Socks

Thank you ☺️

Retread: I buy my yarn from different places. I will often pick up the odd ball when visiting a wool shop (though there aren’t many now). I buy nline from Wool Warehouse, Black Sheep Wools, Love Crafts.

I am impressed with you knitters! I would love some knitted socks or even crocheted. I last knitted bedsocks for my granny in 1967 with 4 needles - can't imagine doing that now, although I can crochet a bit. Any easy patterns welcomed here!

www.winwickmum.co.uk
My ‘go to’ or www.unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/8/7/free-pattern-release-my-favorite-vanilla-socks
Happy knitting! I must have knitted at least 65 pairs over the years 😊

AliBeeee. Wonderful! That is pretty much how I remember it, thanks. 👍

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-9mdc52-img-4277.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-2az1nm-img-4278.jpeg

Primrose53

AliBeeee

Primrose53

AliBeeee

I am a knitter but I last knitted socks, on 4 needles, when I was still in primary school. I’m keen to have a go, but don’t they fall down? Do they bunch up inside footwear?
I’d hate to go to the trouble and find they were useless or really annoying.

Are you from Scotland? I have a Scottish friend who was taught to knit socks, as were all her class, at primary school aged about 6.

Mine don’t fall down nor do any of those knitted for my family. I do a thumb cast on which gives elasticity to the cuff. After you have turned the heel you decide how long you want the foot to be. My daughter is a size 4 so she gets a shorter size than me and then my men get quite a bit longer. Made to measure!

Yes, I am Scottish, we were taught to knit and sew in P2 aged 6. I am left handed and had to be taught by my left handed aunt as the teacher struggled. We had classes and projects every year from P2 until P7, then we moved on to high school where the knitting wasn’t continued. I remember doing socks, mittens, a beret and a baby cardigan, amongst other things. This would have been from 1965-71.
I use the thumb cast on method too, only with my forefinger rather than my thumb, one of my little knitting oddities.

That’s really interesting thanks. I never heard of any schools in England teaching sock knitting at such a young age. I do remember us doing a kind of cross stitch on squares of mesh fabric with embroidery threads at a similar age though.

The very first thing we were taught to sew was a needle case, using the mesh you mentioned. Mine is still in use, it’s looking bit tired, but it is 60 years old.

No need to explain to anyone why we knit socks, wool is such a wonderful fibre, it breathes and woollen socks protect the feet, they are much better at keeping feet cosy, adapting to foot temperature

Re patterns, opal yarn have a very easy straightforward pattern
Regia too has a good free pattern, which I use when making thicker socks. I love the self patterning from these yarns

The pattern called `vanilla socks` is also easy, plain and simple and therefore a go-to pattern

Everyone in my family will be getting my hand knitted socks and they are much appreciated. I have made them for neighbours with cancer, in cheery colours and one called them his lucky socks

I have a special sock ruler, so I don`t have to guess the length of sock, it has foot sizes on it and I just insert into the sock foot

AliBeeee

Primrose53

AliBeeee

I am a knitter but I last knitted socks, on 4 needles, when I was still in primary school. I’m keen to have a go, but don’t they fall down? Do they bunch up inside footwear?
I’d hate to go to the trouble and find they were useless or really annoying.

Are you from Scotland? I have a Scottish friend who was taught to knit socks, as were all her class, at primary school aged about 6.

Mine don’t fall down nor do any of those knitted for my family. I do a thumb cast on which gives elasticity to the cuff. After you have turned the heel you decide how long you want the foot to be. My daughter is a size 4 so she gets a shorter size than me and then my men get quite a bit longer. Made to measure!

Yes, I am Scottish, we were taught to knit and sew in P2 aged 6. I am left handed and had to be taught by my left handed aunt as the teacher struggled. We had classes and projects every year from P2 until P7, then we moved on to high school where the knitting wasn’t continued. I remember doing socks, mittens, a beret and a baby cardigan, amongst other things. This would have been from 1965-71.
I use the thumb cast on method too, only with my forefinger rather than my thumb, one of my little knitting oddities.

That’s really interesting thanks. I never heard of any schools in England teaching sock knitting at such a young age. I do remember us doing a kind of cross stitch on squares of mesh fabric with embroidery threads at a similar age though.

Primrose53

AliBeeee

I am a knitter but I last knitted socks, on 4 needles, when I was still in primary school. I’m keen to have a go, but don’t they fall down? Do they bunch up inside footwear?
I’d hate to go to the trouble and find they were useless or really annoying.

Are you from Scotland? I have a Scottish friend who was taught to knit socks, as were all her class, at primary school aged about 6.

