Summer Socks

Is there any knitter out there who doesn't knit socks (or want to)? Even Norma* has succumbed. (Is that pair finished yet, Mz Norma?) When did you knit your first sock?  Was it recently?  Was it because you saw someone knitting socks on a blog?  Do you love wearing your socks as much as knitting them?

I knit my first sock in the mid '80s with cotton yarn. After one sock I gave up as I hated it (it was the yarn, of course).  A couple of years later I picked up the unfinished second sock, as I really wanted to knit socks, and finished the pair.  Cotton socks are not fun to wear as they are hard and ungiving, so I didn't really care for them.  I tried again at a time when my arms were aching and knitting on tiny needles caused too much pain.  I was almost ready to give up knitting altogether, because of the ache, when I figure out that I was highly sensitive to flax seed oil.  When the evil stuff was out of my system I began to knit socks with a vengeance and haven't looked back.  It's been nearly 10-15 years that I've been enjoying a run of obsessive sock knitting.  This obsession to learn to knit socks, and the drive to do so, can also be blamed , in part, on the fact that we have a sock maven in the 'hood.

As with all sock obsessed knitters, my sock yarn stash is over flowing.  Cassie said yesterday that sock yarn is a fall back purchase when you don't need to buy more yarn. That's exactly why it piles up so quickly.  Opal is one of my favorite sock yarns and my stash of it has grown lately.  It has a rich assortment of colors and many  people I know collect it obsessively. (Sock knitting and being obsessive seem to go hand in hand.) 

Koigu is another favorite of many sock knitters (I know of one junkie in particular).  The colors, the softness, and the twist of the wool,  make addiction certain from the first touch. I have Koigu in the stash for other projects (another Charlotte's Web) and only a few skeins designated for socks (ok, maybe more than a few). Also in my sock bin are three skeins of Mountain Colors Bearfoot, which I have yet to knit, but I hear it is wonderful, too. 

Lorna's Laces is also a lovely sock yarn, but I only have a couple of skeins. There are several socks in my drawer already knit with this extra soft yarn, however.  In the stash are also three odd ball yarns.  Shaeffer's Anne (a gift from Nancy for helping her with her new book), Twinkletoes (it's the center pink skein and a great yarn!), and an unknown red that I purchased from an Ebay seller in Australia.  It is a gorgeous red and just might become my next sock.  I can knit a red sock and make it a 'three for all' (like Cara)...Year of the Sock, Knit Red, and the Summer of Lace.  So, gang, tell me your favorite sock yarn.

First I must finish up knitting this big ol' pile of socks.  With this heat the only thing I can stand to pick up and knit is a sock. It is small, portable and not big enough to sit in my lap.  We might have rain this weekend...my toes are crossed as I'm using my fingers, thank you very much.

*Font size changed for Norma.

Comments

[Christy]

My favorite sock yarn is Tess' Super Sock from Tess' Yarns. It's wonderful- soft, plenty of yardage, and the most amazing colors. It never pools!

I started knitting in March 2003, having taught myself. That June, I took a sock class. I had started to explore the knit blog world and noticed all of the great things about socks. That was two years ago and I have not looked back. I've made at least two dozen pairs since then.

[Donna]

Hmm.. I started knitting socks in January 2004. It was Opal that sucked me in. We were on holiday, and i visited a local yarn store, and saw a ball of Opal in gorgeous colours with glittery bits. I was hooked.
I've got Opal, Lornas, Regia and lots of others in the stash, and I'm trying to resist buying any more. But I think my favourite is Mountain Colors Bearfoot.

