It took me a while to get round to the idea of knitting socks. Why knit what you could easily buy from a store, I thought. They looked fiddly and complicated to make, with such tiny needles too!
Then after getting distracted at wool shows by the pretty hand-dyed sock yarn skeins, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.
And now I am a full convert.
If you’re still on the fence about diving into sock knitting, let’s see if I can convince you. Though I warn you now, once you start you will never not have a pair on your needles.
1. Comfier Socks
And comfy socks make everything better.
With quality yarn and a good squishy stitch, hand knitted socks offer optimal comfort. Store bought socks are usually not made from natural fibres, meaning they’re not very breathable. With knitted socks you can choose whichever yarn works best for you.
By picking a wool rich yarn, you can increase breathability (so reducing sweaty feet!). Or pick a cotton blend for a summery sock. If you are looking for a luxury pair of bed socks, try out a cashmere blend.
My top tip would be to make sure that your yarn contains some nylon. This will help make your socks more hardwearing so you can wear them again and again.
2. Portable Project
If you want a project to knit on the go, socks are a great option.
Socks don’t require a huge amount of yarn. And there are generally not too many accessories required for their construction. Just pop them in your bag and bring them out whenever you have a free minute, because you will have multiple pairs on the go so every row counts.
3. Great Gifts
Everyone loves hand knitted socks. Even those people that don’t think they do. They try them on and realise how superior they are to store bought socks, and you are suddenly the best present giver.
But be aware, this is a double edged sword. Once you start making socks for people, they will ask for another pair. I have had to declare 2023 to be the year of no socks for anyone except me, much to my family’s disappointment.
4. Pretty Colourful Yarn
Socks are a great project to try out new colourways. Since they don’t need much yarn it’s the time to get more adventurous with your yarn choices.
Plus, have you seen the hand-dyed yarn available now? The biggest problem is picking just one skein to buy. Self-patterning or self-striping wool make for fancy looking socks with very little effort.
There are no rules for choosing your colours. Want to have a mis-matched pair? Go for it! Want to match your socks to your favourite outfit? The colour will be out there for you.
5. Custom Fit
You know that horrible feeling when you realise your sock has half fallen down and the heel is somewhere twisted round the front of you foot? No more! – with knitted socks you can make them exactly the right shape and size for your feet.
Sock patterns are one of the easiest types of pattern to customise to your size. Choose how far up your leg they go, and make them exactly as snug as you like on the foot.
Once you have completed a few pairs, you will get a feel for which kind of socks you like best. Start getting fancy by swapping out the toe or heel style that best suits your feet.
In Conclusion…
Have I convinced you yet to try out your first pair of knitted socks?
Get started with a basic sock pattern like Kate Atherly’s One Sock to get familiar with the structure and construction.
Then you’re off and running on your sock knitting adventure. Check out my sock patterns here.
What’s stopping you from getting started?