Do you find yourself focused on making one type of thing at a time? In my knitting world, I’m focused on socks right now. Socks, socks and more socks! I can’t get enough socks. It’s part of my quest to only wear beautiful, handmade things and have a “closet full of awesome.” (Thanks to Tanit-isis for that quote, it’s been stuck in my head for a long, long time and something I aspire to with every sewing or knitting project.)
Here are some socks I’ve finished recently!
Monkey socks. Probably the most popular sock pattern in the world, with over 15,000 pairs posted on Ravelry. (I think I’ve been able to share my Ravelry projects publicly so if you aren’t on Ravelry you might still be able to click the link and check out the project. I hope it works!)
BFF socks again. Made with free yarn from Eat.Sleep.Knit’s yarn lotto! You buy yarn online, and in the box they include a scratch ticket where you can win store credit or yarn. Free cashmere and wool socks are always welcome. Here’s a link the first pair I made last year, in yellow.
Hermione’s socks. (A car salesman once told me I looked like Hermione. Is that a compliment or not?)
Why knit socks?
Cold feet, of course! My new office is lovely but very cold. As soon as September hit, I could feel the turn in the weather and my feet began to freeze in sockless shoes. I could feel it while riding my bike, but I started switching to my wool socks and it made all the difference. They say if your feet are warm, the rest of you will be warm. (Same goes for cooling off your feet I believe, probably why dipping your feet in a cold pool is so refreshing.) I don’t know anywhere where I can buy wool socks in pretty patterns and bright colours, and I love that I can make them fit my feet and legs exactly the way I want.
Wearing gorgeous, hand-knit socks makes me take better care of my feet. Weird, but true! I was knitting the Hermione socks while waiting at the ferry terminal, and when it got time to try them on I was so embarrassed to pull them up over my scratchy heels. (Hey, I get busy and forget to be on top of these things. Don’t we all?) As soon as I got home I spent a little time pampering my feet, and try to keep them soft and moisturized so they’re deserving of the socks.
As a knitting project, socks are small and easy to take with you. Great for waiting rooms, lineups and other boring occasions where knitting is appropriate.
Knitting and wearing beautiful socks is like wearing gorgeous lingerie. Sure, no one sees it when you’re out and about. Sure, you could just buy something cheap from a department or discount store. Sure, making it is not the most economical option. But doesn’t it feel so great to know you’re wearing something amazing in secret?
Socks are always useful, even if you pick a crazy colour or something that isn’t in perfect alignment with your wardrobe. I’ve been thinking a lot about what clothing I want to wear and what suits my lifestyle and the woman I want to be. A bit heavy, perhaps, but I love how clothing presents an image of ourselves to the world. See me in jeans and a sloppy tee and you might think certain things about me. See me in a pretty dress and cute but sensible flats, probably you’ll think something else about who I am. With socks, no matter what, they’ll keep me warm and work wonderfully in my winter boots. Even if they’re orange striped!
Next up, knee socks. I’m thinking either the German Stockings from the Knit.Sock.Love book or perhaps the Delicious Knee Socks. Have you made either of these? (Is knitting knee-length socks the most tedious thing in the world as I suspect it might be?)
In other knitting news, I attended Knit City here in Vancouver last weekend – very exciting! I met Jane Richmond, the designer of the striped hats I’ve made for Mr Sewaholic and my green hat here and my yellow hat here. I also bought her new book and got her to sign it! (I may have started one of the projects from the book the very night I got it, too…)
I’ve also just finished a very detailed, very beautiful cardigan that’s nearly complete except for buttons.
Thanks for listening to me share my knitting excitement here. I know this is meant to be mostly a sewing blog but it’s all part of the world of making stuff and developing new skills. And of course, being able to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind clothing that’s a joy to wear!
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
I love Jane Richmond’s patterns! I have two of her patterns in my stash, with plans to start working on her Georgia pattern soon.
I haven’t tried either of those knee sock patterns (or any sock pattern for that matter), but I would love to hear how they go for you because I want to knit some knee socks too. I am wierd about socks – mostly because I hardly ever wear them, but I have a hard time wearing brightly colored socks. However, your gorgeous socks might start changing my mind on wearing brightly color socks.
I got to see the Georgia cardigan in real life! All of her samples were there. It was so neat to be able to see them!