[michele]

I love sock yarn...the colors the variety and now that I am a little bit better knitter, all the fun patterns...I love Lorna's Laces so far because it's so soft to knit with, but I don't even have a sock finished with it yet, so can I even say that. I have many Opal in my stash and a couple Bearfoot and many LL's. A couple Koigu, but I want more and it's hard to find. I also love Sockotta and Fixation...I could go on and on but I can't justifiy the expense to buy yarn for a large sweater so I buy sock yarn, plus it's such a totable project (one wonders could I buy the sweater yarn if I didn't buy the sock yarn???) Oh well...when I see sock yarn I get it if I like it because will I ever see it again??? Sorry I wrote so much, but I enjoyed your post :) take care

[Julia]

Hi there, I taught myself knitting socks when I was about 15 or so because I wanted to make some as Christmals presents. For years and years, socks were all I ever knit. At the moment, I am really trying (but totally failing) to knit less of them (really, how many do you need?) and use the time to knit other stuff. I don't have a favourite yarn, I knit with Regia, Opal, Koigu and Lorna's Laces, all lovely in their own way.

[anna]

i knit for 20 years before i knit my first sock just before christmas 2004. somehow, the idea of knitting socks just never entered my 'radar'. the first pair i knit were the 'pippi kneestockings' from the first Stitch n Bitch book. Since then I've had at least one pair on the go. my husband has been the main beneficiary - he LOVES his wool socks, and waxes lyrical about them frequently. and we know how knitters love people who love their knits. he just gets cheap superwash merino, cuz they're worn under army boots. i love wearing handknit socks too. they're a luxury that's really difficult to explain to someone who's never owned a pair, but if i could, i'd never wear a pair of machine manufactured socks again.

[Kim]

WOW......that is quite a collection you have!! So far, Lorna Laces is my favorite to knit with and wear, but I haven't tried Opal yet.....maybe this fall.

[Cassie]

I'm so glad to hear that someone else has multiple skeins of a sock yarn they haven't even knit with yet. Whew. I'm not the only one!

I got back to knitting after a decades long hiatus because I wanted to knit socks. My only goal was to knit socks, my grandma, not being a sock knitter, said they were too hard to go right into, and I ignored her. Never looked back. ;-)

[Kathleen]

I am laughing about Christy and her Tess yarn. I admit it is lovely but it sure is a "process" buying it--online or in person. I knit...hmmm...I think I tried my first sock in 2000, up in MA--using LB Microspun. Ugh! What was I thinking?

I finished my first sock--lo and behold--in LB Magic Stripes last year when I learned the 2 circ methods. My dpn skills are terrible. But they weren't always...I learned on dpns. Sunny's Mittens, of course.

I think my favorite sock yarn is Koigu. And thank goodness my mom is addicted and keeps my toes warm with socks. :)

[Beth]

That's a lot of beautiful yarn you've got there Margene!

My first socks were from Regia and were way too big. Now my favorites are pretty much the same as yours. But no Anne here - that's one I still need to try.

[susan]

Favorite socks yarn you ask. I love all the usual suspects (i.e., Opal, Bearfoot, LL, Anne). But at the top of my list of interesting sock yarns are Lynn Hershberger's hand-painted yarns: http://colorjoy.com/forsale/yarns1.htm
and Socks that Rock yarn: http://www.handspinning.com/thefold/yarn.blue.html

[Chery]

Margene, I knit socks for my dolls when I was a young teen. I intend to fill our drawers with hand knit socks (no store bought socks). My favs are Bearfoot, LL, Koigu, Opal and Regia. Others knit and wear well, too. Socks are FUN.

[Hazel]

I've just knit my first sock after seeing them on other knitter's blogs. I made it with Opal Sock Yarn, and haven't tried anything else yet - but I am using that as a great excuse to expand my stash so I can try a lot more!

[Bridget]

I knit my first pair of socks as a gift for my husband before I knew about blogs, but seeing all the great socks bloggers knit has given me lots of inspiration. I do, however, blame the fact that I have quite a large sock yarn stash on said bloggers!

[Chris]

You sock knitters are like coffee drinkers: you get so much enjoyment out of it, I must be missing something. I tried to like coffee - even the aroma is inviting - but never could develop a taste for it. Maybe it's time to mosey into the sock knitting arena.

[Vicki]

I'm knitting my first sock -- Nancy Bush's Cables & Ribs from the latest interweave -- in Mountain Colors Bearfoot and I love, love, love it (the pattern, the yarn, the sock)! I've been threatening and/or resisting for over a year, yet picking up a little sock yarn along the way, anyway.

