The Sock Saga... Part 1

Socks feel like a rite of passage for a knitter, and for some it really becomes the meat of it. It took me a long time before I even considered The Sock, and when I finally did, it took me a few more years before I felt in my own brain what makes them special. Sometimes you don't "get" something until you feel pulled towards it yourself.

Below I have outlined what it has taken to get me here, to a place where I am attempting to make The Perfect Sock To Fit My Average Feet. I prefer the journey of getting there on my own as opposed to following patterns, however I have learned so much from patterns that I need to mention a few throughout this saga.

Exhibit A

In my first post here, I shared a photo of my first sock. I made it with acrylic and it doesn't fit well, but the construction taught me a lot. A Barney sock is still a sock even if it sucks to wear. It is now a part of my knitting museum aka a bag in my closet and some photos on my laptop. It's a good try sock, a keepsake.

Then I forgot how to make socks because (as you will see later) I don't really care too much for DPNs. I thought it was the only way to make socks. After a long hiatus from knitting, in 2022 I found Lisa's Knit Club on Instagram and became inspired to knit again.

Exhibit B

Cue the end of 2022 and I'm making my husband a pair of socks out of Paton's Classic Wool based on Tin Can Knits Rye sock pattern. The negative ease has since disappeared thanks to the yarn I used. I did not understand the need for nylon. There was a positive development though because I ditched the DPNs in favor of 9" circulars.

Exhibit C

My first pair of socks with sock yarn finished in January 2023, following Tincan Knits Rye Light pattern. Now THESE ones fit. Why? I used S O C K yarn. For SOCKS. Amazing right? I am wearing them right now. They are very cozy and purple.

Pattern: Rye Light by Tin Can Knits
Yarn: Cascade Heritage Sock

 

This is my last finished pair because I didn't like socks for awhile. 

 

Exhibit D

 

Then I started Shrimply the Best Socks by Stone Knits, entering the realm of colorwork socks. I even did a forethought heel. Mind blown. I didn't realize at this point how many options there are for heels and toes.

The problem with the first shrimp sock was that it was my first time doing a forethought heel and though I tried to avoid it by looking at multiple tutorials, I got gaps in between the two halves of my heel. Then I had to redo the heel 3 times because of tension issues. I ended up using magic loop.

Now I had somewhat of a foundation, but I wanted to figure out how to make THE sock. With much trial and error, right now my perfect sock recipe involves 56 sts, some 2x2 ribbing, and size 0 needles. Still a work in progress, but one that is much more calculated and based on what I have learned. Stay tuned for the perfection of The Sock...