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| Pair-A-Normal Socks |
We've seen a lot of great new sock patterns for fall, such as Rohn Strong's Horatio Socks from The Heritage Collection (perfect for beginners!), Hunter Hammerson's Phaeodaria socks from the first issue of The Sock Report, or the Pair-a-Normal colorwork socks from Knitty Deep Fall. There's so much sock-knitting inspiration this fall!
If you're new to sock-making, it might seem intimidating at first, but with the right tools and a few good resources to turn to when you get stuck, you'll be happily making socks in no time flat! We've rounded up a few helpful articles and videos below to get you started. We're also giving away one pair of Knitter's Pride Sock Blockers to a lucky reader - see below for details!
YouTube provides thousands of free tutorial videos. Our friends at Jimmy Beans Wool not only share informative product reviews on their YouTube channel, they also have several videos demonstrating knitting and crochet techniques. This tutorial demonstrating the German Twisted Cast-On method is great for starting your top-down socks!
For visual learners who prefer a little more guidance, point your browsers to Craftsy.com. Craftsy has several video classes you can enroll in for a one-time fee, giving you lifetime access to in-depth video instruction. As an added bonus, you can ask questions for the instructor or fellow classmates to answer as you view each lesson. Donna Druchanas' Knit Original Toe-Up Socks, and Knit Original Cuff-Down Socks classes will have you knitting socks like a pro, no matter which method you prefer!
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| Knitter' Pride Sock Blockers |
Another great resource is Knitty.com, which has lots of fantastic articles on technique. Toe-up sock enthusiasts will find the Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off photo tutorial to be particularly handy; there's nothing worse than knitting a beautiful pair of socks you can't get on your feed because the bound-off cuff is too tight!
Finally, you can always turn to the blogosphere for sage advice and photo tutorials. Do you prefer knitting socks with DPN needles, but don't know how to avoid unsightly stitch 'ladders'? Kirsten Hipsky, the Design Manager at Webs, shared a few of her best tips for preventing ladders earlier this year on the Webs Yarn Store blog; Cookie A shared a fantastic photo tutorial on her blog earlier this summer demonstrating an easy way to repair holes in well-loved socks. If you have sock questions, there are most likely answers waiting for you out in the blogosphere!
Enter our Blog Giveaway!
How do you like to make your socks? Top-down or toe-up? Magic loop or on DPNs? One-at-a-time or two-at-a-time? Leave a comment on this post to share your favorite sock-knitting method(s). You'll be eligible to win a pair of Knitter's Pride Sock Blockers so that your finished socks will look their best! We'll randomly select one lucky winner on Friday, October 26th. Good luck!
I prefer top down and dpns, but lately I've been using Magic Loop, because of its portability.
ReplyDeleteI started with DPNs and am moving toward the two circular method. This way I don't have to fear that I will lose any stitches when I take my sock knitting to go. So far I have only worked top-down. . .So many techniques and patterns to try!
ReplyDeleteMrsCampbell on Ravelry
I do DPNs one at a time. Love those sock blockers!
ReplyDeleteI like doing socks one at time on DPNs. I need to get the sock report and do those Phaeodaria ones. Love those.
ReplyDeleteActually I want to learn how to make sock, and winning the sock blockers might bump me past my fear of knitting socks:-)
ReplyDeleteI prefer using the magic-loop, toe-up method. I really like the ease of the fleegel heel, if I am making a sock that is all the same yarn color throughout. I also like to use Judy's Magic Cast On to begin.
ReplyDeleteDPN and top-down seems to be method lately! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been a big fan of magic loop/two-at-a time for many years now. Then, I rediscovered how nice one-at-a-time with double points can be with Knitter's Pride wood needles. Seriously! I knit with the yarn around my neck, which is a very fast method. Pair that with your wonderful wooden needles, and my knitting flies! I have NEVER blocked a pair of socks in my life, lol, so I wouldn't mind giving it a try.
ReplyDeleteI like to knit socks toe-up magic loop. Usually one at a time. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI like cuff down on dpn's,one at a time so I can get the most enjoyment out of them. I "loves" me knitting some socks!
ReplyDeleteI like to knit socks top down on dpns. I have tried magic loop but am not sold on it. I think I'm faster on the double points
ReplyDeleteI like to crochet socks!
ReplyDeleteMy sister has taught me the magic loop and I need a pair of sock blockers for my first pair. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like to crochet socks! top down, toe-up, or start in the middle and add a special cuff at the end. all are fine. I do two at once to keep my gauge and rows counts as close as possible.
ReplyDeleteI've made them top down in the past, but I recently received a toe-up book from a friend and I hope to use that in the very near future. I've also only done them one at a time and I'm not sure how well I would learn two new things at once.
ReplyDeleteI like to crochet socks. Top down, toe up, or start at leg and add cuff at end: all are good. I like to work two socks in parallel to keep gauge and row count as closely matched as possible. For knitting socks, I do top down, generally on Magic Loop. Again, I do two at a time to keep gauge and row count as consistent as I can. (This is my third try at commenting.)