Actually started the sock with some Lorna's Laces, but gauge wasn't right -- I love that yarn, too, and already have a pattern picked out so I can use it.

[claudia]

Do I see a flaming case of second sock syndrome in that picture??

Just askin'.

[Sylvia]

I thoroughly enjoy your blog and reading about the SLC/PC area. We have spent several holidays in Deer Valley. Your "unfinished" green/aqua/not sure the color" yarn, can you tell me what pattern that is. I can't wait for Nancy's new book.

Sylvia

[Cara]

Just turned the heel on my second sock of my second pair. The red, lace, sock pal socks are almost finished, and I'm feeling a bit sad about it.

What to do? Cast on for another pair I guess.

I'm not sure I have a favorite sock yarn, YET, but I'm dying to try some Trekking, some Cherry Tree Hill, and some SOCKS THAT ROCK that I have in my stash.

[Beth S.]

It's hard to choose a favorite! I like Opal for commuter knitting (plain stockinette with a picot hem; no thought required, and it passes the time beautifully.) I love the palette of Cherry Tree Hill and Mountain Colors yarns, and Trekking seems to be coming up with better colorways all the time. I'm still searching for the perfect solid- or nearly-solid-colored sock yarn, though. Opal Uni is promising, but there aren't many 'subtle' colors, just bright ones. Maybe I should be looking at St. Ives or Lang Jawoll, neither of which I've tried yet.

[Jayme]

Just an FYI to frequent internet users. If you don't like a font size on a page hold down the "ctrl" key and rotate the wheel on your mouse to change the font size up or down.

This works on 90% of PC setups. Sorry, I don't know a trick like this for macs or an easy way to do it without a wheel.

Jayme

[Carole]

Ooooh socks. I started knitting socks because of Civil War reenacting - it's a very "period correct" thing for a woman to do while in camp. When knitting socks for Dale, I use Cascade 220 on size 3s. But for me, it's Lorna's Laces all the way. Or Vesper Sock yarn from Knit Pixie - if you can get it since it sells out as soon as it comes in. Cassie's right, though - when I don't have a project in mind, I buy sock yarn. I could knit nothing but socks forever and still not use up my current stash of sock yarn.

[Jan]

Lucy Neatby's Celestial Merino is the softest, most luxurious sock yarn I've used so far. Similar in twist to Koigu, it's got an even softer hand. Yum...wish it came in more colors!

[Jody]

The inspiration to knit my first sock came from the blog world. They are the perfect project - much yarn, many patterns, small and portable. While I don't have a favorite sock yarn, yet, Nancy Bush is by far my favorite designer.

[Kim]

I started knitting socks in spring of 2004 because we had an awesome selection of yarn at our LYS and I read an article on sock knitting in "Knit It" that really clicked in my mind. I proudly wear the socks I knit(at least the pairs I haven't given away). I seem to buy sock yarn on every trip I go on--it's an easy yarn purchase because you always know how much you need. My favorite sock yarns are: Socks that Rock, Lorna's Laces, Opal,Regia, and the Knit Picks merino you dye yourself(we'll see how it holds up though).

[Liz]

I just learned to knit last summer, I think my first socks were down last Fall or Winter. And needless to say, I am a sock addict. I also hoard sock yarn. My reasoning: When I am shopping for yarn, if I don't have a project in mind, or not sure how much I need...That's when I buy sock yarn. It's a no brainer :) As for Koigu, I just bought my first Koigu this week. For socks!

[Lori]

Mountain Colors 4/8s. Yes I know that it's not what most consider sock yarn, but it makes really beautiful, warm heavy socks for wearing in my work boots on the jobsite, my hiking boots, and my XC ski boots. Who says that you can't have pretty socks on your feet when you take your boots off at the end of the day. They are also really toasty on my bare hardwood floors in the winter. Plus they knit up really quickly, 48 stitches round on my size 9 feet.

[Lauren]

How "big" is twinkletoes in comparison to Koigu? They say fingering wt on their site, but I'm hoping maybe that really means sportwt somehow.

