Sock knitting tricks i have learned

Sock knitting isn't just a pass time for me, it is an addiction.  I knit and wear hand knit socks almost all year round.  In the years i have been knitting socks, i have figured out some helpful tricks that i thought i would share.

I really dislike coming to the end of a 3 day or 2 week long sock project and know that i have to weave in 30 ends of yarns, especially in colorwork.  As a result, i have come up with a few ways that will work in most cases to deal with that as you are knitting.

Adding a new color:

When i know i will be adding a new color next round in stranded knitting, i start by draping the new color of yarn to be introduced next round over the current working yarns with a 6 inch tail.

Next, i pull it snug up close to the item i am knitting and hold it with left hand ( i am right handed).

Now knit with one of the previously used colors. This secures your new color, ready to be used next round.

Now simply knit with both strands of the new color held double, after bringing them around the previous yarns to ensure no hole.

Make sure to drop the short end of the new yarn on the inside of the garment (sock) when it is .5 inches long.  It will stick out inside, but won't unravel. I have the world's most sensitive feet and i cannot feel it at all.

Finishing a color you are done with:

When you are finished with a working color and want to break it off, and your knitting isn't pattern dense, you can break that color at the beginning of the round, leaving a 6 to 8  inch tail.  Then pick up a different color of your choice... usually one that is closest to the color that you just broke.  Hold the two yarns double and knit with them until the broken yarn is .5 inches long, and leave on the inside of the sock... then continue with the other live yarn. You can see below in my ombre Blender socks, specifically on the dark toe, there are flecks of coral and black together, that is a broken coral color being held double and knit with black. If you don't mind a mix of the two colors, it's a great way to not have ends to weave.

 You can also knit one to three stitches with the color you have broken off held double with the still live yarn, being sure that the live yarn is behind the broken yarn so it will be more hidden, then for the rest of the round or row, hold the broken yarn in your secondary hand and trap it every 2 stitches like you would when working stranded knitting.

So there you are, two easy to do tricks to help reduce the number of ends you need to weave in. This pair of  Ombre Blender Socks were knit with 6 different yarns.  That would have led to 24 ends to weave in... i had NONE to weave in.

Find me on Ravelry: squarejane

Monster Mash

I knit a lot.  Mostly, i love to knit socks as they are utilitarian, will see lots of wearing, they are small projects and very portable.  They are generally well received as gifts and sizing is not generally too complicated.  When i am cold, wool on my feet is an instant warm hug.  I also just love looking down at my feet to see the crazy colorful socks i knit.  It makes me all hella happy.  Once you start wearing hand knit socks, it's near impossible to go back to cheap crappy store bought.  Sure, you will pay between $9 and $30 for the wool for one pair of socks, but that pair will last 10 times longer than your typical sock and 30 times longer than a dollar store sock if cared for properly. 

Sock pattern is available from Drops Design.  It's a great pattern but for established sock knitters.  These were my first attempt at stranded knitting in the round.

These are Puzzle socks by Violet Green (pattern is available for purchase).

One of my more favorite socks to knit up are Stripe Tease for their unique construction. Yay General Hogbuffer! So nice, i knit them twice. Too bad these ones shrunk.  My son inherited a great pair of socks. This pattern is free on Ravelry too.

Shown here is Kalajoki by Tiina Seppälä... an excellent free pattern available to download from Ravelry.  Note, you must be a member to access the patterns on Ravelry. If you love to knit, and you aren't on Ravelry, well what are you waiting for!? It's awesome there.

What happens when you knit so many pairs of size 6 women's socks is you are often left with 1/6th of a skein of yarn or about 70 yards.  In fingering weight yarn, that is not all that much to make any one item.  you can save them all up to make a scrap yarn blanket which i will be doing this winter but you can also combine those remnants into MORE SOCKS.  These are commonly referred to as Monster Socks.  You can use any old sock pattern, and there are many different ways to combine the colors of yarn including but not limited to, knitting 2 rows each of 5 or 6 left overs or using the Blender Sock formula.  I like to stagger a few rows back and forth with my various yarns and do some stranded colorwork.  It makes for some super cozy socks that are fun and colorful. 

 These were knit for my teen daughter... and i can barely get them from her long enough to wash them.

These are all mine baby!