The Knitters Thread

Mrs_Bea

Got a question already ... I did warn you!
If I use sock yarn will the socks be light weight? What I would like is really chunky/warm/cosy ones, the kind you put on in the evening to snuggle up reading in rather than walking around all day with shoes on. Could I use plain old DK?

angeltreats

Mrs_Bea wrote: »

Got a question already ... I did warn you!
If I use sock yarn will the socks be light weight? What I would like is really chunky/warm/cosy ones, the kind you put on in the evening to snuggle up reading in rather than walking around all day with shoes on. Could I use plain old DK?

Sock yarn will still make really cosy, chunky socks - honestly, they are a lot thicker than you'd think from looking at the ball of yarn. My DH wears them round the house like slipper socks.

RAS - that's the same link as the one I posted Glad to see other people have found it as useful as I have.

crumblepie

I've used the same link as angeltreats to learn how to knit socks. Now there's no stopping me.

I started of by using some sock wool I found cheap (£1 a ball as opposed to £4 normal price) and they are really warm because of the wool content. Now i use normal double knitting wool/ chunky wool / whatever I feel like.

One tip though - and a great advantage when knitting foot up patterns is check the sock fits your foot! I know this sounds stupid but for example when I knit with the thin 'proper' sock wool I use 32 stitiches on each needle but with double knit wool I have 26 - 28 stitches a needle depending on the thickness of the wool. I use two circular needles to knit my socks because i find it easier than attempting four needles - and my local shop only had circular needles.:D

I've even done hot water bottle covers using circular needles for no other reason than I hate sewing seams. Same principle as a sock but a few more stitches.

Have a look at kemps wool shop link they often have offers on wool. I've used them before and they delivery quite quickly.

funkymonkey849

I would totally recommend this pattern for a first time sock knitter:

http://mary4169.tripod.com/Easy_Worsted_Socks.pdf

It says worsted weight but I use DK and it works fine

I prefer to knit socks with DK weight yarn, any thinner than this just seems to take an age! You'll have lovely thick socks too.

Only thing I would say, when you get to the heel just follow the instructions , even when it seems to make no sense just carry on! It will work out. Keep the faith

mandy_moo_1

probably a silly question i know......but how does everyone cast on?

when i was taught as a girl, i used 2 needle cast on, and then when all the stitches were there, i'd knit into the back of the stitch as the first row, to give a nice firm edge

but i've seen videos on the net, using one needle and your fingers, and they dnt mention knitting into the back of the stitch....they say that casting on this way gives you your 1st knitted row

then i've seen another way, called cable cast on.....when would you use that method?

i was looking for a different way to do it, as i like it when some people knit, say the cuffs on a jumper, and the rib is stretchy, IYKWIM....how do they do that?

Olliebeak

I use the 'two needle method' but only 'knit through the back of the knit stitches' when doing the first row of rib. I don't 'purl through the back of the purl stitches' - that makes the rib to tight imho.

If you like the twisted rib look, knitting through the backs of all the knit stitches for the entire rib bits produces a quite 'elasticy rib'.

My mum uses the 'one needle and thumb method' of cast on - somehow looping the yarn around her left thumb and knitting it off onto the needle held in the right hand - but it just doesn't work for me.

OrkneyStar

Mandy_moo_1 and Olliebeak- I was taught to cast on using one needle and my thumb- always do it that way. It seems to work fine for me, but then I am sure the two needle way is fine too (I just haven't bothered to learn it as happy with current way). I suspect we will all prefer different ways just like we prefer different wools or needles x

Olliebeak

My mum tried her best to teach me the thumb method, but it just doesn't sink in with me . I also developed into a 'right needle under the arm' knitter - which mum thinks is hilarious :rotfl:.

blueberrypie

mandy_moo_1 wrote: »

probably a silly question i know......but how does everyone cast on?

when i was taught as a girl, i used 2 needle cast on, and then when all the stitches were there, i'd knit into the back of the stitch as the first row, to give a nice firm edge

but i've seen videos on the net, using one needle and your fingers, and they dnt mention knitting into the back of the stitch....they say that casting on this way gives you your 1st knitted row

then i've seen another way, called cable cast on.....when would you use that method?

i was looking for a different way to do it, as i like it when some people knit, say the cuffs on a jumper, and the rib is stretchy, IYKWIM....how do they do that?

I use different cast-ons for different purposes. Like you, I was first taught the two-needle cast-on, and it's still the one I'd teach a new knitter first, because once they've mastered the knit-stitch, it's the easiest cast-on. But there are lots of other ways to cast on - it just depends on what kind of edge you're looking for, and no one cast-on is right for every item. The one-needle-and-thumb method is easy to learn, but it's not one I really like.

A long-tail cast-on gives a good stretchy edge, but the Twisted German cast-on does that and also gives a really nice-looking edge. For socks, I usually knit toe-up and use the cast-on described in Silver's Sock Class. Judy's Magic Cast-on is another good one.

NualaBuala

Great links blueberrypie! :T I think for my next project I will a new method. I'm thinking of doing toe-up socks. If I ever finish these ones - I keep putting them to one side.

I found a local supplier of Drops Fabel yarn at €2.90 a ball so will save on postage, yay! Also found King Cole ZigZag for €6.50 a ball at a stall in the local farmers' market but not sure if that is a good price.