My Sock Knitting

I am sock knitting!

I like to knit socks two at a time, from the toe up and using two circular needles. 

My elderly neighbour was intrigued by my sock knitting, she has only ever seen socks knitted with double pointed needles, one at a time and she had never seen a sock knitted from the toe up or knitted with two circular needles. Mostly she was amazed that I could knit with such fine yarn. She was very interested to know how I did it. And also wondered what I was doing with the bent paper clip.

Me : "Well, divide your yarn into 2 balls (I use a set of kitchen scales to periodically weigh the skein as I'm winding it). Cast on with Judy's Magic Cast On which is a way of casting onto two needles. The sole of the foot is knitted on one needle and the top of the foot is knitted on the other needle, very much like DPNS but not as fiddly. I knit both the left and right sock at the same time. This pattern has twisted stitches, so I use a large paperclip that has been opened up slightly as a cable needle to hold the stitch to the front or the back of the work (see picture below). Alternatively, I use a darning needle instead of a cable needle. I never really think about how fine the yarn is - once you have worked with lace weight, 4ply doesn't seem particularly thin."

Nora: "Oh you are clever!"

Not really clever, I just use an amalgamation of other people's skills and tips :-)

I learnt to knit socks using the book below, "Knitting Circles Around Socks". It doesn't teach you how to knit from the toe up, but from the cuff down, two socks at a time. Never the less, I would highly recommend it as it's a very well written book with lots of good photos and once you have mastered the basic sock pattern it  stands you in good stead to knit socks from almost any pattern:

The pattern is "Tangled Vines" by Chrissy Gardiner and I'm using Posh Yarn "Martha" ( 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere &  10% Nylon) in the colourway "Peter Pan".... it's lovely and soft.