Welcome to finish it up Friday!
Late last night I finished knitting my 20th pair of socks to date. That's a pretty exciting milestone! I loved knitting them, even though it seems like they took forever. These are for my 16 year old son, who loves gray as much as I do. Hurray! For my next pair of socks, I've decided that I'm going to try to knit two at a time. I don't have a problem with second sock syndrome (not wanting to make the second sock after the first one is finished), but my perfectionist side goes bonkers if the socks are not
exactly the same. If anyone has great tips for knitting two socks at a time, I'd love to hear them!
(The quilt in the background is
oh my stars!, which is one of my favorite ones that I've ever made.)
Now, it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. And thank you, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a great weekend. xo
Great socks! And how great to have a son who appreciates them!
ReplyDeleteLove the socks! I enjoy knitting socks as well. Its a nice portable project!
ReplyDeleteI love those socks and have yet to try knitting socks. I can definitely see how it would be frustrating to have them come out slightly differently... If you find any tips, please share! One of these days I'm sure to pick up knitting again! LOL
ReplyDeleteI love knitting socks too! After my first pair, I've pretty much only done two-at-a-time socks, just to have them both done together. :) I use this pattern and the magic loop method (one really long circular needle). http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_at_Once_Toe_Up_Magic_Loop_Socks_Pattern__D50631220.html
ReplyDeleteIt takes some getting used to, but worth it. I've also made socks with two circular needles instead of the magic loop, but I don't know that it's any easier. Good luck!
Cat Bordhi has an interesting take on knitting 2-at-a-time.
ReplyDeletelinks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RybPvCNfrT8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSv6bdj7pvg
VeryPink Knits has a 7 part series on knitting 2-at-a-time.
Link to the whole play list on socks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUv37jBrlCtJ3I8UQbqHaFYGnFpQaK7eD
I've found that casting on separately and doing the first couple of rounds and then transferring each sock or sleeve onto my magic loop works best for me. I sometimes have trouble getting them orientated correctly if I don't. Like you I want my sleeves or socks exactly the same. I don't see that happening without a row-counter and noted where I did EveryThing knitting one at a time.
I love knitting them two at a time using circular needles (I have momentarily forgot how to make the heels after knitting 6 pairs!). It is a great method because you finish both at the same time and they come out looking exactly the same!
ReplyDeleteI knit socks for my 18 year old son. He has size 14 feet!! It really feels like forever when I'm knitting socks for him but mine seem to go so much faster after a pair of his. I started off knitting two at a time magic loop but I switched to knitting them concurrently instead. I can knit them much faster concurrently. I was spending too much time sliding stitches. Plus, it's easier for me to pick up a sock and knit a bit and set it down. With 2 at a time I wasn't picking them up because I felt that I needed to knit on both socks before setting them down so I wouldn't get them all mixed up. I'm now trying dpns to see if they are faster. I want to try 9" circs next.
ReplyDeleteI also used the Knit Picks pattern. Here is the Ravelry link:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/two-at-once-toe-up-magic-loop-socks
Ha! I am now knitting my 3rd pair! I started these socks, 2 at a time, almost 10years ago as a present for my sister (good thing I didn't tell her about them!) Had to rip them out because I didn't get the gauge right and the cuffs were itty bitty! The yarn is fingering too!
ReplyDeleteDecided in mid-May to try again since her birthday was coming up (it was June 3!). I was looking for advice about gauge when I came across a blog that gave me great inspiration: http://line4line.blogspot.ca/2013/11/this-idea-i-have.html
She has a knit-a-long to make 2 socks in 1 week, just what I needed!
Well, I can't do anything easy....I wanted to do these toe up (for the 1st time) since I had wound them in 2 connecting balls with the middle of the yarn in that connecting thread. Didn't want to waste any yarn!
I'm really enjoying this project! I really know how to do short wrap heels now...I've ripped them out more than you want to know...but I'm on the second heel now and the cuff should go fast.
No real hints about 2 at a time except that the longer the circular needle, the less the other sock gets in the way when doing the heels. I am using 40" circulars and they work fine.
Next pair will definitely be made of worsted weight!
I'm amazed you've knit 20 pr! I'm impressed!
someday....I am going to learn to knit SOCKS!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome socks! TWENTY pairs!? Impressive! (I think I'm up to 9 pairs...) I like to knit 2 socks at a time, but I just knit them on 2 sets of double-pointed needles. I never figured out the magic loop. And 2-socks-with-half-of-each-on-one-of-two-circular-needles was OK for me, but not great: I kept getting mixed up and getting both socks on one needle, or each sock on its own needle. So I'm back to my favorite 2-sets-of-double-pointeds! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSock knitters amaze me. I spend way too much time fawning over socks in people's IG feeds. But I'm scared to death to think of ever actually learning to do it myself! lol These are great!
ReplyDeleteI've just finished knitting 3 pairs of sox in worsted weight wool, and have another pair to go. They will be donated to "Christmas at Sea" for the mariners. Great group! Check them out. I followed info on worsted weight sox from www.susanbanderson.blogspot.com in her article on 'how I make my socks.' She gave good advice and also has a pattern for knitting with sock-weight yarn. In fact, you need that pattern first before attempting worsted weight sox and the worsted directions refer you to the sock-weight numbers. I love how they turned out! I knit each individually on dpn's and count the rows so that I will have the exact sock each time. For those intimidated by sock-knitting, find a pattern, like Susan's above, that uses Size 4 dpns and just begin. If you run into a problem, stop by your local yarn shop.
ReplyDeleteWow, 20 pairs!! I remain loyal to my single sock knitting but I have done 2AAT magic loop and 2AAT on 2 circs. I found that having a needle long enough to hold all of the stitches I was working on the round at that time to be helpful. It minimized the amount of time i used scooting stitches along.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the socks!! I started knitting socks in 2002 when my boys were two (twins) and I have knit a LOT of socks (seriously lost track of the number). I was knitting on one today, in face (30C heat OMG) My tips:
ReplyDelete1. I knit on two circulars--knit off the tip of one needle onto the opposite end of the SAME needle.
2. I don't use magic loop because I found I spent more time sliding my knitting along the needle than I spent knitting.
3. Two 50g balls of yarn, one or two sets of needles (two or four circs, in other words--I use short ones). Cast on and knit one sock to the heel point. Put it on a stitch holder or set it down and use the other ball, other needles to cast on the other sock and knit to the same point, holding one against the other or using striped yarn to keep track. Then you can do one heel flap/the other heel flap or whatever method you prefer.
4. If you use striped yarn, pull out the ends of both balls at the beginning. Pick a spot that is the same on both balls of yarn, put a slip knot in each and put the second ball safely away with the slipknot already in place, ready to slip on the needles.
That is my version of two at a time--works for me!!
In other news, I love your blog, love seeing your quilts / patterns / tips. I have learned so much and dream of quilting more (which might mean knitting less lol)
Fab socks , just embarking on my first pair , having enough of a struggle with one at a time , might be a while until I attempt 2 together! There are lots of top tips shared above though , good luck
ReplyDeleteI like knitting two socks at the same time. I use two sets of dips and knit it one step at the time. First the chiffon one and then the other so that the socks are identical.
ReplyDeleteWhat a talented person you are! Knitted socks! Beautiful quilts! And thanks so much for the link up. Besides yourself, I am getting to see so many amazing stitchers.
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