I wouldn’t wear bright socks if people could see them, you know? I like them because they’re hidden, or maybe if I go to someone’s house and take off my boots you can see them. I’m not ‘in your face’ about it. :) I do enjoy seeing them when I’m at home though!
I love the look of that cardigan, what a gorgeous colour!
I’ve never really been a sock knitter, but they seem to be so addictive for a lot of people .
The first one is fun, the second one not so much. I do like that they’re small and easy to stuff in a purse for train knitting. Or even car knitting, I’ll knit when Mr Sewaholic drives. It’s a good way to squeeze a few more rows into the day, plus then you don’t mind getting stuck in traffic!
I don’t know how to knit but I still love to read about it. Socks are my least favourite part of winter, I can see how handmade ones might change that.
Yup, they’re way warmer than regular socks. (Unless you bought wool ones or super warm ones intentionally but they’re better than standard black dress socks.) I used to enjoy and envy people’s knitting projects before I knew how, too!
Oh, I want to do a cardigan next year. And a short sleeve lace pullover, which would be so nice to wear year round in Texas, and fun to layer.
I love the third pair of socks!
I’ve been knitting dishcloths since May it seems like – I’ve probably made 50 of them. They are also easily portable to take anywhere, and a set of five in white makes a lovely wedding gift (and we’ll have in total seven weddings this year!) , and a set of two in red and white makes a nice Christmas gift, and both save me lots of dollars and allow me to redeem the time I spend waiting anyway. I hate to wait now without my knitting! A couple of people have even asked for dishcloths.
However, they aren’t as nice to knit as something for yourself …. maybe romance will be less in the air next year and I can get to something lovely for me. :)
Don’t feel bad for raving about knitting, I enjoy it too!
Oh nice! I made a few dishcloths too, they’re a great portable project. Do you find the cotton is hard on your hands? I hate to wait without knitting too!
no, not at all. I’m knitting with bamboo needles and my hands feel fine!
Cotton is easier on your hands than wool.
I can’t believe you’ve only been knitting since last April, you are seriously productive! Love the Lauriel. I haven’t knitted any socks for ages since once I got to ten pairs I figured that was enough :D
Ha, yup! Seriously addicted, more like it!
Ten pairs sounds perfect. I’m thinking once I get to seven I’m good, because then I can wash them all once a week. Maybe eight, one to wear while the seven are being washed. :)
I love knitting socks and they are gratefully received by OH and my dad. Aha, that’s a cardi from Ysolda’s ‘Little Red in the City’. Your yarn choice is beautiful.
Thank you! Yup, it’s the Lauriel. I’m very slowly sewing the buttons and snaps on, I can’t wait to wear it!
Luckily or unluckily, Mr Sewaholic is not interested in socks, so they’re all for me!
I’m also very impressed by how much knitting you get done. I’m such a slow knitter! Not that I mind – there’s no knitting deadline in my life! I’ve never knitted socks. I’m frightened of them!
They are a bit scary at first, those teeny needles and small stitches. I gave up a few times on my first try because the start of the cuff was tricky. Once you get 4-6 rows in, it’s much easier to handle.
Knowing what I know now, I’d suggest magic-loop instead of DPNs, those things are hard to manage at the best of times, even harder when they’re so thin!
Don’t be intimidated! I was scared of making socks before I knit my first pair–it seems like I had this vague sense that turning the heel was difficult. I remember being totally baffled by the directions when I read them before actually knitting the heel. Then, when I was knitting, I just did *exactly* what the directions said, even though they made no sense at the time, and voila! Perfectly turned heel!
If you’re worried about the thin yarn and small needles, there are quite a few patterns out there for sport-weight socks and even worsted weight socks!
I love hand knit socks too! I will admit I’m a bit sock obsessed and have a hard time tearing myself away from sock knitting to work on other things. I’m even wearing a pair of crazy coloured hand knit socks right now! this pair: http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AndiSocial/55407410/IMG_4165_medium.JPG
That sweater looks gorgeous! The colour is so rich and warm. Can’t wait to see it finished!
Those are so bright! Nice to meet another sock knitter who loves the bright and crazy colours!
I tend to work on socks + 1 other thing, so I can switch from little needles to bigger needles. There’s usually always a sock on the go these days!
Wow, I am so impressed by your knitting (and that of the other sewing bloggers). For now, I am knitting scarves, which is as adventurous as it’ll get for a while, I think! I’m with you on the socks – the only reason I don’t have to knit my own nice ones is because my mum knits socks for me – they’re the best! And like didyoumakethat, I am terrified of ever having to make my own.
