Letters
The Simple Joy of Socks
Dear Kay,
A small thought for the day: it’s such a feeling of accomplishment to wear something I’ve made myself.
These socks, for example.
The Little Tents pattern from Field Guide No. 11: Wanderlust
I used to scoff at the sockmakers of the world. Why would a person spend hours knitting socks when you can buy them already made, for just a few dollars?
That was years ago, back when I thought knitting was some sort of time-limited activity that I was going to tire of. That I would run out of steam.
I didn’t get it. Until Cat Bordhi taught me how to knit socks. What a light bulb moment, suddenly discovering the small and powerful pleasure that comes with knitting a sock.
• The clever trick of starting with a ball of yarn and ending up with three-dimensional tubes.
• The endless opportunity to fool around with stitch patterns.
• The easy way I can carry a sock anywhere I go, knitting on the fly.
• And the wide wacky amazing world of sock yarns.
I’ve knit ’em crazy and I’ve knit ’em plain. This pair pleases me because the yarn is so simple that it lets the stitch pattern shine.
The color? CITé D’OR
This is Julie Asselin’s Nomade, a true sock yarn with 20% nylon in there to help them last. Her colors are fabulously subtle—have a peek.
I think Nomade in Noir d’Encre is my next gambit.
Inky black streaks on a white base. It just looks like fun.
Which is the whole thing with socks. Small-scale joy.
Love,
Ann
I love knitting socks – it is an amazing trick, as you say, and with a fairly quick result. And such lovely colours of yarn from which to choose. Adventures galore!
Those yellow socks are amazing. I love your description of the joy of sock knitting, you word wizard!
I am so ready for small-scale joy this year! Bought the Wanderlust book months back, knitted tubes like a crazy woman; could not get those heels to become intuitive…. Thank you so much for bringing Jen Arnall-Culliford back into the picture! Buoyed by all this inspiration and practical goodness, I’m ready to re-enter Sockworld 🙂
I had never attempted a sock (dislike of fiddly DPN’s) until I read Cat Bordhi’s Socks Soar OnTwo Needles. What a game changer for me. I’ll never forget turning my first heel (magic!) and calling out to my husband when finished with my first one, “I made a sock!” That feeling never gets old.
Another convert here via Cat Bordhi’s book. I think it was recommended at my LYS.
My favorite travel souvenirs are socks I have knit with yarn purchased in wonderful yarn shops at so many varied locations. It’s like putting feet to my memories!
Another Cat Bordhi sock convert. The first sock on DPNs languished I finished for years…until it finally just disappeared. Then I saw Cat’s book. That was MANY pairs ago. Sounds like we owe a lot of entertainment hours to Cat…and cheap entertainment it’s been according to The Harlot’s knitting accounting.
I am another sock making fan who cut her teeth on Cat Bordhi’s Socks Soar on Two Needles. I later passed it on to another knitter. I started to regret that when I heard we were going to lose her to the angels but then decided that having her book be so inspirational that I could not keep it to myself was probably a perfect tribute to her.
This book did it for me too. I still don’t love knitting them as much as @ann but with my short COVID attention span I’m knitting more of them.
I, too, adore sock knitting plain or fancy, and credit Stephanie Pearl-McPhee for making it so fun! My copy of Knitting Rules is taped together from use and artfully noted and drawn in! Also, it was Cat Bordhi who instructed me to use 2 circs, which I further love! Thank you, ladies!!!
Your socks are beautiful–the golden color and the pattern that’s like sheaves of wheat.
Beautiful socks, Ann. Involved in moving over the last few weeks, and now working settling in. It’s extra difficult because I didn’t label anything before moving and now don’t know where anything is! Currently working on making socks for babies that have come into the world recently and the going is slow because of a sudden arthritic flare-up in my dominant wrist.
Once again Ann, I love these socks that you’ve made. The pattern is lovely. I know I saw my Wanderlust Field Guide during the move and will look for this pattern once I get it into my hot little hands.
You brighten my morning. I think I’ll just go and cast on a sock! Thank you!
My favorite thing to knit!
Beautiful letter!
I wonder how many people Cat taught how to knit socks? I’m sure I’m one of hundreds!
fully agree! Socks are the haiku of knitting. Or the sonnet of knitting. Anyway, great little projects that are totally portable and make (almost) everyone happy.
Socks are the best! Now to look up that Little Tents pattern.
One thing for sure, you will not get lost in a snowdrift! 🙂 Homemade socks are not for me. They are my least favorite thing to knit. I’ve probably knitted five or six pairs in my life and have tried several times, but they don’t ‘spark joy’. And they are painful to wear, so really not worth the effort. I’m with the people who think commercial socks are more comfortable and you can buy them with corgis printed on them, and they generally don’t last forever. I do like bedsocks, but they can be bigger and looser and I don’t stand or walk in them. Luckily my friend made me a pair.
