how to knit socks

For your information there are several methods used to knit socks including:

The magic loop method
Briefly, you use a long circular needle with the two loops pulled out through the stitches, this works well if you only have circular needles to use but we find it too slow and fiddly for the quantity of socks we knit.

Two needle socks
You knit socks flat on two needles then sew them together either at the back or front. We only use this method on very rare occasions, feeling a seam - even an invisible one - is uncomfortable.

Using double pointed needles (dpns)
Our preferred method.

We find this the quickest method and easiest way to keep you pattern sections straight - no mistakes with twisted heels etc. We divide the stitches using one for the left back, one for the right back, one for the front and the fourth needle is used as the current knitting needle.

How to knit socks professional tip

To avoid the “ladder look” when changing from one needle to another is to make the tension of each “first” stitch tighter than the rest of your stitches.

Photograph © 2008 L. Parnell - Designer

Look at our close-up of the heel on this pair of summer socks this is how neat your heels can be when you learn how to knit socks using dpns You don't of course have to make a contrasting colour for your heels and toes, many of our socks use one colour, multi coloured yarn or self striped yarn.

Striped socks patterns We frequently knit striped sock patterns using yarns like Lion Brand Magic Stripes sock knitting yarn.

If you live in Australia Lincraft sell a similar weight self striping sock yarn that would suit, ask at your nearest store.

Another really comfortable yarn for self patterned socks in Patons Zhivago. It’s thick and wonderful for winter warmth.

We rarely use separate coloured wools or yarns to actually make stripes for our sock designs, we use different colours for feature patterns on the socks but not stripes.

Why? Because you end up with a either “carrying the yarn” which can make the sock stretch unevenly or you need to cut the yarn at each colour change and sew the ends in.

Sewing in so many ends makes the sock uncomfortable and provides unnecessary bulk, usually at the back of the leg where you will feel it.

Why learn to knit socks

By now you may be asking yourself - why learn to knit socks when they are often cheap to buy?

In a nutshell - when you buy a pair of socks the sock is multi sized, meaning for many people they are either too long or too short.

Whereas, when you use a sock knitting pattern to make your own, you can easily adjust the length of both the foot and/or the leg (all our patterns tell you where and how to do this)

You can also choose the colour and weight of your socks......

You don’t have to put up with only the colours the stores are offering this season. What if you have a passion for purple and this year it’s all brown .....with cartoon characters.....see what I mean......

Learning how to knit socks may seem daunting but like many things in life - it’s easy once you begin - use some of our sock knitting patterns to start you off on the right track. The instructions are clear and we include a free help link in each pattern.

Metric and imperial measurements and suggested yarn substitutions including both online and off-line sources of sock yarns are also included.

I guarantee once you’ve made and worn your first pair of correctly fitting hand knitted socks you’ll be hooked......

......................and once your family and friends and work colleagues know you’re a sock knitter - beware - everyone else will put in their requests and you’ll be flat out finding time to make your own.........

Visit our sock patterns pages.

or return to knitting from this how to knit socks info page.