Bucket List – Learn to Knit Socks

I DID IT!  After years of saying how much I want to learn to knit socks I finally sat down and started trying to learn how.

With the help of my friend Staci from VeryPink.com I have followed her wonderful tutorials for learning to knit socks!  You may (ok probably not but whatever) remember Staci from years ago when I used to doggy sit for her and hang out with her two beautiful dogs Gus and Ike.  I loved those dogs so much, I will so totally own a Basenji one day.

Anyway, I am now kicking myself for not taking advantage of having Staci in the Netherlands.  Thankfully she has started making these tutorials for people like me who aren’t lucky enough to live near her and be able to learn from her in person!

What I like about the tutorials is that you get a pattern but she also has YouTube videos for each step and various techniques to make it easier along the way.  I also like that the tutorials are done using larger needles and yarn so that it’s easier to see what you are doing.

The first tutorial that I followed was Learn to Knit Magic Loop Socks. I considered trying the traditional method with double pointed needles but I’ve heard a lot from people who love using the magic loop method and figured I’d go straight for the good stuff.

I was SO excited when I got past the heel and my sock started to look like a sock!!  Granted, it’s a big sock that nobody will ever wear because I used even bigger needles (Size 6 US) and yarn (Red Heart Super Saver) than the tutorial calls for, simply because it’s what I had hanging around.

I was even more excited at the end when I had made one whole honest to goodness sock!   Ok it’s not the prettiest sock I’ve ever seen but gosh darn it, it’s a sock!!

Now that I have made one, I’m going to follow another tutorial of hers to Learn to Knit Toe-Up Magic Loop Socks.  I’m especially keen to learn this method after she explained the benefits to me.  Instead of knitting from the cuff downwards, you start at the toe and work upwards.  This allows you to use ALL of your yarn, which is great.  You get your sock yarn, split it into two equal balls and then you just use each one for a single sock making the cuff as long as you want using the yarn available.

I already have some beautiful sock yarn that I want to use when I’m ready to try the real deal…

Isn’t it pretty?  I’ve had this ball of yarn for probably about 1.5 years, just sitting and waiting to be made into socks.  Once I practice a little more making the giant socks I will do my first attempt at making REAL socks with this.

I really enjoy the magic loop method for knitting, it takes some getting used to but I really like it.  I’m hoping that like some other knitters I’ve seen out there, that one day I will be able to knit socks like it’s just second nature because I am happy when I craft and I find it very relaxing.

SOCKS FOR CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE!!