ReplyDeleteI like to crochet socks. Bottom up, or top down, or start on the leg and add the cuff later, all these techniques are good in my opinion. Present project: merino crochet socks in electric blue. One pair for me and one pair for a dear friend. Size B Knitter's Pride aluminum hook. It doesn't matter if neither of us have electric blue in our wardrobe. The point of the socks is for my soul sister and me to have matching tootsies. She has made many pair for me. Time for me to make a pair for her.
ReplyDeleteI'm a beginning knitter and am still making my first pair of socks, so I don't have a good opinion yet. I finished one of the pair and still need to make the second, so I can see where making two-at-a-time would be good (although I learned a lot so this time it made sense to do one). I really don't like dpns and haven't made anything using Magic Loop. What I used was two circulars - and loved it!
ReplyDeleteToe up, magic loop! I love the ease of trying them on while knitting and ML avoids those DPN "ladders"! Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletepurples on Ravelry
I prefer toe up, one at a time using magic loop. I love to use fleegle heel method which gives no holes.
ReplyDeleteLove knitting socks two at a time, toe up. They just seem to flow faster and get done sooner that way. No second sock syndrone for me.
ReplyDeleteI like toe up with DPNs.
ReplyDeletegreyowl (ravelry id)
Top-down, dpns :)
ReplyDeleteI like my DPN's and so far I have only knitted top down socks.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE knitting socks!!
rosebob on ravelry
So far I have just knit socks on DPNs, as I haven't learned the other methods yet. I haven't knit enough socks yet to have a good sense of whether a skein will be enough yarn so if I'm not sure I split the skein in half (while not cutting the yarn) and knit toe up. Most have been top down though.
ReplyDelete(InJuneau on Rav too)
Top down, DPNs. Lately, I've been knitting in a kind of leap-frog way; I knit the first sock for a while, then then second, and back and forth. This works well for me, because there isn't time to forget any little tweaks or mods I make on the first sock, before I get to the second.
ReplyDeleteIt's also nice, because when I graft the toe on Sock 1, there's usually just the foot left to knit on Sock 2, so finishing the first sock means I'm really close to having a new pair of socks!
I was all about cuff down, until I made toe up using a short row method. The fit is perfect!
ReplyDeleteknitterlydesigns on Ravelry
top down on dpn's is the only way I know how.
ReplyDeleteI prefer magic loop one at a time - that's how I roll when I knit socks...
ReplyDeletenhsarab on ravelry
nhsarab at yahoo dot com
So far....I prefer them toe up/afterthough heel/magic loop/TAAT....but I am working a cuff down/heel flap socks right now, so we will see how that goes.
ReplyDeletePenny- sch4gators RAV
I knit socks top down.
ReplyDeleteI started top down on DPNs but have since started using two at a time toe up on two circulars. I love to use every bit of the yummy sock yarn!
ReplyDeletelotsofhermies on Rav
I've always made top-down socks on dpns, but I'm working on my first magic loop projct right now (fingerless mitts) and the technique is finally clicking! I think I might make my next pair of socks that way. That said, I still kind of like dpns. I also just learned Jeny's Surprisingly Stretch cast off this week (on a top-down hat), and it worked so well for me! Great list of resources!
ReplyDeleteI prefer toe up
ReplyDeleteI like two at a time (on two circulars) so I never have to worry about second sock syndrome, or having one sock mysteriously longer than the other. I also prefer toe-up, because I have really big feet, and I would rather have short socks than toe-less socks :) (And it means less stitches to cast-on in the round!)
ReplyDeleteI always knit two-at-a-time, toe-up that way I cover my foot when I'm still enthusiastic about the socks and then when I commence on the leg, I can stop "whenever" and I've got a pair of sox (even if they're only footies!).
ReplyDeleteToe-up so I can use up all my yarn easily. one at a time on DPNs, really just cuz that's how I always have.
ReplyDeleteI have only ever made one sock. Not one pair... just one sock! It was not my favorite knit, and I never bothered to finish. I am ready to try again, though, and I think toe-up will be the solution for me.
ReplyDeleteI prefer top-down socks, but for some reason toe-up feels like they work up faster! I also enjoy magic loop, but lately have been using my dpns more. I think it's great that KP has sock blockers now - very cool!
ReplyDeleteToe up mostly, because then I can use every last inch of the yarn.
ReplyDeleteTop down on dpns works best for me though I'll use 2 circs for travel knitting, just to keep better track of my needles.
ReplyDeleteI have preferred toe up socks because I'm always afraid I'll run out of yarn before I finish the toes!
ReplyDeleteI prefer top down, on 4 dpn's. They just seem to fit better.
ReplyDeleteI use 2 circs as I just discovered how to do this...I used to use 4 dps but found it awkward when travelling on the transit system...my next adventure will be 2 socks 2 circs then 2 socks using magic loop
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've made several pairs working toe-up and enjoy the opportunity to knit the legs until I run out, I prefer to work top-down. I need to stick with magic loop on a circular because when I try to go back to DPNs, I just end up pulling a needle right out of the work!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of 2-at-a-time on one needle, but do like to work 2 in tandem on their own needles.
