Don't Start Your Socks Until You Watch This!, by The French Knot on YouTube. 57 min 39 s.
- Video length
- 57 min 39 s
- Time to do it
- 6 to 10 hours per pair
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Decide between cuff down and toe up before you cast on. Cuff down starts at the ribbed top and is the easier one to learn. Toe up lets you use every scrap of yarn.
Pick your needles: US 1 double pointed needles, a 9 inch circular, or a 32 inch circular for magic loop. Swatch first to check your gauge.
Cast on with a stretchy method such as long tail or German twisted. For toe up, use Judy's magic cast on and increase at the toe.
Knit the leg and foot in the round until the foot is about 2 inches short of the wearer's heel to toe length. Measure the foot, not an old sock.
Work the heel. A heel flap and gusset gives a sturdy fit. A short row heel is quicker and suits a higher instep.
Shape the toe with paired decreases, then close it with Kitchener stitch. On toe up socks, finish the cuff with a stretchy bind off.
Choose sock yarn with about 75 percent wool and 25 percent nylon for wear. Skip pure cotton and single ply yarns for your first pair.
Try the sock on as you go and note where it pulls. To avoid second sock syndrome, knit both socks at once on one long circular needle.
Tips and common mistakes
Aim for about 8 stitches per inch on US 1 needles; a round gauge swatch tells you if you need to go up or down a needle size.
Mark the start of the round and the heel with locking markers so you never lose your place.
Store your knitting in a project bag so sharp needles stay away from pets and small children.
Write down your needle size, stitch counts and heel style so the second sock matches the first.
Questions
Is cuff down or toe up easier for a first sock?
Cuff down with a heel flap is the usual first choice because the shaping is simple to follow. Toe up is worth learning once you can knit in the round comfortably.
How long should the foot of a sock be?
Measure from the back of the heel to the tip of the toe, then subtract about 2 inches for the toe shaping. Socks stretch, so knit to the foot length, not the shoe size.
Can I use ordinary wool instead of sock yarn?
Sock yarn usually blends wool with nylon for strength. Plain wool wears through at the heel quickly, so save it for slippers or bed socks.
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.