Mine don’t fall down nor do any of those knitted for my family. I do a thumb cast on which gives elasticity to the cuff. After you have turned the heel you decide how long you want the foot to be. My daughter is a size 4 so she gets a shorter size than me and then my men get quite a bit longer. Made to measure!

Yes, I am Scottish, we were taught to knit and sew in P2 aged 6. I am left handed and had to be taught by my left handed aunt as the teacher struggled. We had classes and projects every year from P2 until P7, then we moved on to high school where the knitting wasn’t continued. I remember doing socks, mittens, a beret and a baby cardigan, amongst other things. This would have been from 1965-71.
I use the thumb cast on method too, only with my forefinger rather than my thumb, one of my little knitting oddities.

Talking of socks my aunt remembers when she was at school the girls were required to knit socks at break time as they watched the boys playing football.

AliBeeee

I am a knitter but I last knitted socks, on 4 needles, when I was still in primary school. I’m keen to have a go, but don’t they fall down? Do they bunch up inside footwear?
I’d hate to go to the trouble and find they were useless or really annoying.

Are you from Scotland? I have a Scottish friend who was taught to knit socks, as were all her class, at primary school aged about 6.

Mine don’t fall down nor do any of those knitted for my family. I do a thumb cast on which gives elasticity to the cuff. After you have turned the heel you decide how long you want the foot to be. My daughter is a size 4 so she gets a shorter size than me and then my men get quite a bit longer. Made to measure!

I am a knitter but I last knitted socks, on 4 needles, when I was still in primary school. I’m keen to have a go, but don’t they fall down? Do they bunch up inside footwear?
I’d hate to go to the trouble and find they were useless or really annoying.

semperfidelis

Why knit any socks? You can buy plain socks, patterned socks, long socks, short socks, trainer socks, cotton socks, woollen socks, bamboo socks and maybe silk socks. I just don't get it!

Lots of reasons really. Firstly, you can make them to fit perfectly. Shop bought ones are often too tight over the toes or so loose, they bunch up.

I buy plain black bamboo socks sometimes and holes appear in no time and they go in the bin.

Sock knitting is very addictive and satisfying.

My daughter uses them for riding, my son on his motorbike. They are all he will wear now. I wear them with walking boots and, before his stroke, my husband rode horses and motorbikes so wore them too.

*scarves!

semperfidelis

Why knit any socks? You can buy plain socks, patterned socks, long socks, short socks, trainer socks, cotton socks, woollen socks, bamboo socks and maybe silk socks. I just don't get it!

I’ve been told I’m a “process crafter” in other words, I enjoy the creative process. I knit scarfs, mittens all of which I could also buy. I’m forever getting compliments about my (unique) hand knitted stuff from complete strangers on the bus, on the train, when I’m out walking …

Thank you all for your replies - just going to read through them all.

Another sock knitter here, and I agree, hand knitted are better than shop bought. Lots of companies do sock yarns, British ones include King Cole and West Yorkshire Spinners. Using a patterned yarn helps to mask the inevitable beginner's mistakes!

I myself prefer toe up and two at a time on two circular needles (60cm cables, 2.5mm very sharp tips, Hiya Hiya for preference); but then I always was a bit of a show-off .

Semperfidelis - my partner insists that only wool socks will make his feet feel comfortable. I have bought him numerous pairs - not cheap - but they all either lack reinforced heels/toes and develop holes in no time, or their cuffs are too constricting for his ankles. The only ones he really likes are a couple of pairs knitted by my own mother 40 years ago, which are soft, comfortable and durable after many years. I’ve been thinking about knitting some again myself, so this thread is of interest, as I’ve quite forgotten how to do it.

Some folk maybe don't quite get the point of the thread do they. Just noticed two puns in one sentence. Get me!

I don't get it either. I never wear socks Winter or a summer, can't stand them

Why knit any socks? You can buy plain socks, patterned socks, long socks, short socks, trainer socks, cotton socks, woollen socks, bamboo socks and maybe silk socks. I just don't get it!

Sorry if this sounds a bit patronising, but once you've knitted a few pairs, you can knit plain socks (top down in my experience) without a pattern. They are my travel companions, so transportable and even more so if you use magic loop (look for youtube tutorials).

Off now to Google Eye of Partridge!

I love knitting socks. My family all love them because they are comfortable, last for years and don’t make your feet smell. I use self patterning sock yarn which machine washes at 40c.

I use an ancient Opal pattern and knit on 4 needles from top down (5 for heel) and LOVE turning the heel because it amazes me and I feel clever! 🤣 I always use stitch markers. I always graft the toes too.

I often do Eye of Partridge stitch to reinforce the heel. I love doing that too.

I love knitting socks too, because I love a small project 😊 and hand knitted socks are the best.

Where do you buy your wool, KnittyNannie?