My latest socks - a present for Mr P, they are going to have red, gold and green ribbing at the cuff.
Each sock has about 15,000 stitches (30,000 for a pair). It takes me about 3 minutes to knit a round of 64 stitches, and I knit for about two hours a day. I calculated it would take me about 12 days to finish this pair. I'm intrigues that my tension is getting firmer with each pair of socks - these have naturally arrived at a tension of 36 stitches to 10cms (previously 32 stitches) and I was much quicker and neater at picking up stitches after making the heel flap.
When they are complete and all the ends woven in, a peaceful job that I enjoy, I submerge the socks in cool water (not cold, not hot) for about thirty minutes to allow all the air to escape. After gently squeezing out excess water, the socks are wrapped in a towel to absorb as much water as possible.
Previously, I've set the socks out in shape. smoothing out wrinkles and let them dry naturally over about 24 hours or so. Just recently, I bought some sock blockers, which stretch the sock while it dries and helps to even out all the stitches. I haven't tried this yet, so it will be interesting to see if the difference.
I like the Rumi quote on one of the blockers:
respond to every call that excites your spirit.
Good advice for a new year.
I'm also going to try some Soak. This is specially designed for cleaning knitwear and, to make it as easy as possible, you don't need to rinse the garment after using Soak. This small bottle holds enough for 75 washes: the liquid is plant-based and bio-degradable and the container is made from recycled plastic.
I do hand wash some of my socks, but some of the older ones I have started throwing in the machine on a delicate wash - so far so good. Hand made woollen socks can be washed less frequently than commercially purchased ones. I turn them inside out after wearing and hang them up to air - in the fresh air, if I can, and, best of all, in sunshine. I wear them on alternate days.
I've found a pattern for 72 stitches on 2.0mm needles (I use 2.5mm) - I guess that would add another 12% or 1,800 stitches (3,600 per pair of socks). It should still be possible to knit a pair within fourteen days.
The last addition to my kit are some bent tip tapestry needles for seaming and grafting. The bent tips make it easier to pick up stitches. These are especially helpful for small fiddly stitches like the ones in socks.
New History Series About Socks Through the Ages
I follow Roxanne Richardson's channel on YouTube. She's recently started a new series about the history of sock construction, especially how heels are made. This started from a pair of Norwegian socks that had been knitted by an earlier generation and the recipient couldn't remember how the heel was constructed.
After completing a long-term project looking at the evolution of sweater (jumpers and cardigans) construction, Roxanne has decided to look at the evolution of sock construction. Here's her introduction to the project, starting at 9:19 minutes into the video.
Other videos in the series so far include:
Discovering the Secret of How a 1900s Sock was Knit 7:27 minutes
Getting Started on a Vintage Sock Journey 4:07
Recreating a Vintage Sock 19:42
Socks and Stockings: What's the Difference? 23:16
Woven Hose Heels 19:06
The last video also has some beautiful knitting art.
I am in awe of your sock knitting abilities. I've been wanting to try knitting with fine yarn and small needles for forever, but I feel intimidated because I know that if I drop a stitch, there's practically no way that I would be able to find it 🤣
I love this quote! Do you mind if I use it on my next post in "What feeds your soul" community?
Hi @emma-h 😍, don't worry about dropped stitches, if you can't find it, it's not going to do any harm 😁. Please feel free to use the quote, it's not mine to hoard, after all.
Thanks for the tip!
!CTP
Gosh I think it would make runs, I would have to find it 😁
You're welcome. Have an awesome day.
If it ran, you'd find it, then it is a simple thing to put right 😍
I think all of my half finished socks read your post and run away. Before they run, they told me I should pay them a passage to England because the want to live with you. :-DDDD
I think my socks also want to be knit with such a (in my eyes impossible) small tension. Honestly: 36 stitches per cm???? Is this even allowed??? I fear the smallest I got so far was around 22 stitches (but knit flat not in the round… i guess in the round is a bit tighter) I still struggle to knit tight and even.
Right now I am knitting a super boring scarf in a huge tension (7,5 mm needle) which I also despise (the big needles I mean)… Hm, I notice I sound like a kind of knitting grinch.
But its so lovely to read from you and I hope I can find my way back here… (I am not crafting a lot right now, mostly sketching and painting).
