Five mistakes I made as a new sock knitter

Mistakes are part of life - there is no getting away from that. But when it comes to sock knitting there are a few simple concepts that it is helpful to grasp before you pick up the needles. Why not learn from my mistakes so that you don’t have to:

1. Not using specific sock yarn. Most sock yarn has a small acrylic component to help with wear and tear - and also to provide much needed stretch. Common blends are 75% wool/25% nylon or 80/20. Yarn with a higher acrylic component may not be as breathable and no one wants cold, clammy feet.

2. Not realising the importance of gauge. It’s essential to get socks that actually fit and are comfortable to wear. I tried to knit socks in DK yarn on 2.5mm needles and let’s just say they weren’t a success. If armour plated booties were a thing they might have had a role.

3. Negative Ease. It took me ages to figure out why my socks were always too big and slid off my feet. Well fitting socks need to stretch in order to hug the foot properly. This means that when you are deciding on heel placement or when to do the toe decreases, it helps to stretch the sock fabric quite firmly - not just a polite pull.

4. Persevering with DPNs because I thought everyone used them - and not realising that other options would suit me better. There are whole host of sock knitting options available to you - from magic loop to small circulars, Flexiflips or two-at-a-time. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the method that suits you best.

5. Offering to knit them for neighbours - never again!

If you take one piece of advice from this article it would be number 5. Trust me on this 😂

How to convert a sock pattern to different needles

Feel Better Socks

Most sock patterns are written with a preferred method of small circumference knitting in mind - whether that be DPNs, magic loop or a small circular needle. It is of course perfectly possible to knit socks however you chose and we all have our favourite methods.

Experienced sock knitters know how to easily adapt a sock pattern for different types of needles but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you switch methods with ease.

Regardless of how the pattern is written, the key thing to take note of is the stitch count and how those stitches are distributed across your needles. Assuming you are knitting a cuff down sock, most knitting patterns will tell you how many stitches to cast on and how many are needed to knit the leg of the sock - note that in some cases (eg with cables) additional stitches are added after the cuff in order to accomodate the tightness that cables can cause.

Once you have the stitch count - in this case we are going to use 64sts - proceed as follows:

Knitting with 4 DPNs

Divide the stitches across 3 needles 16/16/32 and use the 4th to knit with. The 3rd needle with 32sts is used to hold the stitches for the back of the leg and the heel. The other two needles hold the stitches for the top of the foot. The heel flap and turn is worked across the 3rd needle. The gusset decreases happen at each side of the 3rd needle, bringing the stitch count back to 32sts.

Some prefer to use 5 DPNs with the stitches divided as 16/16/16/16 and knitting with the 5th needle.

Knitting with magic loop

This is by far my preferred method, mainly because it makes things nice and simple. Stiches are divided equally across both needles - 32sts on each. The heel is worked on one needle. I find that this works well for more complicated patterns or cables - especially across the top of the foot - as it means you aren’t dealing with mutliple needles across a 32st chart.

Knitting with a small circumference needle

Perhaps the simplest method, although it does get a bit more complicated for the heel turn. Simply cast on the 64sts, place a marker to denote the beginning of the round and knit away. Perfect for knitting the leg - and indeed the foot. I often find though that it’s easier to transfer the heel stitches to a DPN when it comes to that part, just to make life a little easier. Some people also like to use a second small circular.

Which is your favourite method to knit with?

We all have our favourites, but having another method or two up our sleeves is always handy for when the occasion arises.

How to say no nicely

Something of a theme for me recently is saying no. And to get better at saying it without succumbing to a massive guilt attack.

I wrote last week about how I was using No-vember to practice my No muscles and I thought I would continue the theme this week as we head into the Christmas knitting season.

Now, this applies at any time of year of course but especially now, the average knitter often sees a ramping up in requests for “Oh, could you just knit me this”. Such requests often come at a time when you are snowed under with things you are knitting to a deadline or frankly, you just have a lot on your plate and are knitting to retain some element of sanity in the busiest of seasons.

Non knitters frequently underestimate the time and resources needed to make a finished piece. They mean well (usually) but they can catch you unawares so it’s helpful to have a few tried and tested phrases up your sleeve, should you find yourself ambushed by a surprise request.

• Oh heck, I think my needles might go on strike if I add any more projects to the mix.

• I’d love to but I have projects on my needles older than my first born.

• Well, if I start now it might be ready for 2030.

• I really like to keep my knitting just for personal projects right now as I find it helps me to reduce stress.

• I’d rather keep knitting as a downtime thing than turn it into a job - but thanks for asking.

• I’m sorry but I don’t have the capacity for that right now.

• I like to knit to relax - if I started taking on commissions I’d need to find another hobby to relax from knitting.

• Honestly I just knit to relax - if I had deadlines it would lose all the fun.

It’s easy to forget that we have the capacity and the power to say no, especially when in saying yes to someone else - we are saying no to ourselves.

What’s your favourite way to say no?

Simple ways to make your knitting more sustainable

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking about the big changes when it comes to sustainability. To focus on the cars we drive, the flights we take (or don’t), the food we eat. But as others have repeatedly said, millions of people taking millions of tiny actions can have a significant impact, even if those changes are really, really tiny.

And our crafting and hobbies are no exception. Yes you can go for the full-on, raise your own sheep and spin your own yarn approach, but for most people that’s simply not realistic. Instead it is far better to focus on tiny changes that you can implement gradually and in doing so have a consistent, cumulative and positive effect on the environment.