Oh nice! Now that’s even better, hand-knit socks made with love by someone else. That is so nice of your mum!
Not being a big sock person (since I live somewhere that keeping your feet *cool* all the time is a much higher priority than warming them back up) I’d never thought of fabulous socks as a loveliness priority.
Clearly I have some rethinking to do! :)
Beautiful post.
Warm socks are a priority in Vancouver! For me, anyways. It rains a lot, so it’s nice to have wool on your feet which is still warm when it’s wet. I cycle to work, cold feet are the worst!
If I lived somewhere warm, I probably wouldn’t care as much about wool socks. For me, pretty socks are one way to make the most of cold and dreary weather!
You know, I STILL haven’t jumped on the sock bandwagon yet! Partially because there are sooo many patterns to choose from, and I get overwhelmed. Partially because I’m not ready to make that kind of investment (new teeny needles, and if I’m knitting socks – they are gonna be cashmere socks, ha!). Also, I can’t stop knitting sweaters. But I really love the portability of a tiny pair of socks, and I feel like it’s a knitter’s rite of passage that I need to hop on, you know? :) Plus, I was noticing this morning that my toes were SUPER cold on my bike ride… obviously, cashmere socks (in neon yellow, yes) are the answer to this dilemma :)
I love seeing your knitting projects! That sweater is gorgeous, love love love the color. I think it’s pretty safe to say that you inspire us all, whether you are posting knitting or sewing projects :)
Wool socks are awesome for bike commuting! I notice the difference on the days I wear regular socks. And if you aren’t sure about the colour, or whether it’s the perfect match for your wardrobe, who cares, they’re socks! Sweaters are also awesome to knit. I love your ‘Chuck’ sweater! It’s nice to switch back and forth from sweaters to socks. Something small, something big.
Cashmere socks seem like a good idea until your feet get sweaty and felt them over time. :( Not that I know anything about that, I heard it “from a friend.” Superwash is best to avoid hand knit sock felting-and-shrinking-rage. :)
I have monkey socks! Looove. :) Yours look awesome – all of the projects, actually. I can’t believe you’re relatively new to the craft.
For heels – have you tried pure lanolin? It’s often sold near breastfeeding supplies, so many women aren’t even aware this product exists! My breastfeeding days are over, but the lanolin has been awesome for foot care. At bedtime, slather it on and put on your wool socks!
If you haven’t yet visited, check out Sweet Georgia Yarn (Vancouver) for gorgeous, handdyed sock yarn. (NAYY, although I consider the owner one of my Invisible Friends Inside the Computer – http://www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/)
I love Sweet Georgia yarns! The orange-brown socks are made from Tough Love Sock, so are my yellow cabled pair. I visited their booth at Knit City last weekend and might have picked up more yarn. The colours are amazing!
Thanks for the tip about pure lanolin! I’ll see if I can find it. And thanks for the compliments on my knitting, I’m totally hooked! :)
How do you find so much time for knitting? I know that sewing is your job, so you get a lot of that done. But to knit this much as well! I am really impressed and it all looks so good.
I knit as much as I can! Also, some of these projects I started a while ago so it’s not quite as fast as it looks. The Monkey socks I started in April but put aside for a while to work on other things.. the orange ones got a lot of progress done when I was stuck at a ferry terminal for over four hours.. I’ve started to become that lady that carries knitting in her purse!
Funny, I think I get more knitting accomplished than sewing, because there are so many other things to do at work than sew. (Packing orders, accounting, all that stuff.) But with knitting, it’s purely for enjoyment!
Definitely a compliment- Emma Watson is smokin!
Thanks for the knitting inspiration!!
Aw, thanks! I think he meant it as a compliment too. Let’s go with that. :)
You almost convinced me to knit socks. My mother-in-law already told me lots of amazing things about it. The only reason that prevent me to start to is the double-pointed needles :( Do you use DPN or the magic loop technique ?
I started on DPNs, now I like magic loop better. I found it easier to pick up and knit a few rows when it was magic loop, say for travel knitting. When I didn’t have a lot of time to knit, it took up too much time to untangle the DPNs and the yarn and get back to the knitting. Plus, I like that I can stuff the two ends of the circular needle into the yarn ball and not worry about the socks sliding off the needles.
