How to Knit Socks in 7 Stages: Introduction and What You Will Need., by Little Green Shed Creative on YouTube. 6 min 45 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 45 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Choose a beginner sock pattern written for 4 ply yarn. The series follows Winwick Mum's Basic 4 Ply Sock Pattern. Read it through once before you buy any supplies.
Buy 100g of 4 ply sock yarn. Brands to look for include West Yorkshire Spinners, Stylecraft and Opal. One 100g ball is enough for a pair of adult socks.
Pick up a 2.5mm fixed short circular needle that is 30cm long. Short circulars let you knit the leg and foot in the round. Addi needles work well.
Get double pointed needles in 3.00mm and 2.5mm. You need them for the small rounds at the heel and toe. Check budget retailers for cheaper sets.
Add two stitch markers to your kit. Use a different colour, such as blue, for the beginning of the round so you always know where each round starts.
Pack scissors, a stitch counter and stitch stoppers. The counter and stoppers are optional, but they help you track rounds and stop stitches sliding off the needles.
Optional: buy a second 30cm circular needle in the same size. Two circulars let you knit both socks at the same time instead of one after the other.
Tips and common mistakes
Check the needle size labels closely: 3.00mm is not 3cm, and a wrong size changes your tension.
Keep the beginning-of-round marker in place every round so you never lose your spot in the pattern.
Put stitch stoppers on your needles between sessions so live stitches do not slip off.
Knit a small practice swatch first if you have never worked with 4 ply yarn on small needles.
Questions
Do I really need double pointed needles if I already have a circular needle?
Yes for most sock patterns. The heel and toe have too few stitches to stretch around a 30cm circular, so you switch to double pointed needles for those sections.
How much yarn does one pair of socks take?
One 100g ball of 4 ply sock yarn is enough for a standard adult pair. Buy two balls if you want matching stripes or a longer leg.
Can I knit both socks at the same time?
Yes. Use two circular needles of the same size and work one sock on each, which keeps both socks identical and avoids second sock delay.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
