6 Reasons You Should Try Knitting Socks

Knitting socks will make you a better knitter!

Ever since I knit my first pair of socks, I’ve almost constantly had a pair of socks on my needles. I resisted sock knitting for a really long time, partly because they look hard but mostly because I figured that was a lot of work for something that would only be on my feet and not seen very much. But now that I’ve knit a few pairs, I love to knit socks!

Reasons Socks are Great to Knit

1. Knitting socks will make you a better knitter! Knitting socks is a great way to learn a variety of intermediate & advanced knitting techniques fairly easily. Sure you could knit a sweater, but that’s a big investment in time AND yarn if  it doesn’t turn out well. With socks, you can learn to do short rows, increases, decreases, cables, ribbing, lace knitting… pretty much any technique. And its a lot less investment than a sweater.
2. They are very portable. I can stick a pair of socks in my purse and take them with me anywhere. Most people I knit with have a small project as their “purse knitting” and socks make a great choice.
3. They don’t take very long. I can usually finish a pair of socks in a few weeks if I work on them as my main project.
4. Hand made socks are soooo comfortable.
5. You can make them exactly like you want them – plain, fancy, lacy, striped, fuzzy, multicolored… whatever makes your perfect sock you can knit for yourself.
6. They aren’t as hard as they look. And there are TONS of resources online to help you get started.

Please share your sock knitting experiences in the comments. Do you have a favorite yarn? Favorite sock designer? I’d love to hear about it.

Why You COULD Do Something Like That

All of the work is totally worth it when you're cuddled up under an afghan you made yourself.

As an avid crocheter and knitter, I wear a lot of hand made items. And when I do, I hear people say to be all the time “I could never do something like that.” Although I suppose this is intended to be flattering, it drives me crazy! I’m nothing special. I wasn’t born with some special crocheting gene. I just tried it. At first it was horrible – the first sweater I ever made for was for my brother. It was over 20 years ago and the sleeves are actually two very different lengths. And yet, he still has it because I made it for him.

The second sweater I tried to make didn’t even get finished. I made the whole body, then the first sleeve, then the second sleeve. But when I finished the second sleeve I discovered it didn’t match the first one. The problem was I didn’t know which one was right. And I didn’t have enough yarn to make a third sleeve. It took so long to make that I couldn’t stand the thought of unraveling it. So that sweater got put in a bag where it still sits to this day, unfinished.

The first afghan I ever made was so small it was useless as a blanket except for a child (which wasn’t the intended purpose). I didn’t check my gauge – yes I know almost every pattern says to check your gauge but I didn’t think I needed that step for some reason. That blanket is currently used by one of my dogs when she’s in her crate.

The second? Also way too small – although bigger. And the pattern was really hard because it was full of popcorn stitches. Ugh I hate popcorn stitches.

The third took me 2 years to complete. But I finished it and it is beautiful and I use it to this day. Sure I look at it now and know that I shouldn’t have used a variegated yarn on that complicated cable stitch pattern, but I’m amazed how well its held up.

My point:

You may not love the first thing you crochet or knit. You may not even love the second one. Did you write a fantastic paper in school the first time you tried in kindergarten? Did you ride a bike on your first attempt? Was the first meal you cooked a gourmet one? Just like any other skill, it takes time and practice and patience. So the question is – is it worth all that? And I say “Hell yes!” I have been glad I knew how to crochet and knit for so many reasons. You CAN do it. And now days its easier than ever with all the blogs and videos on YouTube to help you out. I had to learn from pictures in a book for pity’s sake!

If I can help on your journey I’m happy to. Just post in the comments with your questions, concerns or doubts and I’ll help you get going in the right direction.

Happy crafting!