A few simple things to think about:

1. Air miles. Using yarn that hasn’t been shipped halfway around the world is an obvious starting point. Yarn produced in your own country will have less of a carbon impact and if it is produced close to you then so much the better.

2. Support producers who are actively trying to reduce plastic use and who are committed to reducing their carbon impact. Most reputable sellers will include this information on their websites and if in doubt you can always ask them. Eden Cottage Yarns here in the UK is very forthright for example about the fact they are committed to being as plastic free as possible and all of their goods are shipped in recycleable paper products.

3. When buying yarn tell the vendor you don’t want or need the additional ‘treats’ that are often included and which often just get thrown away. Sweeties, teabags, pens etc are not required and just add to waste. Do you really need yet another organza bag with your purchase or a tube of sweets?

4. Use what you have. It seems as though we often forget the simple ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra but it’s effective for a reason. Shopping from your stash first before hitting the online cart, or maybe frogging something you never wear and reusing the yarn are both far more environmentally supportive actions than buying new. Also consider a yarn swap party with friends if you feel that your stash needs a freshen up.

5. Avoiding acrylic yarns is always a slightly contentious one to include, being mindful of everyone’s budgets and constraints. Using natural fibres is a more sustainable choice, in general, but some of the processing required commercially to turn banana fibre into yarn (for example) is extremely intensive and arguably as environmentally damaging as the production of acyrilc fibres especially if the former is shipped from overseas. It is a delicate balancing act and not as simple as ‘avoid acrylic’. It pays to do your research as a consumer and find out exactly where your yarn comes from and how it is made, and not to assume that something labelled natural is automatically better. In addition many yarn brands now are looking at making yarn from recycled fibres and some of these are well worth a look.

There is no denying that it is a complex area and it is tempting to just throw up your hands and do nothing. There are no shortage of people who will jump in to criticise your choices anyway or to point out that you are ‘typing this on your smart phone’.

Anything to do with climate change has a habit of attracting the naysayers who segue seamlessly from ‘our changes are too small to make an impact’ to ‘well, it’s too late to do anything about it anyway’.

It isn’t too late.

Any change however small is helpful.

We can all play a part.

What tiny changes have you made in your knitting? Do let me know in the comments and let’s share our ideas and contributions.

How knitting can help you stop the scroll

Let’s face it - if I could figure out a way to knit and scroll my phone at the same time I probably would have done it by now.

The fact of the matter is that it is near on impossible to scroll and knit a sock at the same time. Unless you are somehow a contortionist who can scroll with their toes. And as my morning yoga sessions with attest, I am definitely not a bendy person.

I have been on a bit of a mission to redefine my relationship with my phone recently. I use it for lots of useful and helpful things - banking, yoga, reading on my Kindle app, texting my mum. But those social media apps are so persuasive, so tempting that before you know it you find yourself 30 minutes later, knee deep in cat videos with a cold cup of coffee at your side.

Helpfully though, knitting has been my saviour.

I’ve been reading a book called The Phone Fix by Dr Faye Begeti and she talks about ‘surfing the urge’.

When you have the urge to open an app - say Instagram - ‘just to check’, she suggests you stop and pause.

You aren’t telling yourself no to opening up the app. You are just saying ‘not yet’, It’s a bit like telling a toddler that they can have the sweets - just not yet.

Then she suggests you find something else to do for 5 minutes, whether that be to read a book, wash some dishes, make a hot drink. You get the idea. The aim is to just distract your brain long enough to make you wonder whether you really want to check out that app or not.

It will come as no surprise that for me, knitting has proved invaluable in this kind of distraction activity. And 90% of the time, if I tell myself I will knit for 5 minutes I end up knitting for far longer than that.

It’s a win win. I get more knitting time and my brain benefits from fewer doom scrolling moments.

5 good reasons to knit an afterthought heel

Ta - da! Self stripe socks are just so satisfying and with an afterthought heel they are doubly so. These socks are knitted from a Uneek sock yarn kit in the most fabulous brightly coloured stripes - they very definition of addictive knitting as you just want to race through to the next magical colour change.

Have you worked an afterthought heel before? There are a number of advantages to this most impressive of heels:

1. No need to try on until the tube is completed - ideal for travel. No one wants to be whipping off their shoes in public to try on a sock WIP after all.

2. It doesn't interrupt the flow of the stripe.

3. You can get the heel exactly where you want

4. It always looks impressive when you take scissors to the yarn

5. It’s a great opportunity to play with colour and use a contrast yarn. Or to eke out a 50g sock skein by adding contrast heels and toes.

If the idea of actually cutting your knitting is faintly terrifying, let me offer a few words of reassurance. It really isn’t as scary as you might think and with a few simple steps it’s even fun. I have a step by step tutorial for you if you want to have a try - just tap the button below.

You might also be interested in:

How to knit a Super Sock Snake

Super Sock Snake

£3.50

This is a short tutorial for a different way to knit socks two-at-a-time.
Knit a long tube with a toe at each end, then snip to separate them and add cuffs and afterthought heels.

Photos are added to walk you through the process.

And if your nerve fails you and you can’t bear to take scissors to your knitting you could always turn it into a skinny scarf or graft the ends together to make a cowl - win win!

Free version - a non-print friendly version of this tutorial can be found on my blog - here

Yarn: Sockweight/fingering weight yarn
Needles: 2.5mm

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