I knit my first sock in 2002 out of Wool-ease. Ah how times have changed.

[caroline]

um. I don't knit socks. (she said, ducking behind her keyboard...) Does it count if I use sock yarn to knit other things???

[Kim]

This is such a good post! I'm new to sock knitting, so it's good to hear what works!

I've knit only one pair of socks (so far--I have two balls of simple stripes that are anxiously waiting!). The yarn was Fortissima Colori. I was completely unaware before I saw this yarn that many of the cool stripey, fair isle socks I had spotted were SELF-PATTERNING, and I had to check it out!

I knit a bit too loosely (odd because I'm a tight knitter) and the stripes are a bit off, but I love them anyway because I made them. I just bought Knitting On the Road and can't wait to try another pair, as soon as I clean up after the startitis episode I had a couple months back!

[Heather]

Still working on that damn, I mean, lovely hugs & kisses sock pattern. I love the Sockotta yarn I'm using. It was just too much all at once to learn stranding and DP knitting. I was thinking of starting over with a plainer pattern and going back to H&K after I get the hang of simple socks.

[Norma]

Ohhh, gee, you changed the font size just for me, and I am just getting here to enjoy it! I've been out in the garden, and on the porch, and in the kitchen, and taking a very scatterbrained attempt at trying to get this place in order for those unwanted guests (well, only one is unwanted. Am I bad?) Anyhoo, I just realized the futility of my plan and gave in and called my sister and asked her to come over and help me. She's a dear and she's going to. So....socks. All about socks. Well, can you tell I'm trying to avoid admitting that I'm not done that 2nd sock yet? But I'm working on it, oh yes I am! And maybe that will be a good thing to work on while that nasty sister-in-law guest is here. Isn't it bad how I go around and diss her in people's comments all the time, because I can't diss her in my own blog? It's like therapy. I have a whole post I'd like to write about this, but of course I CAN'T.

;-)

[Andrea]

I think my favourite has to be Lang Jawoll, and Lang Jawoll Cotton (for winter and summer). I don't bother with the reinforcing thread... it's fine without, and I think, possibly even better.

[melissa]

I don't knit socks... I've started a few (3 maybe) and have yet to finish one. (the part where I have l have rather large feet may have something to do with it)

Oh... and increasing font size while viewing a web page on a Mac? "cmd +". ("cmd -" reduces font size) (works in almost every browser)

[Jane]

Fav sock yarn - almost whatever I'm knitting with at the moment! But mostly Lorna's Laces, Koigu, Opal (when I can find it.)

[Luvtocraft]

I finished my first pair of socks in February of this year. I began them in October and it took me four months to finish the first sock. The second sock took me four days. I started out with dpns but the stress of losing stitches caused me to look for other methods. Now, I use magic loop and I love it!

As for sock yarns, I started with LB Magic Stripes. I didn't mind using that at all! I LOVE Fortissima and Regia. Currently, I'm knitting a pair with Regia and I just LOVE the way the yarn is working out!

[Jen]

Koigu, Cherry Tree Hill and LL are my current favorites, but I do have some Moutain Colors waiting in the wings. My daughter loves socks knit in Cascade Fixation because they are nice and soft.

Recently, I've started drooling over some of the green and orange colorways Trekking is putting out.

[greta]

pick a FAVORITE? egads!
Not sure I can even REMEMBER
when the obsession de sock
began...but
OH YES!
Nothing like a finished sock to make me
feel like I can do ANYTHING.
(CAN,TOO...look I just knit a SOCK!
SO THERE!)
thanks for the reminder
of the Power of Knitting Socks.

[jpt]

I learned to make socks about a month ago. My inspiration: life in Florida with a partner who gets overheated easily. No sweaters or scarves for him, but he was intrigued by the footwear option. After years of explaining that knitting relaxes me, I was totally unprepared for the sheer euphoria of sock knitting. (I love it, but I need to calm down afterwards.)

Sockotta's cotton/wool blend is a great balance--easy on the knitter's hands but still cool on the wearer's feet.

