
How nice are these socks, I wish you an Happy happy new year too !
Your sock looks WAY better than my first one. Here's a tip for getting rid of that hole: pick up an extra stitch right there where you know the hole's gonna be, and knit it twisted (through the back loop) the next time around. I've even picked up two extra in an extreme circumstance. It's no big deal, just decrease it down with the rest of the gusset. Great Job!
Your sock looks great! I just end up picking up an extra stitch or two around the hole-creating-area and then decreasing on the first round. I've never used dpns. I started on two circs and since then have been magic loop all the way.
Socks are soooo addictive! I have the same problem of my little bitty needles warping because of the way i clutch onto them so dearly. The only thing I can suggest is to find some brittany birch dpns as they are stronger than bamboo and don't warp as easily. I just finished a pair of socks and had four birch and one bamboo and the bamboo was warped as usual but the other four needles were straight and strong. Happy New Year!
Froggy, if that sock fits your foot, then it will work for you. Cashmerino won't hold up long as a sock-sock, but as a bedsock or an around-the-house sock, it will be fine. Knit on, it looks great.
Great job on the socks. I made my first attempt a month or two ago and loved them. A couple of suggestions: try this mini sock pattern (http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/minisock.shtm) to get the hang of knitting a sock and try using shorter double points - Brittany makes them in various lengths. I also just recently bought a Clover mini circular - its only 22 cm long - to try to use instead of double points. I'll post on it if I have any success. Good luck and remember to have fun!
Tanya
Yay for socks! And your first sock is looking mighty fine . . . I second what others were saying about eliminating the hole at the top of the gusset -- just pick up an extra stitch or two, it won't make any difference in the way the gusset looks when it's all done!
Hey Froggy!
Loverly socks! And way to go on attempting them. I had no fear trying my first pair of socks, but that's because I was too stupid to realize how complicated and hard they're supposed to be ;) But now they're my favorite thing to knit. And they go really quickly now.
I actually teach sock knitting classes at my LYS, so if you want the pattern I've worked up and the table of how to alter the basic sock pattern, let me know. I can e-mail it to you or something.
Happy New Year!
Mim
I tried to find Baby Cashmerino in that color, but they only had one ball left at the store near me.
Here are some links I found while looking for info when I make socks,
The universal sock pattern..I use the toes and sometimes the cast on numbers..
http://www.burninghand.org/sockpattern.html
and for different methods for toes and heels...
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/toesheels.html
Happy New Year!!
-Tina
Hi ! Sock knitting is interesting, isn't it ? I have been addicted to sock knitting. I think you will be too !
Wish you have wonderful 2005 and best regards to your family !
Eva
I also feel that five needles are better than four, especially when the needles are very short. A lady at the shop told me that short ones don't bend. I really don't mind bent needles though. Happy knitting in 2005.
Much fun by knitting this socks :o))
I tried to get cashmerino for my spinning wheel, but I didn´t find it!!!
Happy new year!
Luna from Germany!
Your first sock looks awesome. Socknitters often use smaller needles and a tighter gauge for the foot in order to increase resistance to wear. In order to get a different color for only the heel you start the new color at the same time you start the heel flap and are not knitting in the round. You continue using it for the heel turn (still back-and-forth) and switch back to the main color before starting the gusset pick-ups and beginning knitting in the round.
I made a pair of Baby Cashmerino socks (scanned and big file) while experimenting with a different construction method. They have a short-row heel and were done toe-up. I used one size 1 (according to Addi, really 1 1/2 - 2.5 mm) 47" circular needle to knit two socks at once. They are wearing very well because they are tightly knit and they wash up beautifully, though I get a lot of loose fuzz on them, so they will wear more than some, but still OK.
Here's my favorite way to make socks (another big scan), Opal yarn on size 0.
That first completed pair of socks is the hardest. Then after that you can say "I have knitted a pair of socks," and it seems to get easier as if by knitting magic. Keep up the good work and don't get sick with the second-sock syndrome!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
And many new projects for 2005!
Wollgrid
Happy New Year, Froggy! Thanks for stopping by my site.
Your first sock really does look great. I have broken like 5 wooden size 0s so truthfully I use metal 1s and 0s now, and even they bend sometimes too, but don't break.
"Folk Socks," has great overall tips for socks in general - yes, the sock patterns in it are scary for a beginner but there is a lot of good stuff on basic socks, including a basic pattern.
I do find the best yarns I have used for socks are Trekking XXL, Regia, Opal, and Lorna's laces. I found Jawoll Superwash stretched out after time. Good luck!
:-) Happy New Year! :-) You've made me want to pick up my poor little socks in progress (sips? lol!) and finish them. I've knit socks with worsted, but only finished one with Fixation and still have to pick up sts. along the heel on my first sock-wool sock. Teeny tiny needles, teeny little crochet hook! Yikes!
I am past the heel on my first sock too! I used Sally Melville's the Purl Stitch book sock pattern--it is so helpful. It gives huge details that really help with a lot of those questions. For example, the hole in the heel. Melville suggests starting a new ball of yarn at that point so that you can close the hole when you weave in the ends. Good luck!
Look who's a knitting/crafty finalist:
http://www.blogmechanics.com/bob/
Your socks look great! I'm a loosie size 0 sock gal myself--and take it from me--don't sit on one of those little guys either...ouch.
I'm a loose knitter, too, but I don't LIKE knitting on needles smaller than size 2, so I make socks with bigger yarn. 'Course, I've only made two pair, so I'm not an expert.
Luckily, my SnB has a couple of sock experts (Margene and Susan) so I always have someone to help out (once they stop laughing).