Big hug to you
Oh, I didn’t even know that it was necessary to take care of hand-knitted socks in this way. and even more so had no idea that the history of socks is connected with Norway. although this is not surprising because it is quite cold. very interesting, my dear! 😀
A very good and skilled hobby, knitting is something that really manages our patience, besides having to be careful and thorough in terms of knitting, it's nice to see you are so good at making it.
Thank you 😍
I find it very relaxing.
!CTP
Seems Like knitting is Your Hobby? This sounds like you really do enjoy it. Glad to know about the process and your way of doing is so Nice.
Yes, it's fun 😍
I should get my mum on hive! All she does is knit. She’d love this.
😍
Happy sock knitting year @shanibeer! I like 15,000 stitches fact. I didn't think about it before you left a comment about it.
I shouldn't write about this but our socks are put in the laundry machine with other clothes ... they are fine (at least mine doesn't have pilling). But not sure for yours because I think you use thinner delicate yarn than I do. I knit with 3mm / 2.5mm needles and 30stitches for one round for my size 39.
Anyway, happy to see your post about socks. The vintage socks inspire me :)
You too, @akipponn - socks rule the world!
I think socks in the washing machine are fine, that's no problem. The ones that I have put in the washing machine have been okay, they haven't shrunk or felted, and one pair must be seven or eight yers old now. I just like hand washing them 😍. I use ordinary sock yarn, and 2.5mm needles, but maybe a denser gauge than you? I think for patterns - cables and lace - the looser gauge is probably better.
The vintage socks are so interesting!
Vintage socks can be a filed to study for PhD, sockspology (socks + antholopology) 😁 Implementing cables and other motives to socks are also on my sock TODO list for 2023.
😍
I am so impressed by how fast you are with socks! I'm not fast with anything, and I still haven't ventured back into sock territory after trying and failing years ago (it was the heel turn that stumped me; yes, I did have an instructional book and googled for help and etc.). Maybe one day after I polish off some other projects...
I'm not very fast 😂
It's one of the reasons I started working out how long a round took etc so I could feel like I was making progress (some days, a round seemed to take an age). It became easier when I knew what I could knit in a day. I mark the knitting every ten rows, it's like blogging daily 😁.
I still have to look up the heel turn (and kitchener stitch to close the toe). Most other things I can remember or work out as I'm doing it. I was aghast when I mislaid my vanilla sock pattern with the heel turn instructions. It was very worn and dog-eared, it had been used so much. I finally watched this video which explains the formula to construct the heel. I had one of those, "ah, I get it" moments, but I still have to watch the video each time.
I fell into sock knitting by accident, when I used to go to a knitting group in London. They are actually quite a big undertaking because they have so many stitches - nearly as many as a sweater. I'm sure you'll get there when you're ready 😍
Hey Shani!
I love those yarn colors. I am curious to see about those sock blockers and how they work for you.
Wishing you a Blessed and Wonderful 2023!! ❤️
They are bright, aren't they? 😁
Hmm, I think I might have to buy the next size down. They're okay for ordinary knits like these socks, but I think they would stretch the fabric too far for a pattern with cables. Let's see what happens 😍.
To you and your family, too 💕
Oh that makes sense. Yep, we’ll have to wait and see.
Thank you ~ 💓
It s good thing that you doing, timing your work in minutes to decide hoe long you stay in each project. It won't be nice, overworking yourself to complete a project in very short time.
This was one gets more creative and adds new idea per time.
Its also worthy of note that you are trying different ideas of washing to get the best of your lovely hand made socks/projects.
Its a good thing to follow teachers online too, we get quality guide and advice from the.
Well done and wishes for the new projects, can't wait to see them. 💞🎊💃🎉🌺
Hello @monica-ene 😍
I find it helps me work out how long a project will take (good if you are knitting presents with a deadline 😁) and then each day, I can see steady progress.
Thank you for your well wishes - hope 2023 is wonderful for you 💕
Wow! Vintage socks! Just like vintage wine! 😂
Would love to be able to make my own sweater! But these all seem too complicated for me.
There are simple sweaters designed for beginners:
Source This would be quick to knit 😍
I have been very happy this winter that I knit so many socks over the summer. Warm feet help warm the spirit, I think. !PIZZA
Definitely! 😍
!CTP
My grandmother taught me how to knit socks and the heels are very easy. However, I can't even remember when I last made socks. Good luck with your project.
I think I have an addiction now! 😂
!CTP
I gifted $PIZZA slices here:
@fiberfrau(2/5) tipped @shanibeer (x1)
Please vote for pizza.witness!