[Cathy]

Ha. I still haven't knitted a sock. Or crocheted one for that matter. Back in high school a group of us knitters gathered under shade trees to knit on our lunch hour or study halls. Several knitted socks. I knitted afghans and sweaters. I wonder what kinds of socks they are still knitting. May be worth going back to high school reunions just to find out.

[Lorette]

Where to start? I love Mountain Colors Weavers Wool, though I recently bought some of the Bearfoot to try. Lorna's Laces is always a favorite. Interlacements Little Toes has some fabulous handpaint colors, as does Happy Trails. And I have a ton of Opal in the yarn 401K plan.
By the way, Jayme? That tip on the font size change is great!!

[nona]

Fun post! I've enjoyed reading everyone's stories.

For me, it was Nancy Bush's Folk Socks book that sucked me into sock knitting about 10 years ago. I loved -- and still love -- how that book combines sock knitting history, with sock knitting basics, with beautiful sock patterns. Socks, for me, are little canvases to try new stitch patterns, shaping techniques, color work, etc -- you really cannot go wrong!

As for my favorite sock yarn, it would have to be Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I'm partial to the solid colors, with their subtle dyeing variations. By the by, if you haven't read Pablo Neruda's Ode To My Socks poem, please do!

[Robbyn]

Heheh - Must be something going around; my post is sock-centric today too :)

I'm still relatively new to it though and don't really have enough experience to have a favorite yarn yet. But I'm also of the opinion that almost any yarn can be pressed into service :)

My first real sock was Mossy Cottage's "Dublin Bay" sock and was made (please don't gag) in screaming coral acrylic findering yarn. After that, I was GOOD and hooked.

[Liz]

I think I started blogging and knitting socks around the same time (January). I've dreamed about socks for much longer, but thought I'd have to be a "better" knitter first. I've only made 4 pair so far, so I don't have a favorite sock yarn, although I have very high hopes for the Furryarns (isn't that a terrible name?) that just came for my sock pal (and me, too, of course).

[Bliss]

If you have no neuroses or obsessive compulsive disorder, just start knitting socks and you soon will have! Hee!

I used to watch people knitting socks and think why? With all the wonderful things you could knit, why knit something you could buy for a couple of bucks? And then I knitted a pair. That first pair can put you on the slippery slope.

Is it obsessive to buy ENTIRE collections of sock yarn? Sock yarn is sneaky, it talks you into buying it because you *only* need a ball or two. Even the most expensive sock yarn is a relative small expense when compared to knitting a sweater. I have so much sock yarn I won't even admit how much I have. Will that stop me from buying more? (laughs hysterically)

My favorite yarn is often the one I am knitting with at the moment. It can also vary by project. Some of the patterned/self striping yarns are great for simple stockinette socks - letting the yarn coloration be the star. Other sock yarn is great for richly textured patterns like cables or lace. Some just feels to good to put down. Some makes me happy just looking at it in the skein. Some of my favorites are Opal, Regia, Lorna's Laces, Cascade Fixation or Elann's Esprit, and hand painted yarns from small businesses or Ebay sellers.

I knit socks on two circulars or magic loop method as I am not a huge fan of dpns. To new or wannabe sock knitters - all socks seem fiddly for the first couple of rows or so (even when you are experienced.) Start out knitting your first pair of socks with sport weight yarn or larger so you can use larger needles like size 3,4 or 5. As you get used to knitting socks, you can reduce the size of the needle with ease.

My first pair of socks was knitted on size 3 needles and I thought that felt so small. Now I regularly knit socks on size 1 or 2 with ease.

Once you understand the basic construction of socks and what number of stitches per type of yarn best fits your foot or those of your loved ones, you will quickly learn to size just about any sock pattern to what you need.

Like Greta, I feel a sense of satisfaction and a momemnt of "I did that!" with every sock I finish. Yes, if you don't knit socks two at a time, you can have the dreaded SSS (second sock syndrome) or you can celebrate each finished sock as a mini FO.