I have the same problem with sensitive feet. But there must be a sock yarn out there that isn’t itchy or scratchy. Do any of you expert sock knitters know of one? Or does MDK recommend one? It must be some combination of yarns that I don’t know about. And I love making socks.
Alpaca silk blend is soft as anything and not itchy or scratchy. They’re not as hard wearing but it’s like having fluffy clouds on your feet.
Try a bamboo, sik & superwash merino wool combo. I made 2 pair of socks using Panda Silk by Crystal Palace Yarns. They feel wonderful!!
I have found the trick is to wear a thin cotton pair inside, then the wool socks. I don’t mind the itch but I don’t like the bumpiness! And my feet are always cold in winter anyway so two pairs is a win.
I forget who coined the term but “princess” socks are made with reverse stockinette on the sole so the smooth surface is against your skin!
Socks Soar on Two Circular Needlas…
Sorry the book is no longer available.
Can you recommend a tutorial on knitting two socks at the same time?
You are basically knitting with two balls of yarn, one for each sock. At the end of sock 1 you drop the yarn and pick up for sock 2. Knit around sock 2. At the end of the row, drop the yarn and pick up the yarn for sock 1, knit a row, drop the yarn and pick up for sock 2. Etc. Or you could knit from both ends of a center-pull ball.
I think knitting in tandem would be easier. I tried it and didn’t enjoy the process but many swear by it.
This whole sock project has been a real experiment for me this year. Swore I hated the DPNs and tried every different method, only to come back around to the DPNs in the end (really surprised myself there). Working my way down in needle size but still can’t tolerate size 1 and will stick with size 2 for the foreseeable future.
I’m amused by the adoration of the two circs technique because that drove me nuts, with the dangling ends everywhere. Soon I’ll have a template for “my” socks — what kind of ribbing, how long should the cuff be, etc. From Arne I got the best tip for avoiding ladders, and from Justin at the Bearded Purl I got the light bulb moment of the “anatomical toe.” Why do we make socks that point in the middle when our feet don’t point in the middle? Problem solved!
In the end, socks seem to be a real “make your own adventure” type of project, and the knitting of them brings out a lot of strong opinions! Once again grateful to Jen A-C for the fantastic tutorials.
I think the answer to why the point is in the centre is so you don’t have to work out which one goes on which foot, but we manage that ok with shoes usually so it’s not exactly a big issue lol.
I love knitting socks as well. I’m a beginner to intermediate and haven’t knit a lot of intricate patterns as yet (still on the stockinette socks) but am attempting a little more of a pattern on the ones I am working on now.
I think of the Monty Python quote “It’s people like you what cause unrest!” I’ve kind of just…stopped on socks. They were my first knit ever, and I do love them, but my knitting is so slow and so loose the speed and satisfaction are not a quick win. Altho the hubs does love his homemades. Hm. I’m trying first to stick with slippers for quick satisfaction this year. We. Will. See. how cozy I can keep the toes.
My knitting teacher wanted me to do that two needle thing and it made me nuts. Too many things flopping! Another lady in the knitting shop suggested a long circular and I was off. Made my first pair of socks a couple of months after learning to knit and I love knitting socks now. Toe-up, modified FLK heel, and preferably self striping yarn for entertainment. Mindless knitting at its finest.
LOVE the color of these socks! Must knit yellow socks now.
I love that colour! Those are awesome socks Ann!
I’ve been knitting for decades but have never made a sock. Getting curious.
I’ve been knitting socks for years – for others and each fall, I make a pair for myself. There is one pair of store bought socks in my drawer – all others handmade. A real sense of pride. This past year, I made 3 pair with the Lichen & Lace yarns. Love them!! So very portable, too. Give it a try if you haven’t.
One of my proudest knitting moments was conquering my nemesis—socks! So satisfying so many wonderful yarns.
I used to think the same about knitting socks. I decided to give it a try but I gave up because the needles kept falling. I decided again to try with magic loop and loved it but my second one never matched. The I found 2 at a time. Now I can enjoy perfectly fitted socks (size 5) Now I’m on the search for the easiest way to do toe up, 2 at a time with reinforced heels.
I wish I was a centipede. I love knitting socks- toe up,cuff ďown, colourworks, cables you name it. Can only wear 1 pair at a time though. Have to share them but frustrated with the Walmàrt attitude that you can get them cheaper there so people dont get the value and cost to purchase.
I’ve just never understood the ‘why’ of knitting socks. They seem like such a lot of effort for something that I don’t think would stand up to the wear and tear of wear – lol. What am I missing?