Socks…this is not my first pair. If I look at my Ravelry feed, I made my first pair in July of 2012. They were toe up, with a heel flap and I used Red Heart Aran Weight yarn. Since then I have made other socks but in my head I was convinced I wasn’t a sock knitter *insert eyeroll*
My first pair of cuff down was the Hermoine’s Every Day Sock. That was my first time doing the Kitchener stitch, whew wee. I walked away from that project afraid if the Kitchener stitch even though I did it. Ugh! When I tell you self talk is powerful, I mean it! I promise you I avoid socks because, well if I am to be honest…it’s that comparison devil. Mine never looked as good as others, in my opinion.
Remember when I participated in the Sock School? I swear I don’t know what the mental block is and why I keep hiding behind it. I just completed my first pattern by Tracie Millar (the other half of the Grocery Girls). The pattern is called Summer Crush Shorties and they are cuff down with cables. Guess what? I finished them and they are perfect.
The Latest pair of Socks
This latest pair even taught me a new way to do the Kitchener stitch. I was all prepared to say I couldn’t before I even tried. The traditional way to do the Kitchener is with a tapestry needle. The tutorial linked in the pattern shows you how to do it with knitting needles. Woo Wee! I need to follow my own advice. It wasn’t hard, it was simply new. It was new and I like the end result better. My grafting is FAB on my Summer Crush Shorties.
I am also super proud of the fit. The size needle used is a totally different story. LOL Why must we use toothpicks to make socks? Ok, seriously I don’t know why I had myself convinced that socks weren’t for me. Heck after this sweater I may cast on another pair. I like the shorties, I just need to learn to do them 2 at a time. I had to cast on the second one right away just to be sure I finished them. This yarn is named “Orange you Glad GG is here. I was designed for me when I went to visit Around the Table yarns.
This post is my way of reminding me to stop saying what I can’t do. Especially when I done it before. UGH I can be so hard on me and I have to stop. I did a damn good job on these socks.
NOTE: The “o’for feet sake” pictured above is from Lolo Body Care and I promise your feet deserves this. LOL I am in love and so are my feet. Click the pic below if you are interested.
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Welcome to the rabbit hole of knitting socks! I always have a new one on double points and I knit toe-up. I cast on,, knit until I bind off and they’re finished. So no kitchener stitch needed.
I used to say I would never knit socks, but a dear friend asked me to knit him a pair of socks. So, I took a deep breath, found the Rye pattern by tincanknits and knit socks. The first pair went to me because it had mistakes. But, the Rye pattern has such good detailed instructions and photos, it has become my go-to sock pattern and I have now knit 16 pairs of Rye socks! Never say never and pat yourself on the back for persevering.
Well………we don’t use the “K” word around here. No socks for me, yet <;o)
That is my new favorite word: YET
Thank you for always inspiring!
Wow GG you are really right on today! Your Monday Mood stopped me in my runaway brain chatter of what a failure I am and this post seconded that first post. I’m struggling with choices I make in my quilting and knitting and really coming down hard on myself. Thank you for the reminder to look at things from a different angle and to remember all the ‘wins’ that are behind me and not the perceived failure in front of me!!!
They are super cute – great job! And good for you for overcoming fear of Kitchener stitch. Also a fan of LoLo’s O’ for Feet’s Sake – it’s the best!
I don’t like the Kitchener Stitch either. I only do the stitch under extreme duress.
Your socks are beautiful GG! I went SO many years hearing my daughter say “Mom PLEASE knit me a pair of socks.” I’d break out in a cold sweat thinking about it. Those teeny tiny needles and yarn that looked like thread compared to the worsted weight I was using for things? NNNNOPE! I’d knit her 100 sweaters before I knit her socks-and I’ve knit for 50-plus years! Well, last year I took the plunge. Even though I’m used to working with DPNs I taught myself Magic Loop. I LOVE knitting socks! The hardest time I’m having with them is fit. Each pair I make teaches me something new…and I love that. So far, I prefer cuff down over toe up, but I like that I know how to do both. I’m not great at it, but I strive to get better. Oh…and daughter got the first pair of socks I knit when they ended up too big for me, but fit her perfectly. 🙂
Woot woot for the daughter getting her socks 😀