Sock Wars

I've been knitting off and on for about four years now.  I've made hats, mittens, scarves, shawls, and a baby out fit.  I've always wanted to knit a sock and made many sock book purchases.  I just couldn't bring myself to try.  It looked too complicated, not up to my ability's. For the same reason I have never knit a sweater.  Too afraid of shaping and obtaining proper tension.  Didn't matter how many swatches I knit. I just didn't seem to get gauge right and on my Stockinette stitchs I had rowing.  

This year, well I made a promise to myself that I would try no matter what. I grabbed every sock book I owned:

Teach yourself Visually Sock Knitting by Laura Chau, knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy, Leisure Art's I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks by Cindy Guggemos, Getting Started Knitting Socks, by Ann Budd, Sensational Knitted Socks and More Sensational Knitted Socks by Chnarlene Schurch.

I set aside Easy Knitted Socks by Jeanette Trotman, House of White Birches Tops & Toes, Knitting on the Road, Knitting Vintage Socks  and Folk Socks by Nancy Bush, and Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.  These were set aside not because I didn't like them but either they were more pattern oriented or totally above a beginner sock.

I researched needle techniques with Melissa Morgan-Oates 2-at-a-time Socks and The Magic Loop, Working Around on One Needle Sarah Hauschka's Magical Unvention written by Bev Galeskas.

Now I'm sure your all dizzy from reading a book list, but I looked at or read all of these to prepare me.  When I was finally ready, I cobbled a pattern together out of parts I like from The books.  The one that helped me the most was Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks book, using her Four-Stitch Ribbing Pattern and modifying it to work with Worsted Weight Yarn.

I chose Patons Classic Wool in Rosewood. I used Magic Loop for most of the sock thou I used the 2 at a time technique for several inches to give it a fair try.

I used an openwork rib pattern for the cuff and most of the leg.  I chose to make the sock more of a mid-calf length for the leg and knitted the bottom 2 inch's before the heel in stockinette stitch.    I was fairly happy with how the sock was coming out until I hit the heel turn.  I read in all these books that it was easier than its reputation.  I'm here to tell you they fudged a bit on the truth.  I re-read several of the books heel turn sections and even looked on line until I understood it enough to get it.  After that it was smooth sailing until I hit Kitchner Stich.  Out came technique books.  Thankfully, after watching a few videos on YouTube and looking over Vogue Knitting Quick Reference , Interweave's the Knitter's Companion and When Bad things Happen to Good Knitters by Marion Edmonds & Ahza Moore, I was ready to give it a go.  It took only 2 tries and I got.

So Now I'm the happy owner of "one" sock. 

I guess I had better get started on the next one as well as research sock blocking.