The Knitters Thread

jennyjelly

Hello Ayeshalush, if you are looking for a really straightforward and easy to follow step by step tutorial, try this one. All the lessons start in the 5th box down. I was really terrified by the thought of knitting socks, but thanks to this I now find them so easy I don't even need a pattern,

As far as yarns go, there are loads of lovely ones. Regia is really nice to start with and gives very good results for a reasonable price (loads on ebay). Trekking and Opal are lovely but a bit more expensive, and then there is Noro ....... aaah Noro, if only I could afford it all the time! Type in sock yarn on ebay and you'll be spoilt for choice!

Good luck.

Ayeshalush

You are a star jennyjelly! Thank you so much - that pattern/lesson is perfect.

I had been looking at Regia and Noro on ebay as I've seen them mentioned on ravelry. Think I'll go with Regia this time and save the Noro for when I know that my socks will turn out ok!!

Off to search ebay!

Thanks again.

Ali
xx

lynseydee

jennyjelly wrote: »

Hello Ayeshalush, if you are looking for a really straightforward and easy to follow step by step tutorial, try this one. All the lessons start in the 5th box down. I was really terrified by the thought of knitting socks, but thanks to this I now find them so easy I don't even need a pattern,

As far as yarns go, there are loads of lovely ones. Regia is really nice to start with and gives very good results for a reasonable price (loads on ebay). Trekking and Opal are lovely but a bit more expensive, and then there is Noro ....... aaah Noro, if only I could afford it all the time! Type in sock yarn on ebay and you'll be spoilt for choice!

Good luck.

I use this pattern and have made one pair of socks already. It is such an easy pattern to follow especially for a complete novice. Am starting my second pair at the moment but shaping the toe and have found out I haven't decreased a stitch on one of my rows so going to have to go back and find out where :mad:

Other than that I'm glad this pattern was recommended.

OrkneyStar

Ayeshalush wrote: »

You are a star jennyjelly! Thank you so much - that pattern/lesson is perfect.

I had been looking at Regia and Noro on ebay as I've seen them mentioned on ravelry. Think I'll go with Regia this time and save the Noro for when I know that my socks will turn out ok!!

Off to search ebay!

Thanks again.

Ali
xx

Just some more advice :cool:.
I have found the nicest sock wools to work with being Opal brand (even Opal Cotton), Regia is lovely but can be splitty, recently discovered how lovely Trekking XXL is (I re-did a heel 5 times :eek:, and the yarn still felt as good as first handling by the end lol). I have also used Noro- gorgeous stuff, but did make my hands feel a bit dry, and boy it it expensive lol!
Good luck!

lynseydee

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Just some more advice :cool:.
I have found the nicest sock wools to work with being Opal brand (even Opal Cotton), Regia is lovely but can be splitty, recently discovered how lovely Trekking XXL is (I re-did a heel 5 times :eek:, and the yarn still felt as good as first handling by the end lol). I have also used Noro- gorgeous stuff, but did make my hands feel a bit dry, and boy it it expensive lol!
Good luck!

Orkneystar, have you knitted with King Cole sock yarn and if so what's it like. There's some 100g balls on ebay for £3.99 plus postage.

Ayeshalush

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Just some more advice :cool:.
I have found the nicest sock wools to work with being Opal brand (even Opal Cotton), Regia is lovely but can be splitty, recently discovered how lovely Trekking XXL is (I re-did a heel 5 times :eek:, and the yarn still felt as good as first handling by the end lol). I have also used Noro- gorgeous stuff, but did make my hands feel a bit dry, and boy it it expensive lol!
Good luck!

Thank you everyone for the advice and support.:D

I've already ordered some Regia and some needles (not sure how I'll get on with these as I've never used them before but I'm willing to learn:D). Will bear the Opal in mind for next time.

Ali
xx

OrkneyStar

lynseydee wrote: »

Orkneystar, have you knitted with King Cole sock yarn and if so what's it like. There's some 100g balls on ebay for £3.99 plus postage.

I do have one ball of the King Cole 'Zig Zag' sock yarn, in the blue/purple/black shade, and I did start to knit with it (did about 1/2 a leg) but then stopped (basically as the pattern and yarn were not complementing each other, would use Zig Zag for stockinette stitch probably, not lace etc). I got a free sock pattern with the ball, and tbh I have found it one of the nicest patterns to follow (rib, stockinette, and three other designs included). It felt nice enough, perhaps not as nice as Regia, but ok. Not sure what it washes up like though.
If you search under 'yarns' in ravelry, and then look at the comments section you will see what people think of it and what it has been used to knit.

jennyjelly

I've done 2 pairs in King Cole Zig Zag and it's not at all bad for the price, knits up nicely and washes well. Some of the colours (the red/blue/yellow one is nice bottom right on the pic below) and some are a bit naff (Cournucopia comes out looking as if it has dirt smudges on it), but then if you want beautifully designed self patterning you will pay more. I do agree with Orkneystar that it's more suited to plainer patterns though.

On the whole I'd say give it a go, it's a budget yarn but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

BTW, for reference, the orange ones and the pinky ones are Opal, the blue stripies and top left red fleckies are Regia.

OrkneyStar

jennyjelly wrote: »

I've done 2 pairs in King Cole Zig Zag and it's not at all bad for the price, knits up nicely and washes well. Some of the colours (the red/blue/yellow one is nice bottom right on the pic below) and some are a bit naff (Cournucopia comes out looking as if it has dirt smudges on it), but then if you want beautifully designed self patterning you will pay more. I do agree with Orkneystar that it's more suited to plainer patterns though.

On the whole I'd say give it a go, it's a budget yarn but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

BTW, for reference, the orange ones and the pinky ones are Opal, the blue stripies and top left red fleckies are Regia.

I think my faves are the pinky ones, although they are all nice!

janb5

Ayeshalush wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the advice and support.:D

I've already ordered some Regia and some needles (not sure how I'll get on with these as I've never used them before but I'm willing to learn:D). Will bear the Opal in mind for next time.

Ali
xx

Hi can I suggest that you look at the wooden needles which are lovely to work with
http://www.knitpro.eu/DoublePointed.aspx?ch=NEEDLE&left=DP

I know they are quite expensive but once you`ve used these, you will be loathe to use any others !