So don’t worry, you can do magic-loop for socks! The Hermione pattern refers to the magic loop technique in the pattern (needle 1 and needle 2 instead of 4 needles..)
I love seeing your knitting projects – I really want to take it up as a hobby.
Try it! It’s so much fun. (If you want, that is. I’m always the sewing/knitting/crafting enabler.)
That orange. Oh my sweet Bob that orange. *swoons, dead from jealousy*
In response to your question re: knee-socks, tedious? the sad answer is yes. Particularly at around mid-calf where you’re trying them on every ten minutes and it feels like they’re actually getting shorter. But; soooo satisfying when they’re done. :D
Oh good. I’m glad to hear they’re satisfying! I knew they’d be tedious. I can imagine it feels like no progress is made at all once you get to the calf part! Yikes.
The orange is Autumn Flame – isn’t that a great name for it?
I mostly knit socks. A couple of years ago I got the book “2-at-a-time-socks”. It is a great technique using one really long circular needle, but I haven’t had the nerve to translate a conventional pattern to this method. There are a number of patterns in the book and I have been working my way through it. Most of my knitting is on my bus commute and socks are a perfect size. I’m making a pair for my daughter right now. While knit socks are not cheap, I find they are in line with really good wool socks, but a lot nicer because of the choice of fiber, pattern and colors.
I agree, knit socks are not cheap, but then if you try and buy a pair of wool socks they’re quite costly and of course, aren’t made to fit your feet exactly. Your daughter is so lucky! Now I know how much work it takes to knit a sock, knitting socks for someone else definitely means you care!
I’ve seen that book, 2 at a time socks, but skimmed through it and didn’t try the method. Someone I know does two at a time on two separate needles, so it’s like two separate projects that are identical. I think I’m going to try that on my next pair. First the first cuff, then the second cuff, then the first heel, then back to the second heel, etc. Especially for knee socks!
I use 5 double-points per sock, (10 total needles) to knit two socks at a time. I do a couple of inches on one, then move to the other, etc. etc., to make sure they match each other. Takes about the same time as knitting one then knitting the other, but much less boring. Have tried the circular needle method, but I have to keep stopping to read the instructions. Double-points I don’t have to think about. Socks are my favorite meeting/waiting in line/classroom/passenger project: small, quick, easy to hide in your lap. I wish I dared knit them in worship, but I sit in the choir, in full view of the congregation. I finish about a pair a week. Am now reduced to scrounging for yarn at thrift shops — I buy woolen sweaters and frog them, to re-use the yarn. My family expects hand-knit socks at Christmas, since an incident in which I loaned them each a pair at a chilly reunion, and no one would return the socks to me.
A pair a week! Now that is impressive. I’ve been trying to knit new places and see what happens – so far, so good! I don’t think I’d be brave enough to knit in a church either, certainly not if I were in the choir in front of everyone. Good thing you’re so fast if your family anticipates hand-knit socks at Christmas! Of course they loved them as soon as they tried them on, I never understood the fuss until I made my own socks!
You are soooo talented! I love your socks. How about you knit and I buy? LOL I’ve only made 2 knit scarves recently, and I do not know how to knit socks!!!!
Thank you so much! Scarves are a good first step to learning to knit socks. It’s all the same stitches – knit and purl – just smaller and on smaller needles.
After spending 2-3 weeks knitting a pair of socks, I’d never sell them! It would be too hard to give them away, even in exchange for money! :)
My philosophy is if you’re going to knit socks, you might as well knit knee socks! But that’s mostly because they are my favorite kind, I love them with boots in the winter. I hadn’t knit any socks for a long long time, since my first pair were kind of a bust for me and I gave them to my aunt. But, I took a workshop with the amazing Cat Bordhi last winter, and made a pair of knee socks using her sweet tomato heel.
I kept myself entertained during the leg parts by figuring out where to decrease to shape the leg, and then during the second sock by knitting it from the toe up instead, which I highly recommend if the second sock bores you silly. Of course, by the time I finished them it was warm, so I just wore them for the first time the other day. Socks are actually one of the (few) things that I’m happy with buying (I like Smartwool) but I’m kind of worried that now that I have this one pair I’ll go down the same road you did!
Now you have me motivated to make my second pair of socks, 8 years after I finished my first pair!! Thanks!!
Beautiful socks! How excellent that the yarn was free :) I firmly believe that handmade socks are the warmest there is, toasty in fact.