I like toe up and top down and use DPN's and circulars. I usually knit one sock at a time.
ReplyDeleteI knit on DPN's one at a time, for a change I also knit them on circular needles some times. And I love to knit both ways - top-down or toe-up. The pattern has to be fun to knit, that's the only condition I make on sock patterns.
ReplyDeleteTwo at a time have only finished one pair and they were top down. Next pair toe up two at a time.
ReplyDeleteI knit top-down. on 2 circulars. I'm going to try 2 at a time on 2 circs soon.
ReplyDeleteToe-up, Magic Loop, 2 at a time. Otherwise, they'd never get a pair! I'll do them cuff down, and maybe one at a time, but haven't knit a pair of socks on dpns since my first pair!
ReplyDeleteI do top down but I would like to try toe up some day.I like magic loop.But I do use DPNs also.But I do one at a time.
ReplyDeleteknit45 on raverly
Cuff-down, 2 at-a-time on two circular needles is my preference, but I have tried magic-loop one-at-a time and used dpns. I still have to try toe-up, but I have a great pattern I can't wait to try...if only my yarn would arrive in the mail!
ReplyDeleteI like both DPNs and Circulars. So far I've only tried top down. So many patterns and methods...so little time!
ReplyDeleteI like toe up because you can try them on as you go along!
ReplyDeleteI prefer toe up 2 at a time magic loop, but if I'm doing colorwork (which is my passion), then I use dpns
ReplyDeleteI like top-down on two circs, one at a time best, but every now and then I'll go back to dpn's or go toe-up for a little change.
ReplyDeleteToe up on DPNs that my mom used almost 40 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently knitting the 'Shur'tugal' pattern which is top down and I'm doing it magic loop. I've recently bought a yarn winder, so I intent for my next set of socks to be two at a time on two circs. Always a new technique to learn in knitting!
ReplyDeleteI knit them cuff down. I like knitting them on dpn's, but I might try my next pair with magic loop with a baby around.
ReplyDeleteAs a newbie knitter, I'm afraid of socks. But maybe this prize would give me the incentive to try.
ReplyDeleteI like to knit top down on dpns, one at a time.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to decide on my favorite method. I like DPNs and Magic Loop. I've also tried toe up and cuff down Right now I'm leaning more toward cuff down because I don't like the short-row toes and heels...just can't get them to look right.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE knitting socks. My favorite method is top-down one-at-a-time on DPN's. I'm building quite a collection.
ReplyDeleteI like top-down using magic loop... ideally using two circs, but I've used one circ in a pinch. I love being able to try on my sock as I go!
ReplyDeleteMagic Loop is my favorite method, and lately I've gotten into knitting socks two at a time. It keeps me from making them different lengths, AND it prevents the dreaded second-sock syndrome! Toe-up or cuff-down, I don't actually have a preference there. :)
ReplyDeleteI usually knit top-down on DPNs, but I'm using my monster making skills and expanding to magic loop.
ReplyDeleteHmm...I have made two pairs of socks & determinded that I like either my 9in needles or magic loop. I knit them from the toe up with an after-thought heel.
ReplyDeleteTwo at a time, Toe-up! Have an actual pair when you're done and no Second-Sock-itis!!
ReplyDeletei like top-down, 1 at a time on dpn's, but only because i haven't taught myself how to make them any other way yet. i may change my mind!
ReplyDeleteI like making socks toe-up, two-at-a-time using the magic loop method. :-) I'm a complicated girl.
ReplyDeletestrwbrymay at yahoo
I prefer top down using a 9" sock circular needle, finishing the toes with DPNs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a top-down girl, and just learned how to do two-at-a-time on a single needle. It's my new favorite.
ReplyDeleteI like DPNs and do both toe-up and top-down. Just finished 2 pairs, I could have used these.
ReplyDeleteI'm a top down with dos gal! It's a no-fail method and I always love the results.
ReplyDeleteI'm a top down, double pointed, one at a time girl. I guess I can blame the Yarn Harlot and her "Sock Recipe" for this!
ReplyDeleteI usually do top -down, on 2circs. Although I have done some toe up.
ReplyDeleteI knit my socks cuff down the old fashioned way.i also use 5 needles and knit European style. :.))
ReplyDeleteI'm a top-down girl, but I always knit both socks at the same time (I have lots of sock needles!). Otherwise I'm afraid I would never get around to the second sock!
ReplyDeleteI prefer toe-up on 2 circulars. Although I did start off with cuff-down on dpns.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy all's the methods of knitting socks, dpn's magic loop, two circs, one at a time or two. I choose according to my mood and sometimes I switch in mid sock. Top down or toe up, again, a mood thing. I use sock knitting a technique builder.
ReplyDeleteToe-up, two at a time, magic loop on one Knitter's Pride Dreamz interchangeable circular. I just learned to knit this past January and I'm on my third pair. I thought I would be a sweater knitter, but it turns out I love to knit socks!
ReplyDeleteToe up, one at a time, magic loop. Or, Totally Tubular.
ReplyDeletei started out doing toe up, but i'm starting to really like the fit of the cuff down heel flap socks
ReplyDelete