Socks! Socks, socks, socks, socks, socks!
Who doesn’t love socks?
If you’ve been knitting for a while, chances are you’ve heard of or even met one of those elusive ‘sock knitters’. These knitters are much like regular knitters besides one vital point: They always are working on socks.
This is not an exaggeration. Always they have socks. Socks are the thing they love best, they say. ‘’They’re simple to make’’ ‘’So easy to pick up even if you only have a moment’’.
It’s not that you doubt them, it’s just that…okay yeah, you doubt them. How are socks easy? Everywhere you look, people are knitting socks. But none of them are knitting them the same. One woman is knitting one with a set of four DPNS, another with five. You see a post about a guy saying he’s finally going to try toe-up socks, and right next to it is a post about someone swearing cuff down is the only way they like it. An instagram post pops up on your feed: this person is doing magic loop socks- Two at a time.
DPNS, Magic loop, Nine Inch circulars, cuff down, toe-up, Short Row Heels, After Thought Heels, one at a time, two at a time…not to mention all the various tips and tricks people make up for their own, perfectly customized socks. The options are endless.
If you’re anything like me, you will feel overwhelmed at the mere idea of trying socks. Luckily there are literally SO MANY talented knitters who remembered their own fears and misconceptions about socks, and went and made the resources they themselves wished they had had.
This here is a list of links to FREE resources for you to conquer your sock knitting fears. Please note that these resources are only ones that I myself have used/know of, and that this list is far from complete. There are many more resources out there by so many talented artists!
YOUTUBE TUTORIALS:
Kay Litton of The Crazy Sock Lady lives up to her name with all her socks patterns. This summer of 2020 she ran her first ‘Summer Sock Camp’ in which she taught many knitters various socks techniques via multiple Instagram lives and YouTube tutorials. You can’t watch the lives anymore, but here are her sock tutorials!
How to Knit Socks on DPNS
How to Knit Socks on 9'' Circulars
How to Knit Socks on Magic Loop
Two at a Time Sock Tutorial
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Denise DeSantis- a.k.a, Earthtonesgirl- helped so many knitters conquer their sock knitting fears with her ‘Fearless Sock Knitters KAL’. She’s taught multiple times for Vogue Knitting Live, and recorded tutorials for her YouTube channel so that other knitters could get the help they needed for sock knitting. She is also currently running ‘Socktober’ with her friend and also sock knitter enthusiast, Marceline Smith of the ‘HeyBrownBerry’ podcast.
Here is the playlist for her whole class!
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The Graceful Tangle, run by the passionate Amy Kate, has recently delved into sock knitting herself and decided to record her progress with her ‘Sock Dairies’, a series of videos about what she learned about yarn, needles, and other notions a knitting might need when attempting socks.
Sock Dairy #1
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The Knitting Expat Mina Phillip once knit around 30 pairs of socks in one month as the result of a challenge between herself and a friend, so she’s nothing if not a highly skilled sock knitter. In addition to her multiple socks patterns and invented Mini Heel Flap adjustment, she also recorded a tutorial about how she manages her yarn when knitting socks two at a time.
How To Knit Socks- Two At A Time Cuff Down
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Meanwhile at the Castle podcast- run by queens of their castles, Emily Clawson and Deborah Raymond- hosted a knit along for new sock knitters and realized video tutorials walking their followers through all the different parts of the sock.
Learn To Knit Socks Video Series
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I owe Staci Perry of Very Pink Knits a lot, because without her clear video tutorials on so many knitting techniques, I would not be the knitter I am today. Her first sock knitting video was what helped me understand the construction of socks, and since that video she had published many other sock tutorials, from cuff down to toe-up, two at a time, DPNS, Magic loop…she’s got it.
Sock Tutorials by Very Pink Knits
Also note that all the people listed above also have podcasts on their YouTube channels, and Staci Perry has an audio podcast on her website verypinkknits.com. Be sure to give them a listen!
FREE SOCK KNITTING PATTERNS:
Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes is an easy to follow sock pattern. Don’t let the texture on the front fool you: It’s a simple pattern repeat, but could always be omitted if you just want to focus on the construction of the sock.
Vanilla Latte Socks Pattern
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Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder has been knit by just about everyone and their dog. Just like with the Vanilla Latte Socks, the pattern could easily be omitted if you just want to focus on the sock construction. Many people love the heel included in this pattern because of it’s garter edge, which makes picking up gusset stitches super easy.
Hermione's Everyday Socks Pattern
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Mina Phillip of the Knitting Expat has a free download of her sock recipe called Mina’s Two At A Time Socks that goes along with her tutorial.
Mina's Two At A Time Socks Pattern
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Again I will say that this list is far from complete and if you wish for more sock pattern options, simply google ‘free sock knitting patterns’ and I guarantee you HUNDREDS of options will pop up. These are patterns I myself have used in the past, and therefore feel confident in recommending them.
I hope this list aides you in your sock knitting journey. If you have any questions you would like to ask, feel free to get in touch with me via email at evershaxann@gmail.com, or private message me on instagram @thefreeformknitter.
Happy Crafting!
*disclaimer: I am not sponsored by these designers in any way. I compiled this list simple for the sake of knitters like me who had no idea where to start. Thank you.*
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