I love the phrase “closet full of awesome” – that is just what I’d love to have. Best get cracking ;)
My mum moisturises her heels EVERY day. Just regular moisturiser, nothing fancy. Her heels are probably the best in town :)
Your socks and cardigan are so very lovely, and I am so glad to see all of the reasons I should be making socks! It looks like I will be picking up some sock patterns in the near future :)
I looooove knitting socks! Just started early last year, and decided to knit my whole immediate family + cousin and boyfriend each a pair for Christmas 2011! It was quite the undertaking (I started in…July or August? And got done like a week before Christmas), but it was awesome to see them all try on their socks.
And thanks for the reminder – I’ve been meaning to cast on a new pair for a week or two now! :D Yay Autumn knitting!
p.s. Not sure if I like your Monkey socks or BFF socks more…they’re both awesome!
I’m soooo motivated to knit socks now! I have the yarn, needles, and an awesome beginner pattern that calls for worsted and explains each step in detail rather than “knit speak” LOL I have to finish the cable scarf on my needles now before I start my next challenge. Like I said to you on ravelry, Tasia, you are my inspiration to learn to knit! :)
Wow bright color, I love it. :-) I have started with magic loop and I agree it is really more easier and less scary. Have you tried some other kind of heel? I used the sweet tomato heel from Cat Brodhi and it is so mindless when you understand the process and so adjustable fitting.
This posting got me SOOOO excited. I’ve always wanted to try knitting. I started looking up some of the knitting sites you mentioned, then it dawned on me… I already sew, paint, draw, do graphic art and teach it, plus I have a 2 year old and a 2 month old. Perhaps I should wait to take on yet another creative hobby and I’ll just live vicariously through other people’s photos and posts… I do enjoy your non-sewing posts for this reason:)
I was convinced I was never knitting another pair of socks again after my first pair until The Husband expressed a preference for them…what’s a girl to do. The second pair I loved…it turned out it was all about the yarn! And I received a gorgeous lace pair in red for my birthday…I’m sold. I’m craving a big thick pair of wellie socks…but currently have Jane Richmond’s Audrey on the needles. And suspect I may have to add Lauriel to the list too! Keep knitting…keep sharing…I love everything you do.
I really, really wish I knit. I think I have a mental block. But I definitely have cold feet and I LOVE fancy socks! Sock Dreams breaks me in the winter. ;)
your cardigan is divine! can’t wait to see it in a future post! and it’s finally cool enough here to bust out socks too! yay!
I wish I had your list of reasons to knit socks when my thesis adviser (upon seeing that I was knitting socks) said, “You know, you can buy socks these days.” I love, love, love my handmade socks. And if you knit them out of wool, they stay warm even when they are soaking wet–very handy if you live in a rainy climate!
Also, your sweater is beautiful and I love that color of yarn. The buttons look like they were designed for that particular sweater. :)
My name is Roo and I am a Sockaholic! ;)
Actually, I AM in the Sock-knitters Anonymous Group on Ravelry. It is full of hard-core sock-knitters, many of whom SCARE me, but it’s a great place to see lots of amazing patterns and yarns. I have joined the SKA 2012 challenge and an aiming to knit a pair of socks every month for a year. If nothing else I should have lots of presents to give at Christmas!
Lovely lovely colours you’ve got there!
Tasia, amazing socks. Love those cables…thanks for sharing!
Beautiful socks! And that cardigan looks lovely too. I’ve been on a cardigan knitting kick lately – just finished my first and knitted the gague swatch for the second last night. I have a hermionie sock in progress… but it’s been untouched since august :/ It’s looking lovely, just taking ages!
I’ve been following your blog a long time without commenting, but wanted to let you know that your blue sweater you posted last year was the final thing that sent me to mum asking to learn to sew after years resisting, and that this cardigan is divine and please please tell us more about it, such as what the pattern is and where to get it!
Thank you! It’s an easy pattern, St. James on Ravelry, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/st-james here is the link. It’s free but you have to email the designer to get a copy. Have fun and good luck!
I’ve been knitting for a few years but have only ever made three pairs of socks. That’s it! Why? Because I get the worst case of “second sock syndrome” and it takes me forever to get around finishing the second pair. I do love sock yarn though, so much so that I have quite a few skeins in my stash that need to be used up so I best get over that second sock syndrome soon :) Lucky that you got to meet Jane Richmond. That new sweater pattern on her book looks lovely.