The Knitters Thread

iQueen

Raksha wrote: »

OK, I'm getting into socks....... Technically stretching my brain just enough, never do one thing for so long it gets boring, and such lovely colours of yarn out there (shame OH will only wear black........) I like long socks, but having short fat legs, rarely found any that fitted properly, but now I also have a pattern for socks for Diabetics, and I'm in heaven! The feel of a sock that's knitted to fit your foot is like nothing else.

BUT - what's the cheapest sock yarn you can get? and is it any good? Really not sure I want to spend £8 plus on a pair of socks.....

Great news! Sox are addictive... small enough to put in your bag, so you have something to do when waiting for a bus, travelling, doctor's/dentist appointments etc etc. And SO many amazing techniques to experiment with, to find the Perfect Sock for you!

You can knit sox in any yarn, BUT... with varying results!

Acrylic and other man-made yarns, together with natural yarns, such as silk, camel, mohair, alpaca (llama hair), angora (rabbit hair), and dog/cat hair (for spinners) etc, do not have much (if any) elasticity, so they stretch and lose their shape very quickly.

Real 'wool' comes only from sheep and has great elasticity, which allows socks to retain their shape almost endlessly, wash after wash. So, the best sock yarn has 75% wool, with 25% nylon for strength - the wool is 'superwash', so machine washable and often cool tumble dry, but purists usually hand wash their socks anyway. Pure wool is OK, but will wear thin on the back of heels, needing regular darning, and will have a shorter life; but there are free patterns on the Internet, that have replaceable heels.

Alpaca is very light and very warm. Angora (from rabbits, NOT Angora [Mohair] goats,) is the warmest natural fibre. Silk is both warm and strong. So, any yarn which has a bit of one of these, with wool, will be good. Some Mohair will add strength, without being fluffy.

Normally, sock yarn is 4ply (Fingering in the US). Anything thicker may be too thick for wearing with your normal shoes/boots. Aran weight (US worsted weight) acrylic, with 25+% wool is OK for long sox with Wellington boots, but more wool is better for walking boots. Double Knitting weight (DK) yarn is good for serious walking/rambling.

Some of the cheaper sock yarns - King Cole (Zig Zag), Teddy (Cosy Toes) are a bit skinnier than Regia, Opal, etc, and the very posh designer yarns, but they are OK for everyday socks.

Any 4ply yarn with a high (50+%) wool content can be used for sox; however, specific 'sock yarn' is spun with a higher twist, which gives it more strength.

Socks should be knitted on smaller needles than those commonly used with 4ply (or different weight yarns) - this gives a tighter, firmer and denser fabric for better wear.

Look out for bargains on Ebay, in both auctions and Buy It Now, there are real bargains still to be had, from time to time. Don't forget to include the postage costs in your calculations! Recently, I bought 900g of sock yarn, from a business seller, for £2.50 per 100g and less than £3.00 postage. I usually regard sock yarn below £6.00/100g (inc p&p) as pretty good.

As your OH is SO adventurous (NOT!) with sock colours, you should be able to get some good 'vintage' 4ply/sock yarn bargains on Ebay - keep an eye out for 'sock yarn' and 'shrink resistant' but be prepared to hand wash the sox, if you're not sure - most vintage yarns are not machine washable and shrink-proof.

I keep my better quality sock yarns for Christmas and birthday present socks (only for people who really appreciate the value of hand-knitted stuff and my hard work!), or myself!

Explore Ravelry for really nice patterns (many are free downloads) and forum discussions on different techniques. Join one or more of the Ravelry sock knitting groups for very quick advice or KnittingHelp.com message boards, or here, of course.

Knit OH a pair of socks in black and grey patterned yarn... before long you'll be asked for colours!

Best wishes.

janb5

Fabulous informative post iqueen. Worth keeping for reference. Thank you.:j

Harryonesock

Hi I really want to learn to crochet!! How easy/hard is it?? What's the best way to start?? Please!! Thanks!!

mrs-moneypenny

welcome harryonesock, i picked up basic crochet off youtube tutorials there are some really good ones out there.

Harryonesock

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

welcome harryonesock, i picked up basic crochet off youtube tutorials there are some really good ones out there.

Thankyou!! I will have a look!!

mrs-moneypenny

im left handed and i managed to do a few bits learning from them. hope you get on ok

LV_Sue

Harryonesock wrote: »

Hi I really want to learn to crochet!! How easy/hard is it?? What's the best way to start?? Please!! Thanks!!

Have a look at Attis24's blog. Some tutorials on there.
http://www.attic24.typepad.com/

There is also a crochet thread here on MSE. Some hints & tips on there and there's usually someone to answer your queries.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1402877

I'm left-handed and taught myself many years ago by sitting in front of a mirror with an instruction book on my lap. My Nan had despaired of me ever learning to crochet as I just couldn't master it from her lessons although she taught me to knit right-handed. After about a year of changing patterns to suit my backwards way I decided to try with the hook in my right hand instead of my left and have been doing it that way for the past 40 years! :rotfl:

Gintotmelinda

Evening all

I'd love to knit socks but that's light years away LOL.

I've popped in to ask if anyone knows of any copies of the part work The Art of Knitting going spare? I am happy to pay....I only collected up to part 4 but now my knitting skills have improved I'd like more.

Ta

Gintot

janb5

iQueen wrote: »

I'm already on it! :beer:

My first Grandbaby is due beg of December (I've been waiting 20 years for this event! :rotfl:) and I thought "GREAT! Baby = tiny garments = stashbuster".

BUT, have you noticed - nothing's changed... not enough of the colour you want to use or not the right weight or too fluffy, or too coarse for a baby or... etc, etc? Just another opportunity to RE-stash! :eek:

So, having rushed out and bought a load more yarn, as soon as I knew of my promotion to expectant Grandma, I am definitely joining you on a major attempt at stash-busting.

Not only has my stash grown, but I have also wasted WEEKS 'pattern-browsing' and have increased my Queue and Library of free patterns stashed on Ravelry! Well worthwhile though, because I have found some very cute and unusual things.

Here are some: (ALL FREE!)

DK cabled suit
Cute Chunky duffle coat - quick and easy
DK Sweater with little owl - has a padded tummy!
DK Viking hat
4ply Baby socks - about 15g of leftover sock wool (easiest on 4in Knit Pro DPNs).
4ply/DK (Sport/Quick knit) Pixie Hat
DK Speckle Cardigan - great stash buster.
Dishcloth baby blanket (or similar diagonal pattern - 36in square) - ditto - and quick. (I used up some 30 year-old Chunky acrylic - 400g and used this edging in Aran weight)
DK Top-down quick cardigan
DK Sheep Cardigan

Apart from the Owl Sweater, I'm sticking to cardigans cos, in my experience of 5, babies object to being reminded of their entry into the world, by having sweaters pulled over their heads, for the first few months! :shocked:

Ooooh! Don't forget to check out Toys on Ravelry. Here are some examples:

Traditional ball (also lots of others)
'Shelf' chickens
Easy-grasp star

What is the equivalent of Size 2 of the American sock pattern on Ravelry in our knitting gauge please?

janb5

Whoops sorry just found it - sorry cant do links


US Size 0 (2.00mm)US Size 1 (2.25mm)US Size 1 (2.50mm)US Size 2 (2.75mm)US Size 2 (3.00mm)US Size 3 (3.25mm)US Size 4 (3.50mm