[Rachel]

I knit my first pair of socks about 2 years ago, with Lion Brand Magic Stripes and the pattern on the ball band. I wasn't completely hooked at first, but after discovering the abundance of sock yarns that are available, I quickly became obsessed. Picking a favorite yarn is difficult, and there are so many more out there than I want to try. I would say that for self-patterning yarns, Opal is my favorite. I have a weakness for hand dyed sock yarns, too.

[Elizabeth D]

First sock: 1976. Knit a couple hundred out of heavy worsted (Peace Fleece, or Bartlett); had bought about 20 pairs worth of skinny sock yarn before I finally took the plunge and used "sock" weight yarn for the first time in 1998. Used Wildfoote, and they're still going strong. Currently own. . .um. . .way too much. Favorites are Tess' Designer Yarns (hate that apostrophe, but boy can they do lime green!) followed by pretty much all the others. . .I choose color first, then brand. Anyone for blue? How about red? Or green?

[Risa]

I honestly can't remember the first sock I knit, but it had to have been at least 10 years ago. Believe it or not, I've never tried Opal (though I ordered some yesterday) and only did one pair in Koigu so far. I honestly don't have a favorite yarn. Yet. I'm sure I will. I do admit to buying sock yarn like Cassie. It is a fallback yarn purchase and I'd be hard pressed to leave a yarn store without finding some. Come to think of it, I picked up a few skeins of sock yarn the day Cassie and I met up at Purl :)

[Julia]

What a lovely pile of lacey socks! I knit my first socks in the early 90's after reading Anne MacDonalds "No Idle Hands". I felt a kinship with the women who crossed the prairies in wagons knitting socks all the way. I decided that such an humble, universally valuable garment was worthy of attempting to knit by hand. I haven't stopped since either. I have many favorites, Meilenweit is just as good to me as Opal and has great colors. I also like Lion Brand Magic Stripes and find that though they don't have a big selection, they are very hard wearing and comfortable socks. I love wearing my socks absolutely as much as knitting them.

[Laurie]

Lorna's Laces. I love soft socks, and have trouble finding them. So I'm preparing to knit all my own cashmere socks.

Just kidding.

I love the small projectness of them, and the interesting patterns available.

[Sibylle]

Ohm when I have been to Suisse at the age of about 10 the hosts wife was knitting little sock for advent and tought me how to knit with dpn´s. She made a pair of socks with me for my teddy bear. After that around the age of 12 I remeber making my father one sock for christmas, which is still single :)
Later I did socks for friends in special occasions. Over here sock knitting is not really exiting. Knitting still is not the big boom and when knitting socks you normally just follow the standart pattern. When diving in knitting again and discovering knitblogs last year, I saw how much patterns are going round in the US and how much fantastic sock yarns fly around. A lot of the comments say Opal and Regia are good. I dont thing so, after trying LL, Koigu or Gems. Regia and Opal are to "hard" in my opinion. I really dont like their solids and the selfpattering yarn is often to flashy or doesnt like the colourways. Beside that I liked the softness of Regia Silk, which i used for sockapalooza.
I am borded with my projects on my needles right know and so I started knitting some pairs of Baby socks. I use Lornas Laces the first time for socks, and I really love how soft it is. But I still think sockyarn without Nylon or an equal thread won´t make a pair of durable socks.
I am green for envy when I see all the possibillites you have in sock yarn. I would knit much more socks when I could effort to order all that yarn. I really admire the yarn susan showed here, I would like to use more LL, Koigu is nice but I think I wont spent that much time and money for Merino Socks which may break soon. Cherrtree Hill loks nice to me too, but its wow expensive.
We have also Online and Jawoll. While Opal, Online, Schoeller and Stahl and Regia Yarn is nearly the same, okay to knit but nothing special, I really dont like Jawoll. The Quality is soo bad. And I must say, after giving it the third try I dont like sockyarn with cotton.
My real problem with handmade socks, what often keeps me from knitting them is, that I think you cant wear woolen socks with all your clothes.
Wow I think this was my longest comment ever.
Hope you dont mind :)