I Sock! You Sock! We All Sock!

Sorry about the possible angry connotations of that title. No offense intended! Feeling a wee bit frisky and frustrated after waaaaaay too much editing recently. You should see me with my red pen. “Ha, ha, bad sentence… Take that!” I know, it’s really a good thing I don’t leave my house all that often…

Anyway, since this week starts another round of Socktoberfest activities, thought I’d best get on last week’s assignment!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I took a sock knitting class in the spring of 2004 and created the world’s ugliest sock for Ronald McDonald. I wasn’t exactly enamored with the process or the product.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

My first completed pair of socks was for this spring’s Knitting Olympics. They were for my mom, out of Opal something or other, using Magic Loop. I don’t know how much they’ve been worn. I haven’t heard of reports of darning. Ahem, mom, wear your socks!

What would you have done differently?

I’m not crazy about how ribbing looks for me so I would probably go for a different top, maybe a picot edge. I also used a short row heel and that wasn’t pretty. I didn’t have too many problems with the wrapping and turning, it was a gauge issue between knitting flat and in the round. (I’m still planning to work on fixing that!) Lately I’ve been using the “beforethought” heel (like the afterthought heel, but, um, before you knit the foot) and that is working out much better. But overall, I was pretty pleased with my Knitting Olympics results.
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I don’t think I’ve found my true love sock yarn yet. Maybe it’s hiding out with my true love boy? Can you imagine finding your perfect yarn and your perfect boy all at the same time? Talk about heaven… Anyway, I’ve used Regia, Lion Brand Magic Stripes, Trekking XXL, Paton’s Classic Wool (for some worsted wt. winter socks), Opal and am currently using Sunshine Yarns. I’m pretty excited to try the Looped Back yarn I recently discovered and some SweetGeorgia in the stash.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I’m definitely a Magic Looper. My first pair was on DPNs and my gauge was horrible. I felt like I was wrestling a porcupine. Socks are my portable project so I like being able to throw them in my bag and not worry about all those little points sticking me or more importantly, having the sock slip off one of those slippery little ends. So far I’ve enjoyed my socks knit on Addis sz. 2.5 mm (marked a US#1 but it’s a little off standard size) and hope to try the Knitpicks needles soon.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

Right now it’s the before-thought heel from Charlene Schurch, but I did enjoy the heel flap on a recent pair. I’m still experimenting. I’m looking forward to trying the heel flap on toe-up method that I’ve seen in recent socks on Knitty. Onward and upward (literally), right?

How many pairs have you made?

1. Knitting Olympics for Mom
2. Winter Socks for me
3. Lion Brand for me
4. Trekking for me
5. A few lone socks that will be gifts eventually… since I know of at least two socks that are finished, I’m counting this as an unmatched pair.

Happy Socking everyone!